Plastic surgeons around the globe have seen a sharp increase in cosmetic surgery enquiries this year, variously ascribed to the wearing of face masks driving a demand for eyelid lifts or to Zoom face envy. Another trend we’ve seen in clinic is the advent of the multiple procedure.
“A lot of people may have one, two or even three issues they want to address,” Mr Alex Karidis comments. “They are thinking, what is the best way to deal with it from both a cost and recovery perspective.
“The recovery time is the same whether you have three procedures during the single operation or just one. You’re recovering in parallel in three areas. If you need two weeks for your face, two weeks for your tummy and two weeks for your face, you won’t need six weeks to recover – you’ll do it in the two weeks. The other advantage from our end is that we are in position to deal with multiple procedures.”
The Karidis difference
Mr Alex Karidis explains what sets the Karidis Clinic apart:
“A lot of surgeons have made a name for themselves by saying I only do facial cosmetic surgery, or I only do breast surgeries. But the beauty of our clinic is that I’m able to offer all those procedures. Some surgeons may do a facelift but won’t touch the eyes or will do the breasts but won’t attempt a tummy tuck and that’s a problem – if you’re trying to reframe the face or reshape the body then you need a surgeon that is able to address the whole. Otherwise, the patient will just be left disappointed.
“Experience is essential. The perceived notion is often that if a surgeon only does breasts all day long, they have got to be the best at breasts. And, yes, the surgeon probably is good at breasts but that doesn’t mean surgeons that do a wider range of procedures are not. It might be that the surgeon only has the skill set for breasts and that’s fine, but don’t assume all surgeons have the same limited skill set.
“I perform about 12 to 15 procedures, but I only offer operations that I know I’m very skilled and experienced in. I will not offer an operation that I haven’t done countless times. Like anything in life, the more you do something the better you are at it and I’ve been blessed over the last 23 years to perform between 15,000 and 20,000 operations. Anything I offer on my website I know that I can perform to the very highest level.”
The safety factor
Each patient is unique, so the first thing to establish is whether combination cosmetic surgery is the best option for the patient. Often though, to achieve the optimal result it’s essential to operate on two areas. The mummy makeover is a very popular combination procedure. Pregnancy changes typically affect both the breasts and tummy and so often patients want them both addressed, or they will be left dissatisfied.
“The limit is obviously anaesthetic time,” Alex explains. “There is a time limit of roughly four and a half hours to keep a patient safely under anaesthetic so whatever I can do safely in that timeframe I will do. I’ve got the necessary experience to use that timescale as effectively as possible.
“Recovery is also an important factor in offering multiple procedures. As surgeons we all differ, and some are more heavy-handed than others. Some lean on or stretch the tissues more and the recovery will be longer. I deal with tissue in a much more effective way so the patient will recover quicker and it won’t be as painful.”
During your consultation, with Mr Alex Karidis you can discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of combination cosmetic surgery before you make the decision to proceed. Call 020 7432 8727 to arrange your consultation.
