FAQS & Services

Start with a consultation at Richmond Plastic Surgeons. We will discuss your cosmetic goals and recommend the procedures that are best for you.

Every consultation begins with a review of your medical history and an examination of the areas that you want to improve. Through a process of compassionate and understanding collaboration, your surgeon helps you make an informed decision about your procedures and care.

Some plastic surgery procedures do cause scars, but our surgeons are skilled in techniques that hide the scars in natural contours or areas that are easily covered with clothing.

You will see improvement right after your plastic surgery. Swelling can mask the full results for several months.

All surgeries carry a degree of risk which can be managed by working only with qualified surgeons who are board-certified in plastic surgery. Complications are rare, but possible, and may include:

• Damage to blood vessels, muscles, and nerves
• Bleeding under the skin
• Numbness that may be temporary or permanent
• Irregularities in the treatment area
• Excessive scar tissue

Plastic surgery gives you long-term results, but cannot stop the effects of aging, pregnancy, and fluctuations in weight.

Plastic surgery is an elective option, so your medical insurance will not cover the procedures. We provide a cost after your plastic surgeon develops the surgical plan during your consultation. Richmond Plastic Surgeons accepts several forms of payment, and financing is available through CareCredit®.

The degree of success of an operation depends not only on the skill and experience of the surgeon and the cooperation of the patient, but also on such widely variable factors as the patient’s general health, age, skin tone, bone structure, heredity, and the specific problem. The healing process is influenced by these factors and is not entirely under the control of the patient or surgeon. While good results are anticipated in properly selected cases, it would be unethical for the surgeon to imply any type of warranty or guarantee.

Our goal is to improve the features that you find objectionable and provide a natural appearing result. We wish to keep your recovery period as short as possible and allow you to return to your normal activities quickly. In our office, we strive to provide a private, pleasant experience and maximum convenience. Our main goal is to ensure maximum patient satisfaction. and the highest quality of patient care.

Any cosmetic surgical procedure, such as a facelift, breast augmentation and liposuction (including ultrasonic liposuction) is available through Richmond Plastic Surgeons. In addition, non-surgical cosmetic procedures are available. These include laser skin resurfacing, botox and dermal fillers.

During the operation, which is usually performed under intravenous sedation or general anesthesia, there is seldom any discomfort. Any breakthrough pain is easily remedied with additional medication. After the surgery, there should be only minor discomfort that can be controlled with oral medication. While discomfort and limitation of activity after surgery are typically minimal, you must be willing to accept what little there is and realize it is only temporary.

Most operations, especially those performed near the loose tissues of the eyes, result in some degree of swelling and bruising. The amount varies with the different procedures and the individual patient. Preoperative medications and certain operative techniques are used to keep this to a minimum. The majority of swelling that does occur usually subsides within a few days, and any temporary bruising that remains can be covered with make-up.

As a general rule, insurance will not pay for operations that are strictly for cosmetic purposes. Occasionally it will pay for part of a cosmetic surgical procedure if it improves function by relieving symptoms such as: restricted vision, impaired breathing, back and shoulder ache due to heavy breasts, etc. If it does pay for part of the surgical fee, it will usually pay the related hospital and anesthesia costs.Our office will be glad to file any insurance claims for you. However, we cannot fill out claims stating the surgery was performed to improve function if it was not. We will do all we can to assist you and will send all supporting information possible, but we are not responsible for the final decision of your insurance company. We accept the following insurance companies: Anthem HMO, Healthkeepers, Healthkeepers Plus, Cigna, Southern Health, Coventry, Medicare, VA Medicaid, Humana, Aetna, Tricare, AARP Medicare, BCBS, Anthem Cova Care, Virginia Health Network, Virginia Premier, and Mailhandlers. This is not a complete list, as the list changes periodically due to contractual agreements between Richmond Plastic Surgeons and insurance carriers. For some insurance carriers, we are considered “out of network” or non-participating providers. Richmond Plastic Surgeons accepts payment from those carriers as long as you have out of network benefits. Please ask about your particular insurance plan when you call.

This is our cosmetic consultation fee and cancellation policy below:
Cosmetic consultations are $100 and we process this payment on your debit/credit card when we schedule your appointment. Per our cancellation policy, there is a $100 cancellation fee if a patient misses their appointment or cancels within 24 hours. If you cancel with at least 24 hours notice, we will refund the pre-paid consultation fee. If the policy is violated, the $100 pre-payment is applied to your account as the cancellation fee.

A medical history will be obtained from you. We will then discuss the problem that particularly concerns you, your reasons for wanting it corrected and your expectations. After a thorough examination of the problem, we will give you our opinion as to what the chances are for accomplishing what you desire and the technique involved. Cosmetic consultations with a computerized prediction of expected results are available. After our discussion it will be up to you to decide whether or not you want the surgery. If you want to think about our discussion or discuss it with your family before making a final decision, you are encouraged to do so. However, you are the one who should make the final decision, not someone else. A second office visit can be scheduled if necessary. Preoperative photographs will be made so that your problem can be studied more thoroughly and will be used for reference during the surgery should you decide to have it. It would be appreciated if you would wear a minimum of makeup and clothing that can easily be removed for exposure of the area to be examined.