Richard Bartlett, M.D.
One Brookline Place
Suite 620
Brookline, Massachusetts
02445
Phone: 617-735-1800
Fax: 617-735-1810
Please contact our plastic surgery center in Brookline to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bartlett.
The following list of frequently asked questions is designed to give our potential patients an idea of what to expect before, during, and after treatment at our plastic surgery center in Brookline.
If you have further questions, please visit our facial plastic surgery, body contouring, or breast enhancement pages to find out specific information about our individual treatments, or contact our plastic surgery center, conveniently located at One Brookline Place, to speak with a member of our staff.
Downtime will depend on the procedure. With almost all operations patients feel well within 2-4 days and at that point are no longer taking pain medication other than Tylenol. Light exercise is usually permitted within 2 weeks, but for hard exercise, some patients are instructed to wait 4-6 weeks, depending on the operation. Over the past 10 years Dr. Bartlett has worked to reduce “down time” and speed recovery by refining plastic surgery techniques, using shorter incisions and carefully prescribing post operative medications to minimize pain, swelling and bruising.
The answer to this question really depends on what type of work you do and what operation you are having. Facial plastic surgery procedures don’t cause much pain but swelling and bruising can last up to two weeks. Your bruising may be conspicuous and this may affect your decision to return to work. For patients who do heavy lifting or have very physically active jobs you may return to work in 1-2 weeks but may be on limited duties for up to 4-6 weeks. The vast majority of patients return to work between one and two weeks after plastic surgery, but often have low energy levels when they initially return.
Surgeries such as breast reduction and abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) are usually performed in a hospital. Other types of plastic surgery can be performed in our Brookline office operating room or in a hospital setting.
Dr. Bartlett will always make sure that you are comfortable during plastic surgery or any other treatment that you receive. Recent advances in local anesthetic management and perioperative medications have made all of our procedures more comfortable and have significantly reduced downtime. Because of Dr. Bartlett’s experience in treating the pediatric population he has become expert at the administration of all of these agents. In addition to local anesthesia, IV sedation and occasionally general anesthesia are available to ensure that your experience is pain free.
From BOTOX® Cosmetic to breast augmentation with implants, safety is our number one priority. Dr. Bartlett is on staff at some of the finest hospitals in the country, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham & Women’s, Children’s Hospital Boston and the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary. Each of these hospitals has been a leader in the movement to improve and assure patient safety. Dr. Bartlett has completed multiple training sessions that are required of all staff members and has applied these safety protocols to his hospital practice and private plastic surgery center in Brookline.
One of the most important messages that we try to get across to our patients is that the final result from plastic surgery needs to be evaluated months after the procedure. Patients usually look fine and many times can see a significant result by one to two weeks after surgery, however there is continued improvement that takes place for 6-12 months.
Absolutely! Although plastic surgery is a powerful tool that typically produces dramatic and immediate results, it is not always the best option for every individual. We have an incredible assortment of tools available today to improve someone’s appearance or reduce the signs of aging without resorting to surgery. Retin-A®, chemical peels, BOTOX® Cosmetic, Restylane®, and laser resurfacing can all offer improvement. These procedures are usually performed at our plastic surgery center in Brookline and have virtually no down time. By focusing on your specific needs and assessing your lifestyle one or more of these options may be suggested as the right treatment for you.
In the past, procedures were occasionally too aggressive and sometimes gave patients a “done” or artificial look. We have patients come to the office frequently saying that they don’t want to look like this or that celebrity who has obviously had plastic surgery. In the practice of plastic surgeon Richard A. Bartlett, the goal is improvement and enhancement with a natural result. Our patients are delighted with the fact that friends think that they look "great" and "rested." Many times friends think that our patients have started a new exercise program or diet. People just know that somehow you look better.
Yes, plastic surgery is expensive, especially if safety is a top priority; however, we do our best to respect your budget. We never suggest or offer plastic surgery or non-surgical treatments unless we feel that they will benefit you. There are no hidden charges and all expenses are explained and documented for you. We feel that this is vital to the integrity of our practice.
If you have any further questions, please contact our plastic surgery center in Brookline, Mass. Our staff will be happy to answer your questions or help you schedule an informative consultation with cosmetic surgeon Richard A. Bartlett.