Dr. Saber’s Blog
As with any surgical procedure, cosmetic surgery comes with a level of risk, and some plastic surgery procedures are riskier than others. As one of the top cosmetic surgeons in the Los Angeles area, I am always aware of the risks and potential complications of elective plastic surgery.
My goal is always to reduce the risk to my patients and help them make fully informed decisions. However, there are still some types of surgery I will not perform (and don’t recommend).
Any surgical or invasive procedure comes with some risk of complications. A trusted, board-certified plastic surgeon can reduce your risk, but some medical conditions put you at higher risk to begin with.
Surgical complications can include:
First, I won’t recommend or perform cosmetic surgery if someone else is pushing you to do it, if you have unrealistic expectations, or if the surgery you’re pushing for won’t get you the results you want. Even a normally low-risk procedure can be counter-indicated if you’re looking to push it beyond the safe range.
Some of the procedures I flat-out won’t perform include:
These implants are popular with people who can’t develop these muscles through exercises like weightlifting. In this procedure, a surgeon makes an incision and inserts molded silicon implants, enhancing the bicep or calf.
These aesthetic procedures can have some benefits for people with congenital muscle deformities, but I don’t recommend them as a cosmetic procedure.
Like any implant procedure, bicep and calf implants come with the risk of implant displacement or rupture, which can result in an uneven or unnatural appearance.
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The Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is popular with people who want to enhance the size and shape of their buttocks. It is extra popular because it is a “two-in-one” procedure. We use liposuction to remove unwanted fat from another area of the body and then enhance the buttocks with fat grafting.
However, BBL procedures are often considered “the most dangerous plastic surgeries.” The gluteal area is full of major blood vessels. If a surgeon goes too deep with the insertion, fat can enter the bloodstream and block the heart (fat embolism) or the lungs (pulmonary embolism), potentially resulting in death.
While I do perform BBLs with safe results, I will only perform them for patients looking for a low-volume boost. High-volume BBLs are more invasive and have a higher risk of fat embolism; I only perform high-volume BBLs under very specific circumstances.
People who would like the buttock enhancements offered by BBLs but lack the body fat often opt for buttock implants. In this procedure, a surgeon places silicone implants via an incision between the cheeks.
Butt implants are difficult in that implants placed inside the muscle may look unnatural, but implants placed below the implant may cause sciatic nerve damage.
Permanent facial fillers are made from non-biodegradable materials such as liquid silicone, making them (as the name implies) permanent. As your facial features change with age, these fillers could lead to an unnatural appearance.
According to one study, 64.6% of patients with permanent fillers develop complications, and 15.3% have to have them removed.
Standard dermal fillers are long-lasting, but temporary, meaning you aren’t locked in to a permanent adjustment. There are also enzymes to reverse dermal fillers early if you’re unhappy with the results.
The trendy “cat” or “fox” eye lift procedure aims to create an elongated, upward-slanting eye like that of a fox or cat.
Although it’s popular among A-listers and social media influencers, I do not perform or recommend the procedure for several reasons, including:
In addition, the look is generally achieved with a thread lift (which I also don’t recommend!) and optimum results will only last about three weeks.
A thread lift, also known as a non-surgical facelift, lifts and tightens sagging skin on the face and neck using threads embedded in the skin. The threads are attached to tiny hooks and pull the skin tight. Optimum results last about three weeks (until the threads dissolve), but collagen production can hold the look somewhat in place for up to six months.
If performed repeatedly, scar tissue can form. Results from a thread lift are short-lasting, unpredictable, and sometimes asymmetrical. There are much safer, more long-lasting, reliable procedures to remove sagging, excess skin and improve the appearance of the face.
Dr. Sepideh Saber, MD, FACS, offers a sensitive female perspective for patients of all ages, genders, and orientations. Patients from all walks of life have praised their outcomes and how her caring, thoughtful approach to cosmetic surgery increased their self-confidence and self-esteem. She is board-certified and a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Saber graduated from Stanford University’s world-renowned medical school and did her plastic and reconstructive surgery residency at the University of Southern California. She then completed a fellowship at New York University in the highly challenging and delicate area of hand surgery and microsurgery.
Dr. Saber excels in a wide range of cosmetic surgery procedures, including breast reduction, rhinoplasty, breast lift, tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), and breast augmentation.
To request a consultation, call (877) 205-4100 or schedule a consultation online.
The practice of Dr. Saber is located in Encino, CA for patients throughout the Los Angeles area. We are also convenient to Encino, Woodland Hills, Sherman Oaks, Calabasas, Burbank, Glendale, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills, Northridge, North Hollywood, Malibu, Topanga, Canoga Park, Reseda, Valley Glen, Chatsworth, West Hills, Winnetka, Universal City, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Downtown Los Angeles, Silverlake, and Echo Park.