Patient Information

Patient Information | Southern Plastic Surgery in Duluth, GA

 

Patient Resources for Plastic Surgery

At Southern Plastic Surgery, we believe that patient education is an important part of exceptional plastic surgery care. Whether you’re researching your first cosmetic procedure, preparing for surgery, or learning more about the recovery process, having reliable information can help you feel more confident about your decisions.

Our practice, located in Duluth, GA, provides patients with educational resources covering plastic surgery procedures, preparation and recovery, pain management, common plastic surgery terminology, patient forms, and more. Our goal is to give you the information you need to have productive conversations with your surgeon and make informed decisions about your care.

Led by Dr. David Whiteman and Dr. Marc Klein, Southern Plastic Surgery serves patients throughout Duluth, Gwinnett County, and the greater Atlanta area with personalized cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.

Choosing the Right Plastic Surgeon

Choosing a plastic surgeon is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when considering cosmetic surgery. Experience, education, board-certification, surgical expertise, and a commitment to patient safety should all be important considerations.

At Southern Plastic Surgery, Dr. David Whiteman and Dr. Marc Klein take a personalized approach to every consultation. Rather than recommending the same procedure to every patient, our surgeons evaluate your anatomy, listen to your concerns, discuss your goals, and develop an individualized treatment plan.

Information for Patients Traveling to Duluth, GA

Southern Plastic Surgery welcomes patients from throughout metro Atlanta and surrounding communities. Our location in Duluth is convenient for patients traveling from areas including Lawrenceville, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Suwanee, Roswell, Brookhaven, Braselton, Gainesville, and other North Georgia communities.

For patients traveling from outside the immediate area, we also provide resources to help with planning your visit, including information about directions and postoperative recovery arrangements.

Patient Information for Southern Plastic Surgery

Whether you’re researching plastic surgery, preparing for an upcoming procedure, or simply looking for reliable information about cosmetic surgery, Southern Plastic Surgery is here to help.

Our experienced team is committed to providing comprehensive education, individualized treatment recommendations, and compassionate care throughout your surgical journey.

Southern Plastic Surgery
3855 Pleasant Hill Road, Suite 370
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 622-9100

Contact our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. David Whiteman or Dr. Marc Klein and learn more about your plastic surgery options.


Plastic Surgery Glossary

If you’ve started researching cosmetic surgery, you’ve probably encountered unfamiliar medical terminology. Our plastic surgery glossary provides definitions for many commonly used terms related to cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

Understanding these terms can help you better communicate with your surgeon and prepare for your consultation:

ActiPatch™
A non-narcotic anti-inflammatory patch that accelerates the healing of soft-tissue injury such as those caused by surgical procedures. The patch works through the use of pulsed electromagnetic frequency, helping to stimulate healing and reduce pain and swelling without drugs.
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Anesthesia
Refers to the administration of a numbing drug, or to the drug itself, usually administered during surgical procedures.
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Autologous tissue breast reconstruction
The use of the patient’s own tissues to  . The common technique is the TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis muscle) flap. A TRAM flap involves removing an area of fat, skin, and muscle from the abdomen and stitching it in place to the mastectomy wound.
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Eyelid lift (blepharoplasty)
Procedure involving the surgical removal of excess fat, muscle, and skin from both the upper and lower eyelids to redefine the shape of the eye.
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Body Mass Index (BMI)
Calculation based on a person’s weight and height (weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared). Used to measure healthy weight, but does not take body fat percentage into consideration.
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Body Fat Percentage
The amount of fat on a person’s body determined by the weight of the individual’s fat divided by their total weight. This number includes the body’s essential fat and stored fat.
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Bodylift
Addresses excess and loose, drooping skin tissue resulting from aging, pregnancy, or major weight loss.
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BOTOX®
Also known as botulinum toxin, BOTOX® is a treatment where trace amounts of the toxin are injected into overactive muscles, causing muscle activity in the targeted area to decrease.
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Brachioplasty
Also called an “arm lift”, this procedure is meant to remove loose skin and excess fat from the upper arm. The skin there may become loose and flabby from age or significant weight loss.
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Breast augmentation (augmentation mammoplasty)
Procedure to reshape and enhance the breast in order to make it larger, usually using implants. The procedure can also be performed to reconstruct the breast following breast surgery.
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Breast Implant Exchange
Surgical removal and replacement of breast implant due to a patient’s desire for a different breast implant size, implant shape, breast implant type, or exhibits a positioning complication.
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Breast Lift (mastopexy)
Procedure designed to remove small amounts of tissue from the breasts, lifting and repositioning them higher on the torso to compensate for the effects of gravity.
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Breast reconstruction
Surgery which recreates a breast which has been completely or partially lost to surgery or trauma. Often the recreation of the nipple and areola will go along with breast reconstruction. Breast reconstruction is a highly personalized surgery often requiring several operations, and each procedure will be different depending on the patient’s situation.
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Breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty)
When a woman’s breasts are particularly large and heavy, it can create problems both aesthetically and physically. A breast reduction removes excess skin and tissue from the breasts, and places the breasts in a more natural position.
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Breast revision
Breast surgery performed to enhance the results of a previous breast augmentation procedure. Breast revision surgery may entail a breast lift , implant removal, implant replacement, or nipple revision surgery.
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BRIJJIT System for Incision Care
An innovative medical device that is used to replace sutures after surgery and promote healthy, and effective healing by reducing tension in the treated area.
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Browlift (also called a forehead lift)
Procedure to correct a drooping brow and give the face a more alert, awake appearance. By removing excess skin and muscle tissue, the forehead is smoothed and the brow raised, with minimal incisions and scarring.
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Capsular Contracture
Hardening of the breasts caused by large amounts of scar tissue forming around a breast implant.
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Chemical peel
Utilizes a chemical solution in order to improve the skin’s appearance by removing part of the outermost layer. It can reduce or eliminate fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth, correct uneven skin pigmentation, and treat other minor skin maladies.
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Collagen
A naturally-occurring fibrous protein found in skin that acts as a framework to support other bodily tissues like skin, muscles, bones, and tendons.
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Cosmetic plastic surgery (aesthetic plastic surgery)
Plastic surgery performed to repair or reshape otherwise normal structures of the body, primarily to improve the patient’s appearance and self-esteem.
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Expander/implant breast reconstruction
The use of an expander to create a breast mound, followed by the placement with a permanently filled breast implant.
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Facial Filler
Dermal injectable fillers that are injected under the skin to plump and fill areas that have become shallow or thin due to age, sun exposure, or other damaging factors.
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Facelift (rhytidectomy)
Surgical procedure that involves the removal of excess facial fat, the tightening of facial muscles, and the stretching of facial skin to approximate a smoother, firmer appearance. The procedure takes place on either the face, neck, or both.
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Mini-Facelift
Gives an overall lift to the neck and lower third of the face, rather than focusing on the entire face itself.
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Mid-Facelift
Often done using endoscopic, minimally invasive techniques, a mid-Facelift is perfect for patients seeking minor improvements in their facial region, without worrying about excess skin in the jowls or neck.
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Flap surgery
One type of surgery that involves transporting healthy, live tissue from one location of the body to another – often to areas that have lost skin, fat, muscle movement, and/or skeletal support. There are several different types of flap surgery methods that may be utilized, depending upon the location of the flap and the structures that need to be repaired.
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Gummy Bear Breast Implant
A term that originated in Europe to describe the structure of high-strength cohesive silicone gel breast implants, which are very similar to a recently FDA approved breast implant manufactured by Sientra.
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Literally translated to “woman breast”, this is a condition in which the male breast tissue enlarges. This usually occurs when the male is experiencing periods of hormonal changes, such as those during infancy, adolescence, and old age.
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High-Strength Silicone Breast Implants
A type of breast implant made out of cohesive silicone gel that is known for its singular shape retention and its unlikelihood to rupture or leak.
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Hyperpigmentation
Darker areas of the skin, caused by increased melanin production, that results in an uneven skin tone.
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Hypertrophic scars
An overproduction of collagen that appears raised and reddish in color. Textured similarly to a keloid scar, hypertrophic scars grow within the bounds of the original injury.
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Hypopigmentation
Skin discoloration opposite of hyperpigmentation marked by a lack of melanin production resulting in an uneven skin tone.
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iGuide® Neck Lift
A minimally invasive neck lift procedure that uses threaded sutures underneath the chin to lift sagging jowls and neck skin.
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Implant removal
Surgical excision of breast implants as part of breast revision surgery. A breast lift (mastopexy) may be performed with implant removal surgery if a patient elects not to replace the breast implants being removed.
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Juvederm®
An injectible filler that softens deep folds and reduces facial wrinkles. Used often to remove nasolabial folds, particularly “smile lines” running from the corners of the mouth to the corners of the nose. It is also used for lip augmentation and filling in hollow or scarred places on the face.
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Keloid
A type of hypertrophic scar caused by an overproduction of collagen that grows beyond its original wound.
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Melanin
Pigmentation in the hair, skin, and eyes.
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No Vertical Scar Breast Reduction
A technique for performing breast reduction surgery that limits post-surgical scarring. During the procedure, no vertical incision is made, eliminating any potential scar from the nipple down to the breast crease.
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Laser Tattoo Removal
A method of tattoo removal requiring 3-5 visits. Particular lasers are selected based on the tattoo’s location, the thickness of the skin, and the coloration of the tattoo (full-color, black and blue, etc all require varied methods of treatment).
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Laser Peel
Rejuvenates the skin and reduces effects felt by sun exposure, aging, and some facial skin disorders. This procedure is safe and effective, removing damaged outer layers of the skin and stimulating the production of collagen to bring about smoother, younger looking skin.
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Lifestyle Lift
A lift alternative that removes wrinkles and sagging skin with minimal downtime. The procedure only takes an hour to tighten and smooth your face.
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Lipodissolve
Procedure in which a compound of enzymes and mild medications are injected into fatty tissue, dissolving the fat and expelling it through the urine.
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Liposuction
Removal of excess fat through a suctioning process. Liposuction is an excellent way to improve the body’s contour and shape, but is not an acceptable alternative to weight loss.
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Power-assisted liposuction
Utilizes a suction tube that vibrates at its tip, helping to dislodge fat cells so they may be removed more easily; often used in conjunction with the tumescent procedure.
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Tumescent liposuction
By injecting a combination of saline, adrenaline (two substances found naturally in the body) and an anesthetic liquid, the fatty tissues to be removed are puffed up (“tumesced”), making them easier to remove.
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Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL)
Involves the use of ultrasonic waves to liquefy the fat to be removed. As the ultrasonic waves affect fatty tissue only, surrounding tissue is left unharmed and blood loss is minimized.
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Mastectomy
Surgery to remove portions, or all, of the breast.
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Menopause Makeover Surgery
An individually tailored combination of facial rejuvenation procedures (eyelid surgery, fat transfer, Croton Oil Peel, etc.) intended to help reduce wrinkles, lost volume, sagging skin, and other common effects of facial aging.
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Mommy Makeover Surgery
An individually tailored combination of tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty), liposuction, and breast augmentation or breast lift procedures to remedy the effects of pregnancy.Top
Otoplasty (ear surgery)
Reshaping or reducing in size prominent or large ears. Usually done on children, this procedure can also be done on mature adults.
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Pain pump
A device, fitted to patients post-operatively, which is worn for a period of several days and delivers local anesthetic directly to the site of the surgery. Pain pumps eliminate or drastically reduce the need for pain medication following surgery.
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Perlane®
An injectible filler that restores volume and fullness to the skin, correcting wrinkles and folds. Used mainly on nasolabial folds.
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Plastic surgery
The surgical specialty that deals with the reconstruction of facial and body tissue that requires a reshaping or remolding due to disease, a defect, or disorder – in order to approximate a normal appearance or to repair working ability.
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Radiesse®
A facial filler used to contour the face to restore a healthy, youthful appearance. Downtime is minimal and effects can last for up to one year.
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Reconstructive plastic surgery
One type of plastic surgery that is performed on abnormal structures of the body that may be caused by trauma, infection, developmental abnormalities, congenital defects, disease, and/or tumors. This type of surgery is usually performed to improve function, but may also be performed to approximate a normal appearance.
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RecoveryRx Pain Patch
Similar to the ActiPatch™ system, RecoveryRx patches uses a pulsed electromagnetic field to reduce post-operative pain and swelling and increase blood flow and wound healing without narcotics or side effects.
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Restylane®
Commonly used in lip augmentation, Restylane® has also grown popular in treating nasolabial and melomental folds as well as forehead wrinkles and “crow’s feet”. Effects last up to six months with about three days of recovery time.
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Rhinoplasty (nose reshaping surgery or “nose job”)
Surgical reshaping of the nose in order to repair a defect or correct an unwanted aesthetic quality. Rhinoplasty can be used to change the size, shape, and angle of the nose, and involves the resculpting of the bone and cartilage.
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Scar
The body’s natural way of healing and replacing lost or damaged skin. A scar is usually composed of fibrous tissue. Scars may form for many different reasons, including as a result of infections, surgery, injuries, or inflammation of tissue.
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Sculptra™
Used in the treatment of facial fat loss around the cheeks, eyes, and temples. Also called a “liquid facelift”.
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Skin grafts
A skin graft may be used to cover skin that has been damaged and/or is missing. This surgical procedure involves removing healthy portions of skin from one part of the body to restore normal appearance and/or function to another portion of the same body. The location where the skin is removed is called the donor site. There are various types of skin grafts that may be utilized, depending upon the size and location of needed skin.
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Spider Veins
Small, dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin or mucous membranes. Usually seen on the face or legs. These are easily treated with sclerotherapy.
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Stratum Corneum
The outermost layer of skin that serves as a barrier for protection and fluid retention.
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Telescopic Nipple Reduction
Involves making an incision at the base of the nipple and the areola, removing portion of skin and telescoping the nipple towards the chest, in an attempt to shorten it. Telescoping is designed to keep the nerves intact and avoid the loss sensation in the nipple.
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Thighlift (Thigh Lift)
This procedure removes excess skin and fat from the thigh. An incision is made along the groin crease for most patients and upper-central thigh skin and fat are removed, smoothing the upper portions of the thigh.
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Thread Lift
A cheap facelift alternative using barbed sutures to lift sagging eyebrows, eyelids, deep nasolabial folds or aging neck tissues. The barbs on one end grab and lift the sagging skin, while teeth on the other end anchor the skin to the underlying facial tissues. No incisions; no scars.
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Tissue expansion
A surgical procedure that involves inserting a balloon-like device (called an expander) under the skin. The expander then slowly secretes liquid into the area to be repaired to actually stretch and expand the skin. This serves the function of “growing” extra skin to repair nearby lost or damaged skin.
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Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)
Procedure to minimize the abdominal area by surgically removing excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and tightening the muscles of the abdominal wall.
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Mini tummy tuck (partial abdominoplasty)
Removal of a small amount of fat, ideally below the navel, in patients who do not require a full tummy tuck.
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Varicose Veins
Veins that have become enlarged and twisted, generally found on the legs. Symptoms include aching, heavy legs, ankle swelling, redness, itchiness, or dryness of the affected areas. Non-surgical treatments include sclerotherapy, endovenous laser and radiofrequency ablation.
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Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR)
Measures circumference of widest part of hips compared to the circumference of the waist to determine whether or not a person is at a higher risk for health conditions. This does not measure body composition or muscle-to-fat ratio.
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Weight Reduction/Post Bariatric
After your procedure, you may be left with excess folds of skin and fat making you feel worse and not better. A series of operations called “body contouring” are usually recommended after your weight stabilizes.
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Directions

Southern Plastic Surgery provides expert plastic surgery care to patients traveling from nearby cities.

For your convenience, we have provided directions to our practice from the following locations:

Roswell Buckhead
Lawrenceville John's Creek/Alpharetta
Brookhaven Gainesville
Braselton Gwinnett County

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    Disclaimer: The information presented on Southern Plastic Surgery's website is only for informational purposes and is not medical advice. Therefore, Southern Plastic Surgery is not liable for any errors or omissions in this information; nor are they liable for any damages from its use. For complete plastic and reconstructive surgery information or medically related question, it is important to seek personalized care from a board certified plastic surgeon. Treatment results may vary from person to person.