faq

What kind of plastic surgeon is Dr. Romo? What is the difference between a facial plastic surgeon and a general plastic surgeon?

Is Dr. Romo "board-certified"? What does "board-certified" mean?

What are the most common facial plastic surgeries performed by Dr. Romo?

What is the difference between functional and cosmetic surgery?

Does insurance pay for facial plastic surgery?

What is the recovery time for facial plastic surgery?

When can I return to work or the gym?

When can I expect to be completely healed?

How expensive is facial plastic surgery?

Is facial plastic surgery painful?

What kind of plastic surgeon is Dr. Romo? What is the difference between a facial plastic surgeon and a general plastic surgeon?

Dr. Romo is a facial plastic surgeon. He believes in the concept of the "specialty plastic surgeon".
A general plastic surgeon may perform plastic surgery on any part of the body and is not limited to one particular area. Examples of procedures performed by general plastic surgeons are body liposuction, breast augmentations, and tummy tucks.
A facial plastic surgeon does not perform plastic procedures below the neck, and he limits the area on which he operates. Examples of procedures performed by facial plastic surgeons are facelifts, rhinoplasty, and browlifts. Knowing that it is extremely difficult to excel at all of the surgeries included in the repertoire of a general plastic surgeon, a facial plastic surgeon will usually perform only surgeries of the head and neck in order to perfect his/her abilities in this area.

Is Dr. Romo "board-certified"? What does "board-certified" mean?

Yes, Dr. Romo is certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. This means that the surgeon:

" after medical school, completed an approved residency in either otolaryngology-head and neck surgery or plastic surgery.
" successfully completed a two-day examination.
" submitted a record of at least two years of clinical experience, including operative reports of at least 100 facial plastic surgeries, that was deemed acceptable by his/her peers.
" holds proper licensure and subscribes to the ABFPRS Code of Ethics.

What are the most common facial plastic surgeries performed by Dr. Romo?

The most common facial plastic surgeries performed by Dr. Romo are rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, otoplasty, chin augmentation, cheek augmentation, lip augmentation, endoscopic browlift, blepharoplasty, and facelift. Links to detailed descriptions of these surgeries can be found on the left-hand side of the main page of Dr. Romo's website.

What is the difference between functional and cosmetic surgery?

Surgery that is "functional" is necessary for the purpose of maintaining a certain quality of life. Functional surgery is typically used to correct a congenital birth defect such as a deviated nasal septum or absent external ear. This type of surgery can also be used to correct an injury sustained later in life that prevents the individual from functioning at the same level, such as a nasal fracture that obstructs breathing.
Surgery that is "cosmetic" is performed strictly for aesthetic purposes. Cosmetic surgeries include facelifts, browlifts, rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, otoplasty, and chin, cheek and lip augmentations.
Sometimes the distinction between cosmetic and functional surgery is difficult. For example, scar revision is considered a cosmetic procedure. This is because a scar, while unattractive and most likely due to an accidental injury, does not hinder the individual from functioning as he/she did before the incident.
If you remain unclear as to whether the type of surgery you desire is cosmetic or functional in nature, feel free to call our office, and we will clarify the distinction for you.

Does insurance pay for facial plastic surgery?

Insurance will ONLY pay for procedures deemed to be FUNCTIONAL in nature. If an individual is having both cosmetic and functional procedures performed during the same surgery, insurance (granted the functional surgery is pre-approved by the insurance company) will pay for the following: Dr. Romo's fee for the functional portion of the surgery, anesthesia, and facility. As a result, the individual will only be responsible for Dr. Romo's fee for the cosmetic portion of the surgery.

What is the recovery time for facial plastic surgery?

Recovery time is based on several factors, which include but are not limited to the following: type of procedure(s), number of procedures, age of the individual, individual's adherence to post-op guidelines (ex: not smoking), unique medical history of the individual. For example, a person who is 20 years of age will typically heal more quickly than a person who is 50 years of age. A non-smoker will heal more quickly than a smoker. Also, a person with other medical complications such as immune deficiency may take longer to recover.

When can I return to work or the gym?

On average, a person who undergoes a single, moderate procedure, such as a rhinoplasty, can return to work one week later. However, he or she will likely still exhibit some bruising and swelling. Typically, an individual who undergoes multiple or a complex procedure(s) can return to work 10-14 days later. He or she will also be likely to still have bruising and swelling.
After surgery, one may also wonder when it is appropriate to return to the gym. Again, depending on the complexity of the surgery, it can be anywhere from 4-8 weeks before Dr. Romo permits the individual to resume one's workout regime. And even then, he may advise the individual to restrict their activity to light workouts and no heavy lifting.

When can I expect to be completely healed?

In most cases, one year from the date of surgery is the landmark for being considered "completely healed". This is because wounds typically take one year before all of the swelling has disappeared, the tissue has become softened, and the scar tissue has matured.

How expensive is facial plastic surgery?

Elective cosmetic facial surgery is usually considered "expensive" because several fees are incurred. When Dr. Romo's fee for the surgery is quoted, there is always an additional cost for both anesthesia and the OR facility.
Because Dr. Romo has his own operating room and is Chief of Facial Plastic Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital and Manhattan Eye, Ear, & Throat Hospital, he has arranged for facility and OR fees that are below market average for his patients. Quotes for Dr. Romo's fee for various procedures can be obtained by calling his surgical coordinator at (212) 288-1500.

Is facial plastic surgery painful?

Everyone experiences pain differently. Some people are able to tolerate this sensation more than others. However, it is rare that individuals describe their post-operative experience as "painful". A more accurate description is one of "discomfort".
Prior to surgery, the individual is given a complete set of instructions, including medications, to help alleviate or minimize any discomfort that one may experience.