The Smart Woman's Guide to Plastic Surgery, Updated Second Edition

I bought 3 books at the same time because, though I am a physician, I know little about plastic surgery and am considering having some. This book is excellent, chock full of relevant information and is fairly inclusive of most plastic surgical procedures. I also bought "Secrets of a Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon" which provided information that was so basic as to be almost worthless, and seemed to be full of self-serving letters from patients saying what a great surgeon the author is. I also bought "Body Sculpture" which has little information in it and consists largely of before and after pictures. I plan on selling the other two books and keeping this one as a permanent part of my library.

I was astounded at the depth and breadth of information about breast augmentation. As a woman who has been contemplating this procedure for nearly 2 decades, I have done a fair amount of research, including internet searches, several books, and 2 consultations with board-certified plastic surgeons. But none of these "resources" begin to compare to this book. This book covers issues such as the truth about silicone implants, risk of saline implant deflation, interference with mammography, capsular contracture formation (scars around the implants), and other important issues. It explains the options and helps the reader to decide important issues such as whether the implant should be placed above the pectoral muscle or below it; whether the implants should be smooth or textured; whether the implants should be round or teardrop; whether the incision should be made around the nipple, under the breast, or under the arm; and it also helps with the all-important size issue. I was tremendously impressed. Too bad Dr. Loftus is in Cincinnati, otherwise, I would be in her office in a minute!

As someone who is considering liposuction, I was impressed with how helpful this book was. It explained the difference between traditional liposuction, ultrasonic liposuction, and ultrasound-assisted liposuction, including a detailed list of all the pros and cons for each. It also explained issues about the recommended cannula size, large-colume liposuction, areas where liposuction should and should not be performed, the effect of liposuction on cellulite, where you might gain weight following liposuction, and the list goes on. Compared to other books that focus strictly on liposuction, this book surprisingly contained deeper, clearer explanations...and from a more objective perspective. There is no question that if you are considering liposuction - or any plastic surgery procedure - you owe it to yourself to get this book. By the way, this book is incredibly comprehensive in terms of risks and DOES NOT downplay them. At least 5 pages out of each chapter is dedicated to potential complications!

After reading numerous books on plastic surgery I would have to say that this one is the most complete. This book is page after page of fascinating information. It covers more than just the surgery itself, but also the before and after, the cost and even how to find a surgeon. Dr. Loftus did a fabulous job of covering every aspect and articulately explaining each procedure so that even the layman could understand. I highly recommend this extraordinary book to anyone who is considering plastic surgery.

The Smart Woman's Guide to Plastic Surgery is incredibly complete and provides comprehensive information on all surgical procedures from face lift, eyelid surgery, nose surgery, breast enlargement, tummy tuck, thigh lift, liposuction, skin wrinkle surgery and much, much more. There is no other book available for the layperson that contains so much useful information presented and illustrated in such an honest and straightforward manner. Cosmetic surgery is elective surgery and has obvious benefits and some limitations. Dr. Loftus believes that the patient who has realistic expectations about what cosmetic surgery can accomplish is much more likely to make good decisions and achieve a high level of satisfaction. The book is extremely well illustrated, using line drawings and before and after photographs. It is also written in a clear, engaging, and friendly fashion. Medical terminology is avoided wherever possible; and when not possible, a comprehensive glossary is found in the appendix. Dr. Loftus also includes information that you would not expect to find in a book about plastic surgery, including how to evaluate your surgeon, pitfalls of computer imaging, typical cost of the surgery, selection of prosthetic materials, and potential complications. The book has been endorsed by a number of distinguished professors of plastic and reconstructive surgery.