Dr Christopher Chui

Thanks for your question. It would be great if you knew the details of your surgery such as the type of implant and whether they were put over or under the muscle. You will need to decide whether you want to remove the capsule or not and think about whether you would like other procedures done at the same time such as areolar reduction, breast lift, replacement breast implants or augmentation with fat grafting. The cost of your explant procedure will vary depending on your previous implants and whether you want or need any other additional procedures. Hope this helps.

Thank you for your question. If the capsule is soft and not calcified it can be left alone. Having said that, I do find that there is a slightly higher risk of seroma if the capsule is left intact compared to removing it. Some patients prefer to remove all of the capsule. This is certainly possible. I find it easier to do it in an enbloc manner, meaning the entire capsule and implant are removed as one piece. However, doing this will usually mean it has to be done through a larger scar.

Firstly, liposuction is a surgical procedure. Although it is performed through small incisions it is an invasive procedure that should be performed by qualified surgeons. Every surgeon needs to tell you about the significant risks that may or may not happen, these include: Asymmetry: differences between one side of your body compared to the other side Contour irregularity: dimples in the skin may occur if the fat left behind is not uniform in thickness Infection: can happen in any surgical procedure Bleeding: can happen in any surgical procedure Bruising and swelling: Variable.

Transferring fat to your breasts involves harvesting the fat cells from other areas, such as thighs, tummy, or back, processing the fat and grafting the fat into your breasts. If the fat grafts survive, the results are permanent. Surgical technique and processing are important factors. Every surgeon has their own way of doing things. There is very little evidence to prove one way is better than any other. I will take fat from areas that my patients find difficult to get rid of on their own. This stubborn fat will usually not reduce even if my patients lose weight.

Thank you for your question. It's actually preferable that double eyelid surgery be performed without general anaesthesia. Any eye surgery involves very fine work and millimetre differences make a big difference. The eyelid is a dynamic structure and balancing one eye with the other is difficult if the patient is asleep and unable to open their eyes. I perform both upper and lower blepharoplasties under local anaesthesia. Hope this helps!

Thank you for your question. It is possible to correct asymmetries after a suture blepharoplasty procedure, however, not all problems can be addressed by repeating the same technique. The suture technique aims to create a fold but it does not address any excess skin and may not address ptosis of the eyelid. If you are considering revision, it's best to wait about 6 months after your first procedure to see if the asymmetry is due to swelling. Also, it's best to return to your original plastic surgeon as they will know what was done in the first procedure and what the possible remedies are.

'Rhinoplasty' is a general term for surgery involving the nose. The actual procedures done vary greatly depending on what is needed and the surgeon doing it. I think what you're referring to is a stiff nose that doesn't bend as much when it is touched. This would happen if cartilage grafts that are stiffer than your actual nose (eg. rib grafts) are used. If ear cartilage or septal cartilage are used, your nose will still feel quite natural. Hope this helps.

Hi! What you've described is a common complaint from Asians with short noses. To address this problem, the nose needs to be lengthened. This is most commonly done with cartilage grafts called septal extension grafts, these can come from your nose, ear or rib. In addition to lengthening the nose, you will probably need some dorsal augmentation and tip refinement. In the past it was common for surgeons to use silicone implants that went all the way to the tip of the nose. The problem with this is the high risk of implant extrusion at the tip.

Thank you for your question. There isn't an ideal age that suits everyone, but there are certain times that women will consider having their breasts augmented. The youngest it should be considered is after the breasts have fully matured which is usually around 18 to 20 years of age. At this age you will be able to see whether you are satisfied with the size of your bust or you would like to be bigger. Any time after this would be appropriate. Another common 'age' is after women have had children and breastfed. During breast feeding, the breasts are bigger due to the milk produced.

Many patients do travel overseas for surgery. In general, I wouldn't advise it if there are capable surgeons in your own country. I do understand that Singapore is quite expensive for many cosmetic procedures. Part of the reason it is expensive is for patients' safety. Invasive procedures must be done in a licensed facility, these facilities will have adequate emergency equipment in the event something goes wrong. In cases where you require sedation or general anaesthesia, a qualified anaesthetist will be the one doing that and you will be the only patient they attend to for the entire case.

Thank you for your question. VASER uses ultrasound energy to breakdown the fat before it is removed by suction. It is typically used in hi-definition liposuction procedures and does not necessitate admission to hospital. Most liposuction procedures can be done as a day procedure, meaning you can go home the same day. In Singapore, if more than 2L of fat is removed you will need to be admitted. Hope this helps!

Thank you for your question. Your scars are fairly broad with some depression. I would recommend subcision with some dermal grafting. Fillers can be used but they are temporary. Dermal grafts are permanent. Lasers can help, but multiple sessions would be needed. Hope this helps!

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Thank your for your interesting question. A saddle nose gets it's name from the shape that it forms, it looks a bit like a saddle with a depression in the middle. There are many causes of a saddle nose, but the underlying cause is loss of support of the dorsum of the nose. Basically the internal cartilaginous septum is not strong enough to support the nose. This can be due to trauma, ischaemic necrosis, infection or surgical. Septoplasty may have caused weakening in the septum, leading to a saddle nose deformity. The way to fix it is reconstruction or strengthening of the septum.

Septoplasty is any surgery that modifies the bony or cartilaginous septum of the nose. This can be done during an open rhinoplasty or using a closed technique. The main steps are: 1. Access the septum either by opening the nose or incision through the mucosa. 2. Identify and remove the the deformed bony and/or cartilginous septum but preserving enough cartilage to support the nose. 3. Reshape the remaining cartilage to bring it into the midline and straighten it. 4. Reinforce the cartilage to ensure it maintains the shape. 5.