Cosmetic surgery procedures have been growing in popularity across Bahrain. This month, we spoke to the Head of the Plastic Surgery and Dermatology Department at Middle East Hospital, Dr. Paulo Hypacio Espinola. The Consultant Plastic Surgeon enlightened us on some of the most popular plastic surgery procedures while quelling common misconceptions.
With over 17 years of experience in the surgical field, Dr. Paulo Hypacio Espinola has successfully completed over 4000 surgeries. In addition, he is a member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery and American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and was previously a Professor at Medical Residency in Plastic Surgery at the Federal University of Pernambuco.
Dr. Paulo has been a resident of Bahrain for five years now and brings a wealth of experience and highly significant specialities to the renowned healthcare provider, Middle East Hospital. “I specialised in cosmetic surgery with a focus on body contouring surgery and facial surgery, in addition to significant experience in breast surgeries,” says Dr. Paulo. “Reconstructive surgery such as breast reconstruction, and head and neck reconstruction are part of my skills.”
The most popular surgical procedures in Bahrain are tummy tucks, liposuction and breast lifts while botox, fillers and skin boosters are the most sought-after non-surgical procedures. “Following a massive weightloss, surgeries are indicated in those areas where patients have sagging skin. Procedures including tummy tuck, breast lift, gynecomastia, torsoplasty, thigh lift, arm lift, butt lift and face lift can improve the patient’s self-esteem in addition to social relationships,” he explains.
Tummy tucks have been sought-after worldwide as the procedure can treat all layers of the abdomen. “Through this surgery we can remove hanging skin and excess fat while fixing the gap between the muscles, known as recti diastasis, which is very common after pregnancy or if the patient gained too much weight,” he says.
The surgery is not a weight loss surgery, but rather a surgery to define the body contour. “Downtime following the surgery is generally smooth, but the patient must wear a compression garment for approximately six weeks and follow the doctor’s instructions. They must also practice healthy lifestyle habits to not lose the result,” he says.
Patients are encouraged to undergo plastic surgery procedures during winter as they aid the recovery process. “Surgeries performed in winter tend to cause less swelling consequently providing a faster recovery, with less pain and less fluid retention,” he explains. “In addition, it’s common to use garments after procedures such as liposuction, abdominoplasty or breast augmentation. Low temperatures allow the use of post-operative girdles and bras in a more comfortable and discreet way.”
Undergoing surgery during winter also prepares the body for exposure to the sun, allowing patients to enjoy the beach and pool while showing the satisfactory results of a surgery that has been well recovered from.
“I believe it is important that patients be careful with what they see on the internet and social media as, unfortunately, there is a lot of digital manipulation. Discuss your expectations, results, risks and post-operative follow-up with your surgeon. Each patient is different so we need to have real expectations. Never compare yourself to a celebrity, artist or even some before and after photos,” he concludes.
