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I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to my web site. I have tried to design this to educate patients about benefits as well as potential risks of cosmetic surgery and give you an idea of how you might get started in what I hope will be an exciting and rewarding experience.

Frequently, when patients come to my office for a consultation they will tell me that they have been waiting for years or sometimes even decades to have something corrected yet they simply have not known how to go about this.

There are many questions that may keep someone from pursuing their goals through cosmetic surgery. Am I a good candidate for this? How long is the recovery time? How much pain is involved? How much will it cost? What are the complications? And finally how do I get started? Frequently patients have told me that their plastic surgery was one of the best decisions they have made in their life. It has given them a better feeling about themselves and more confidence. I know what a major decision this is for someone and I take this responsibility very seriously.

My goal is to provide the highest quality cosmetic surgery in an atmosphere of compassion and caring. I look at this as a partnership between myself and the patient and I will do everything in my power to try and help the patient reach their goals.

We pride ourselves on our compassionate and caring approach to our work. I frequently have been told that the atmosphere provided by my office staff is as warm and friendly as any medical office that a patient has been in.

We would be honored if you would like to come in and talk to us about your potential surgery.

Dr. Griggs graduated from Trinity College in Hartford and Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He completed his general surgery residency at Baystate Medical Center and a Plastic Surgery residency at the University of Rochester. He has received Board Certification in the American Board of Surgery as well as the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Griggs is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Massachusetts Society of Plastic Surgeons, The American Medical Association, The Massachusetts Medical Society, American Society of Hand Surgeons and Hampden District Medical Society.

Dr. Griggs is Chief of Plastic Surgery at Mercy Medical Center where he also serves on the Board of Trustees. He has also been Chief of Surgery at Mercy Medical Center.

Dr. Griggs has made 10 trips to third world countries to do missionary work in Plastic Surgery, particularly repairing cleft lips and palates. He also serves as the plastic surgeon for reconstructive procedures for Healthcare for the Homeless in Springfield

Dr. Griggs has been taking such good care of me since the first day of my surgery. He did such a great job and I'm forever grateful to him. I am so grateful to find an amazingy caring surgeon like Dr. Griggs, who is passionate about his patients and his work. - LS

My mother had multiple surgeries for cancerous lesions...Not only is Dr. Griggs a highly skilled surgeon, but he is a very kind and compassionate person. One could not make a better choice for any of their plastic surgery needs than Dr. John Griggs. - CG

After being diagnosed with breast cancer, I chose to have a double mastectomy. I chose Dr. John Griggs to perform the reconstruction surgery. The professionalism, kindness, and compassion from the doctor and his staff were far beyond my expectations. The reconstructive surgery went very well. I am very pleased with the results. Thanks to Dr. Griggs, I can look in the mirror and like what I see. - DG

I've had several different procedures done by Dr. Griggs, and he could not have been more caring, interested and professional. His office staff was very helpful and a pleasure to work with. - MK

I would like to express my deep gratitude I feel for Dr. John Griggs and his staff. He has gone above and beyond my expectations. He has treated me with dignity and respect during this difficult time. I feel Dr. Griggs has an extraordinary gift in treating mastectomy patients - KC

I am so pleased with my surgery. I wish I had met you and had it done years before. It has made such a tremendously postivie impact in my life and how I feel.

Dr. Griggs, it has been such a pleasure meeting you. You are an incredibly kind and compassionate person. It was truly a gift to have met you and to have you as my surgeon. You're the best.

I am very grateful to you for your kindness to my father. Your skill and compassion has been a comfort to him and us.

BREAST AUGMENTATION

Breast augmentation is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic surgeries in the United States today. This consists of placing implants filled with either saline or Silicone gel under the breast, either on top of the pectoralis muscle or underneath the muscle to increase the size of the breasts. The operation takes about an hour and a half and is a day stay procedure in the hospital. There is definite soreness for the first several days after surgery, particularly when the implants are placed underneath the muscle. Generally, individuals can return to desk type jobs within a week but should not return to jogging or weight lifting for 4 to 6 weeks. There are many potential complications which each patient needs to be aware of before undertaking this procedure. However, breast augmentation patients are amongst the happiest patients in Plastic Surgery.

BREAST LIFT

Breast lift or mastopexy is performed to return the breasts to a more youthful shape and position. Breast sagging can result from weight loss, pregnancy or simply last of elasticity of the skin. Frequently patients will elect to have implants placed at the time of a lifting procedure to increase the fullness of their breasts.

There is additional scarring with a breast lift. These scars will fade over time but they will be permanent to a degree. The operation is done as an out patient procedure and generally takes approximately 2 hours. Return to desk type jobs takes approximately a week but strenuous activities should be avoided for 4-6 weeks.

ABDOMINOPLASTY

Abdominoplasty or "tummy tuck" is an operation done to improve the abdomen that has redundant skin and stretching of the muscles frequently due to pregnancy or signficant weight loss. Modern abdominoplasty is no longer and operation that simply pulls the skin as tightly as possibl and custs off the ecxess. Today, abdominoplasty involes liposuction to remove fat from the sides and front, tighetneing of stretched muscles, then careful removal of excess skin. There is usually a fairly long scar that is present in the "bikini line" and usually a small one around the umbilicus (belly button). Recovery time is generally 10 days to two weeks to return to office type jobs and 4 to 6 weeks before heavy activity can be performed. There are potential complications each patient should be aware of but in properly selected individuals the imporvement is usually very dramtic.

BREAST REDUCTION

Women with large breasts often experience a great deal of upper back and shoulder pains. Frequently they will undergo physical therapy without any lasting benefit. In addition, large breasts can lead to rashes under the breasts and irritation which are particularly bad in the summer months.

A breast reduction can not only reduce the size of the breasts but will lift them as well. This is an operation which not only can make the breasts more proportionate in size but can greatly relieve pain and discomfort that an individual is experiencing. The operation takes about 2 ½ to 3 hours. It is frequently done as a "23 hour admission" in which the patient spends 1 night in the hospital after surgery but can be done as an out patient.
Return to work is generally about 2 weeks for office type work.

The procedure does involve scarring that goes around the nipple and then down in a "anchor" shape to the crease under

MALE BREAST REDUCTION (gynecomastia)

Enlarged breast tissue in males (gynecomastia) is a fairly common problem in men. This can be a source of great embarrassment and can keep individuals from going in public with their shirt off.

This can be corrected with a combination of liposuction and usually excision of excess breast tissue and fat. In many cases this can be done with a small incision going ½ way around the nipple that is relatively inconspicuous. In men who have a great deal of breast tissue and sagging of skin, scars will need go outside of the nipple area and will therefore show to a larger degree with a shirt off. This operation generally takes 2 hours of general anesthesia and is done as a day stay in the hospital. The patient usually can return to work within a week and heavy exercise in 4 to 6 weeks.

BREAST RECONSTRUCTION

Breast cancer is a devastating diagnosis for any woman. When the best treatment requires a mastectomy, breast reconstruction is frequently performed. This can be done either at the time of the mastectomy or at some "elective time" after the wound is healed. There are many types of reconstructions that can be performed but they generally fall into 2 main categories – those done with implants and those done with one's own natural tissue – frequently tissue from the lower abdomen brought up to reconstruct the breast.

Frequently, surgery is also done on the "opposite breast" to help with the symmetry. The opposite breast can be made either smaller or larger or simply just lifted. Breast reconstruction is a multi-stage procedure which can take several months to ultimately complete. In almost all cases, health insurance will cover not only the reconstruction of the breast that is removed but surgery to the "opposite breast".

MOMMY MAKEOVER

When a woman has finished having children frequently there is a desire to improve areas that are most affected by pregnancy which include the breasts and the abdomen.
This will often involve an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) coupled with some procedure to improve the breasts, frequently with implants or sometimes with a lifting procedure and implants. This is a very common combination and it has been come to be known in the lay press as the "Mommy Makeover." There is a definite advantage to doing both procedures at once with one recovery time. This generally takes anywhere from 4 to 6 hours of surgery with recovery time of approximately 2 weeks to return to office type work and in 4 to 6 weeks to return to heavy physical activities. Costs are generally less when 2 surgeries are combined.

POST BARIATRIC SURGERY

Bariatric surgery most commonly consists of gastric by-pass or lap band surgery. This surgery can be very successful in helping individuals lose as much as 100 lbs. or more. Frequently, however, after this weight loss the patient is left with a great deal of hanging extra skin which can only be taken care of by body contouring surgery. This can consist of simply a "panniculectomy" in which overhanging skin in the lower abdomen is removed to a more complicated operation such as a lower body lift in which an incision is made all the way around the abdomen to the back. Other operations frequently performed after bariatric surgery include a thigh lift, arm lift, breast lift and face lift. Frequently with the breast lift implants are also required. This can be complicated surgery and usually only one or two areas can be taken care of with the surgery. Unfortunately, many of these procedures are not covered by health insurance today.

LIPOSUCTION

Liposuction is one of the most common cosmetic procedures performed in the United States today. Fat can be suctioned from many areas of the body, most commonly the abdomen, hips, thighs, chest and neck area. Best results are obtained in individuals who are near normal body weight but have an excess fatty tissue in certain areas. Liposuction is not a substitute for weight loss and indeed cannot produce a dramatic decrease in size in someone who is greatly overweight. Nevertheless for proper individuals liposuction can give dramatic results with minimal scars. Compression garments are normally worn for 2 weeks after surgery and recovery times require approximately 2 weeks to return to normal regular activities.

RHINOPLASTY

Rhinoplasty (nose job) is an operation in which the bones, cartilage, fat, and skin of the nose are trimmed or reshaped to make a better appearance of the nose. Frequently, small incisions are made mostly inside the nose but sometimes in inconspicuous areas on the outside of the nose to produce the results desired. While rhinoplasty can give a dramatic improvement to the appearance of the nose, patients need to have realistic expectations. Careful pre op evaluation needs to be made of your nose to find out exactly what can and can't be accomplished with a rhinoplasty.

The operation generally takes 1 ½ - 2 hours as a day stay in the hospital. A nasal splint is generally worn for 1 week and black and blue can last for 2 weeks.

FOREHEAD LIFT

Rhinoplasty (nose job) is an operation in which the bones, cartilage, fat, and skin of the nose are trimmed or reshaped to make a better appearance of the nose. Frequently, small incisions are made mostly inside the nose but sometimes in inconspicuous areas on the outside of the nose to produce the results desired. While rhinoplasty can give a dramatic improvement to the appearance of the nose, patients need to have realistic expectations. Careful pre op evaluation needs to be made of your nose to find out exactly what can and can't be accomplished with a rhinoplasty.

The operation generally takes 1 ½ - 2 hours as a day stay in the hospital. A nasal splint is generally worn for 1 week and black and blue can last for 2 weeks.

FACE LIFT

Face lift has become an extremely popular operation in recent years. A face lift can make significant improvements in the jowl area, the folds where the cheeks meet the upper lips, as well as sagging of the neck.

In the past, face lift was done by simply making a cut in front of the ear then pulling the skin back as tightly as possible and sewing it. The modern face lift is more of a sculpting procedure in which the multiple layers of the face are lifted and tightened including the muscles and then careful trimming the skin to achieve the best results. These newer procedures not only produce better initial results but will last longer as well. The scars involved are hidden about the ears. Black and blue can last for up to 3 weeks although pain is relatively minimal after the first several days. This operation is generally done as an out patient or as a 1 day stay in the hospital. The operation itself can take 3-4 hours and can be combined with eyelid surgery or brow lift.

EYELID SURGERY

Eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty is done to remove excess skin and fat about the eyes. Incisions are made in the creases around the eyes and generally fade to acceptable levels but are permanent. Frequently when the upper eyelids are drooping, this is caused in part by lower eyebrows. Therefore many times a brow lift will need to be done in conjunction with upper eyelid surgery. Blepharoplasty can be done under local anesthesia in a minor surgical setting. Stitches are "dissolving" and usually will go away within 3-4 days. Black and blue can last 2 weeks.

EAR SURGERY

Ear surgery or otoplasty is done generally to place ears that stick out closer to the head. This is done with incisions that are generally hidden around the ears to remodel the skin and cartilage to make them more "normal" in position and appearance. I have done this operation on individuals between 5 years of age and 70 years. This operation generally gives very satisfactory results. In an individual who can cooperate (usually 15 years or above), this can be done in minor surgery under local anesthesia. Children would need to be operated on under a general anesthetic. The operation generally lasts an hour and a half. A head bandage is worn for several days afterwards, particularly in children.

BOTOX OR DYSPORT

Botox or Dysport are fast becoming the most popular cosmetic "office procedure" done in America today. These substances are purified proteins that are injected in specific areas, generally about the forehead and eyes, to decrease or even eliminate facial wrinkling and lines. This is done in a relatively short time in the office. There usually is no "down time" from these procedures although occasionally there can be black and blue. Results usually take effect within 2 to 6 days and last up to 6 months.

COSMETIC DERMAL FILLERS

Dermal fillers are injected in various areas on the face, particularly the nasolabial folds between the cheeks and upper lip, the upper lip itself, as well as areas about the eyes to plump up the areas and relieve depressions that occur with aging.

Among the fillers that we provide are Restylane, Perlane, Radiesse, Juvederm and others. These are generally done as office procedures taking about 15 minutes. There can be bruising but this is rare and results are immediate. They can last anywhere from 4 to 12 months, depending on the locations injected and what type of material is injected.

BREAST AUGMENTATION

ABDOMINOPLASTY

FACELIFT

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