READ TESTIMONIALS FROM REAL PATIENTS OF DR. BALAKHANI

Deciding on a plastic surgeon to perform your procedure is an important decision. It is essential that you feel confident that you are making the right choice. We have provided testimonials of plastic surgery patients that have placed their trust in Dr. Balakhani to perform their procedures.

“Dear Dr. Balakhani,
It’s difficult to adequately express my gratitude to you for all that you have done for me. I am delighted with the results of my surgery. I cannot thank you enough.

Sincerely,
Valerie”

Click Here to read more patient stories.

bg testimonials (1)

MEET MEHDI BALAKHANI, D.D.S., M.D., F.A.C.S.

Mehdi Balakhani, D.D.S., M.D., F.A.C.S. is Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Christiana Care Systems and Director of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at St. Francis Hospital, Wilmington, Delaware. He has been selected by nurses and his peers as a top doctor in Delaware since 1992. Dr. Balakhani is Board Certified in both Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery since 1983. He has contributed more than 20 cosmetic surgery instructional exhibits to the Medical Society of Delaware over the past 20 years. He has provided more than 200 educational seminars for public education in the field of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

Read more...

breast procedures
body proceduress
face procedures
male procedures

Plastic Surgery Procedures Delaware

Plastic surgery is a pivotal field in medicine, focusing on enhancing aesthetic appearance, restoring function, and boosting overall well-being. Dr. Balakhani, a distinguished Delaware plastic surgeon, offers a wide range of plastic surgery procedures tailored to address both cosmetic and reconstructive needs.

Dr. Balakhani has been providing cosmetic surgery procedures for the face, breast, and body for 30 years. His unique background as an oral surgeon (prior to becoming a plastic and reconstructive surgeon) gives him additional expertise and knowledge of facial cosmetic procedures.

Understanding Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery encompasses both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, aiming to improve a patient’s appearance and, in many cases, their function and overall quality of life. Cosmetic surgery focuses on enhancing aesthetic appeal, symmetry, and proportion, while reconstructive surgery aims to repair or restore form and function following injury, disease, or congenital disabilities.

Consultation Process

To begin your aesthetic enhancement journey with Dr. Balakhani, follow these steps:

  • Schedule an appointment. Contact our office to set up a consultation.
  • Prepare. Gather any relevant medical history documents and consider your goals for surgery.
  • Visit our office. During your consultation, Dr. Balakhani will discuss your aesthetic goals, evaluate your needs, and recommend the most suitable plastic surgery procedures.

If you do not see what you are looking for, please contact us for more information.
Dr. Balakhani also offers his patients non-surgical skin care procedures and techniques for the face and neck at his Delaware and Wilmington offices. Please visit our Skin Care Page for information on these procedures.


 

Procedures at a Glance

This page offers a general overview of cosmetic surgery procedures. For more in-depth information on these procedures, please follow the links in the left column.

While this section explores cosmetic surgical offerings, many of these procedures may also fulfill actual medical needs. You should understand that the circumstances and experiences of every individual will be unique.

  • If you’re considering cosmetic plastic surgery, please ask your plastic surgeon for further information about the particular procedure and what you can expect.
  • In addition, please note that all surgery carries some uncertainty and risk, including the possibility of infection, bleeding, blood clots, and adverse reactions to the anesthesia. You can reduce your risks by choosing a qualified plastic surgeon and closely following his or her advice, both before and after surgery.

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

Procedure: Flatten abdomen by removing excess fat and skin and tightening muscles of abdominal wall.
Length: 2 to 5 hours.
Anesthesia: General, or local with sedation.
In/Outpatient: Either depending on individual circumstances and extent of surgery.
Side Effects: Temporary pain. Swelling, soreness, numbness of abdominal skin, bruising, tiredness for several weeks or months.
Risks: Blood clots. Infection. Bleeding under the skin flap. Poor healing resulting in conspicuous scarring or skin loss. Need for a second operation.
Recovery: Back to work: 2 to 4 weeks. More strenuous activity: 4 to 6 weeks or more. Fading and flattening of scars: 3 months to 2 years.

Breast Enlargement (Augmentation Mammaplasty)

Procedure: Enhance the size of breasts using inflatable implants filled with saline.
Length: 1 to 2 hours.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary soreness, swelling, change in nipple sensation, bruising. Breast sensitive to stimulation for a few weeks.
Risks: Lack of implant permanence — surgical removal or replacement of the implants may be required to treat problems, including: deflation; the formation of scar tissue around the implant (capsular contracture), which may cause the breast to feel tight or hard; bleeding or infection. Increase or decrease in sensitivity of nipples or breast skin, occasionally permanent. Mammography requires a special technique. (Note: Some women have reported symptoms similar to those of immune disorders. Ask your doctor about these and other FDA concerns.)
Recovery: Back to work: a few days. Physical contact with breasts: 3 to 4 weeks. Fading of scars: several months to a year or more.
Duration of
Results:
Variable. Implants may require removal or replacement.

Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

Procedure: Raise and reshape sagging breasts by removing excess skin and repositioning remaining tissue and nipples.
Length: 1 to 3 hours.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient. Sometimes inpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary bruising, swelling, discomfort, numbness, dry breast skin. Permanent scars.
Risks: Thick, wide scars; skin loss; infection. Unevenly positioned nipples. Permanent loss of feeling in nipples or breast.
Recovery: Back to work: 1 week or more. Strenuous activities: 1 month. Fading of scars: several months to a year.
Duration of
Results:
Variable; gravity, pregnancy, aging, and weight changes may cause new sagging. Results may last longer or be enhanced when breast implants are inserted as part of the procedure.

Chemical Peel (Phenol and trichloroacetic acid [TCA])

Procedure: Restore wrinkled, blemished, unevenly pigmented, or sun-damaged facial skin, using a chemical solution to peel away skin’s top layers. Works best on fair, thin skin with superficial wrinkles.
Length: 1 to 2 hours for full face.
Anesthesia: None; sedation & EKG monitoring may be used.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient. Full-face phenol peel may require admission for 1 to 2 days.
Side Effects: Both: Temporary throbbing, tingling, swelling, redness; acute sensitivity to sun. Phenol: Permanent lightening of treated skin; permanent loss of ability to tan.
Risks: Both: Tiny whiteheads (temporary); infection; scarring; flare-up of skin allergies, fever blisters, cold sores. Phenol: Abnormal color changes (permanent); heart irregularities (rare).
Recovery: Phenol: Formation of new skin: 7 to 21 days. Normal activities: 2 to 4 weeks. Full healing and fading of redness: 3 to 6 months TCA: New skin within 5 to 10 days.
Duration of
Results:
Phenol: permanent, although new wrinkles may form as skin ages. TCA: variable (temporary).

 

Juvederm (Hyaluronic Acid) / Fat Injections

Procedure: Plump up creased, furrowed, or sunken facial skin; add fullness to lips and backs of hands. Works best on thin, dry, light-colored skin.
Length: 15 minutes to 1 hour per session.
Anesthesia: Juvederm: usually none; local may be included with the injection. Fat: local.
In/Outpatient: Outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary stinging, throbbing, or burning sensation. Faint redness, swelling, excess fullness.
Risks: Juvederm: allergic reaction including rash, hives, swelling, or flu-like symptoms; possible triggering of connective-tissue or autoimmune diseases. (A skin test is required before collagen treatment to determine whether an allergy exists.) Both: Contour irregularities, infection.
Duration of
Results:
Variable; a few months to 1 year.

 

Dermabrasion

Procedure: Mechanical scraping of the top layers of skin using a high-speed rotary wheel. Softens sharp edges of surface irregularities, including acne and other scars and fine wrinkles, especially around the mouth.
Length: A few minutes to 1 hour. May require more than 1 session.
Anesthesia: Local, numbing spray, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary tingling, burning, itching, swelling, redness. Lightening of treated skin. Acute sensitivity to sun; loss of ability to make pigment (tan).
Risks: Abnormal color changes (permanent). Tiny whiteheads (temporary); infection; scarring; flare-up of skin allergies, fever blisters, cold sores.
Recovery: Back to work: 2 weeks. More strenuous activities: 4 to 6 weeks. Fading of redness: about 3 months. Return of pigmentation/sun exposure: 6 to 12 months.
Duration of
Results:
Permanent, although new wrinkles may form as skin ages.

 

Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)

Procedure: Set prominent ears back closer to the head, or reduce the size of large ears. Most often done on children between the ages of 4 and 14 years. (Occasionally covered by insurance.)
Length: 2 to 3 hours.
Anesthesia: Young children: usually general. Older children or adults: general or local, with sedation.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary throbbing, aching, swelling, redness, numbness.
Risks: Infection of cartilage. Excessive scarring. Blood clot that may need to be drained. Mismatched or artificial- looking ears. Recurrence of the protrusion, requiring repeat surgery.
Recovery: Back to work or school: 5 to 7 days.
Strenuous activity, contact sports: 1 to 2 months.
Duration of
Results:
Usually permanent.

 

Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Procedure: Correct drooping upper eyelids and puffy bags below the eyes by removing excess fat, skin, and muscle. (Upper-eyelid surgery may be covered by insurance if used to correct visual field defects)
Length: 1 to 3 hours.
Anesthesia: Usually locally with sedation or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary discomfort, tightness of lids, swelling, bruising. Temporary dryness, burning, itching of eyes. Excessive tearing, sensitivity to light for first few weeks.
Risks: Temporary blurred or double vision. Infection, bleeding. Swelling at the corners of the eyelids. Dry eyes. Formation of whiteheads. Slight asymmetry in healing or scarring. Difficulty in closing eyes completely (rarely permanent). Pulling down of the lower lids (may require further surgery). Blindness (extremely rare).
Recovery: Reading: 2 or 3 days. Back to work: 7 to 10 days. Contact lenses: two weeks or more. Strenuous activities, alcohol: about 3 weeks. Bruising and swelling gone: several weeks.
Duration of
Results:
Several years. Sometimes permanent.

 

Facelift (Rhytidectomy)

Procedure: Improving sagging facial skin, jowls, and loose neck skin by removing excess fat, tightening muscles, redraping skin. Most often done on men and women over 40.
Length: Several hours.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient. Some patients may require short inpatient stay.
Side Effects: Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness and tenderness of skin; tight feeling, dry skin. For men, permanent need to shave behind ears, where beard-growing skin is repositioned.
Risks: Injury to the nerves that control facial muscles or feeling (usually temporary but may be permanent). Infection, bleeding. Poor healing; excessive scarring. Asymmetry or change in hairline.
Recovery: Back to work: 10 to 14 days. More strenuous activity: 2 weeks or more. Bruising: 2 to 3 weeks. Must limit exposure to sun for several months.
Duration of
Results:
Usually 5 to 10 years.

 

Facial Implants

Procedure: Change the basic shape and balance of the face using carefully shaped implants to build up a receding chin, add prominence to cheekbones, or reshape the jawline.
Length: 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient. Occasionally overnight hospital stay.
Side Effects: Temporary discomfort, swelling, bruising, numbness and/or stiffness. In jaw surgery, inability to open mouth fully for several weeks.
Risks: Shifting or imprecise positioning of implant, or infection around it, requiring a second operation or removal. Excess tightening and hardening of scar tissue around an artificial implant (“capsular contracture”), causing unnatural shape.
Recovery: Back to work: about 1 week. Normal appearance: 2 to 4 weeks. Activity that could jar or bump face: 6 weeks or more.
Duration of
Results:
Permanent.

 

Forehead Lift (Browlift)

Procedure: Minimize forehead creases, drooping eyebrows, hooding over eyes, furrowed forehead and frown lines by removing excess tissue, altering muscles and tightening the forehead skin. May be done using the traditional technique, with an incision across the top of the head just behind the hairline; or with the use of an endoscope, which requires 3 to 5 short incisions. Most often done on people over 40.
Length: 1 to 2 hours.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary swelling, numbness, headaches, bruising. Traditional method: Possible itching and hair loss.
Risks: Injury to facial nerve, causing loss of motion, muscle weakness, or asymmetrical look. Infection. Broad or excessive scarring.
Recovery: Back to work: 7 to 10 days, usually sooner for endoscopic forehead lift. More strenuous activity: several weeks. Full recovery from bruising: 2 to 3 weeks. Limit sun exposure for several months.
Duration of
Results:
Usually 5 to 10 years.

 

Labiaplasty

Procedure: Shorten stretched or asymmetrical labia minora by removing excess tissue. May be performed with either the wedge method, which involves creating an incision and removing a wedge-shaped section of tissue, or the trim method, which involves removing tissue from the labia’s outer edges. Along with aesthetic benefits, this procedure can improve overall quality of life and sexual health.
Length: 2 hours.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary swelling, numbness, soreness, bruising.
Risks: Numbness. Chronic dryness. A decrease in sensitivity. Bleeding. Infection. Scarring.
Recovery: Back to work: 10 to 14 days. More strenuous activity: several weeks. Intercourse: 6 weeks.
Duration of
Results:
Usually 10 to 15 years.

 

Laser Facial Resurfacing

Procedure: Smooth the face and smooth fine wrinkles using a carbon dioxide (CO
2

) laser device that treats layers of damaged skin. Softens lines around the eyes and mouth and minimizes facial scars and unevenly pigmented areas.
Length: A few minutes to 1 hour. May require more than 1 session.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient, unless combined with other surgical procedures that require hospitalization.
Side Effects: Temporary swelling, discomfort. Lightening of treated skin. Acute sun sensitivity. Increased sensitivity to makeup. Pinkness or redness in skin that may persist for up to 6 months.
Risks: Burns or injuries caused by laser heat. Scarring. Abnormal changes in skin color. Flare-up of viral infections (“cold sores”) and other infections (rare).
Recovery: Back to work: 2 weeks. More strenuous activities: 4-6 weeks. Complete fading of redness: 6 months or less. Return of pigmentation/light sun exposure: 6-12 months.
Duration of
Results:
Long-lasting, but does not stop aging. New wrinkles, expression lines may form as skin ages.

 

View Laser Resurfacing Gallery

Liposuction (Suction-Assisted Lipectomy)

Procedure: Improve body shape by removing exercise-resistant fat deposits with a tube and vacuum device. Can be performed using the tumescent technique, in which targeted fat cells are infused with saline containing solution with a local anesthetic before liposuction to reduce post-operative bruising and swelling. Common locations for liposuction include chin, cheeks, neck, upper arms, above breasts, abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, calves, ankles.For larger volumes of fat or for fibrous body areas, ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL) may be used. UAL is a new technique in which a ultrasound probe is inserted beneath the skin to “liquify” the fat before it is suctioned.
Length: 1 to 2 hours or more. UAL: 20-40 percent longer than traditional liposuction.
Anesthesia: Local, epidural, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient. Extensive procedures may require short inpatient stay.
Side Effects: Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness, soreness, burning sensation. Tumescent: Temporary fluid drainage from incision sites. UAL: Larger incisions for cannula.
Risks: Asymmetry. Rippling or bagginess of skin. Pigmentation changes. Skin injury. Fluid retention. Excessive fluid loss leading to shock. Infection. UAL: thermal burn injury caused by the heat from the ultrasound device.
Recovery: Back to work: 1 to 2 weeks. More strenuous activity: 2 to 4 weeks. Full recovery from swelling and bruising: 1 to 6 months or more. Use of tumescent technique or UAL may decrease post-operative bruising and swelling.
Duration of
Results:
Permanent, with sensible diet and exercise.

 

Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia)

Procedure: Reduce enlarged, female-like breast in men using liposuction and/or cutting out excess glandular tissue. (Sometimes covered by medical insurance.)
Length: 1 hour or more.
Anesthesia: General or local.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness, soreness, burning sensation.
Risks: Infection. Fluid accumulation. Injury to the skin. Rippling or bagginess of skin. Asymmetry. Pigmentation changes (may become permanent if exposed to sun). Excessive scarring if tissue was cut away. Need for second procedure to remove additional tissue.
Recovery: Back to work: 3 to 7 days. More strenuous activity: 2 to 3 weeks. Swelling and bruising: 3 to 6 months.
Duration of
Results:
permanent

 

Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty)

Procedure: Reshape nose by reducing or increasing size, removing hump, changing shape of tip or bridge, narrowing span of nostrils, or changing angle between nose and upper lip. May also relieve some breathing problems. (May be covered by insurance.)
Length: 1 to 2 hours or more.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary swelling, bruising around eyes, nose and headaches. Some bleeding and stiffness.
Risks: Infection. Small burst blood vessels resulting in tiny, permanent red spots. Incomplete improvement, requiring additional surgery.
Recovery: Back to work: 1 to 2 weeks. More strenuous activities: 2 to 3 weeks. Avoid hitting nose or sunburn: 8 weeks. Final appearance: 1 year or more.
Duration of
Results:
Permanent.

Botox

Coming Soon

Breast Implant Removal

Coming Soon

Buttocks Augmentation With Fat Grafting (brazilian butt lift)

Coming Soon

Buttocks Lift

Coming Soon

Buccal Fat Pad Removal

Coming Soon

Facial Fat Grafting

Coming Soon

Thigh Lift

Coming Soon

Lower Body Lift

Coming Soon

Upper Arm Lift (brachioplasty)

Coming Soon

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What should I expect during recovery?
A: Recovery varies by procedure, with detailed post-operative care instructions provided to ensure a smooth healing process.

Q: Are plastic surgery results permanent?
A: While many procedures offer long-lasting results, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help extend the benefits.

Q: Is plastic surgery safe?
A: Yes, when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Balakhani, surgery is safe. However, all surgeries carry inherent risks, which will be thoroughly discussed during your consultation.

Schedule Your Consultation

Take the first step towards achieving your aesthetic goals. Contact Dr. Balakhani’s office today to schedule your consultation and learn more about how plastic surgery procedures can enhance your overall appearance.

  • Send us an email

newsletter btn
directions btn
media btn