expert type icon EXPERT

Dr. Louis Mes

Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Louis Mes is a cosmetic medicine and surgery specialist practicing in Lafayette, Louisiana. Dr. Mes specializes in the enhancement of appearance. Improving aesthetic, symmetry and proportion are key goals in cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic medicine has nothing to do with these specific areas not functioning properly; therefore, this elective field solely focuses on aesthetics and anti-aging.
Dr. Louis Mes
  • Lafayette, Louisiana
  • University of the Witwatersrand
  • Accepting new patients

How do you get rid of stretch marks?

There is no way to get rid of stretch marks short of cutting away affected skin as part of a “tummy” tuck or similar procedure aimed at tightening skin. Creams and lasers etc. READ MORE
There is no way to get rid of stretch marks short of cutting away affected skin as part of a “tummy” tuck or similar procedure aimed at tightening skin. Creams and lasers etc. have little to no merit despite hype and aggressive marketing. A stretch mark is a tear in the dermal layer of the skin and while the initial redness will improve time true healing and reversal of to blemish is very limited.

How old do you have to be to have a nose job?

You have to have fully matured as an adult.
Dr M

How do you get rid of surgery scars?

You cannot get rid of scars. All that can be done is to alter them and sometimes this is worthwhile and at others it may not be. You have to talk to your doctor and have him give READ MORE
You cannot get rid of scars. All that can be done is to alter them and sometimes this is worthwhile and at others it may not be.
You have to talk to your doctor and have him give you a frank prognosis as to whether or not you should try.

Is a chin implant painful?

Having a straightforward chin implant inserted is not a particularly painful operation that can often be done without general anesthesia. However, sometimes chin surgery requires READ MORE
Having a straightforward chin implant inserted is not a particularly painful operation that can often be done without general anesthesia. However, sometimes chin surgery requires a more involved approach which might include cutting bone and even bone grafting. That makes the situation much more painful. You have to talk to your surgeon about all this.

Dr. Louis Mes

What breast implants look the most natural?

So much depends on the original appearance of your breasts. The less natural tissue you have, the more obvious it will be that you have implants. The same applies to size. The READ MORE
So much depends on the original appearance of your breasts. The less natural tissue you have, the more obvious it will be that you have implants. The same applies to size. The bigger the implant, the more obvious and unnatural it will appear.
Silicone gel implants usually feel more like breast tissue.
You really have to discuss this with your surgeon because how he/she does the operation and how you heal also can make a big difference when it comes to how “ natural” you will look after surgery.

Is eyelid surgery risky?

Any surgery is risky if done by a poor technician. If you have done due diligence on your surgeon and he/she is properly Board Certified to perform the operation, it is a very READ MORE
Any surgery is risky if done by a poor technician. If you have done due diligence on your surgeon and he/she is properly Board Certified to perform the operation, it is a very safe procedure.

How long is the recovery for a rhinoplasty?

A rhinoplasty essentially heals like a broken nose and initial healing takes about three weeks. However, swelling may persist for many months and so the final result may not be READ MORE
A rhinoplasty essentially heals like a broken nose and initial healing takes about three weeks. However, swelling may persist for many months and so the final result may not be evident for as long as a year or more.

Dr. Louis Mes

How long does it take to recover from breast reduction surgery?

Breast reduction is usually fairly problem-free and my patients can normally go back to work (desk jobs) after about a week. However, full healing to the point of no more tenderness, READ MORE
Breast reduction is usually fairly problem-free and my patients can normally go back to work (desk jobs) after about a week. However, full healing to the point of no more tenderness, etc., can take a few months. Scars can take up to a year to fully settle down. Remember that all surgeries produce scars and not everyone heals well. Loss of feeling in one or both nipples is uncommon and usually temporary, but may be permanent and has to be seen as a “trade-off.” Having said all that, breast reduction is a life changing operation and patient satisfaction is my experience is almost 100%, even when the result is not perfect and complications develop.

Are breast implants safe long-term?

This is a very good question but there is no definitive answer. In general implants are very safe and have been used without serious complications for about 40+ years. However, READ MORE
This is a very good question but there is no definitive answer. In general implants are very safe and have been used without serious complications for about 40+ years. However, that is not to say that there have not been problems and multiple design changes over the years. Recently some implants have been associated with a very rare type of lymphoma and like any device there is always a small group of patients with symptoms of illness that ends up being attributed to the presence of implants- so called “Breast implant related Disease”.
Because this is such a complex subject you need to find a Board Certified plastic surgeon who performs breast augmentations regularly and have a detailed consultation with him/her and do what your comfort level allows.

How long does breast enlargement surgery take?

It really depends on your surgeon because like anything speed varies widely. It also depends on how complicated your case is. However, the operation can usually be completed in READ MORE
It really depends on your surgeon because like anything speed varies widely. It also depends on how complicated your case is.

However, the operation can usually be completed in about 1 to 2 hours including anesthesia, prep-time and recovery.

Will an otoplasty affect my ability to hear?

This is an easy answer. Absolutely not!!
Dr. Louis Mes

Can acne scars be removed by plastic surgery?

Acne scars are usually pitted and because of this have a crater-likeconfiguration that makes it very difficult to remove them without damaging thr surrounding normal skin. Procedures READ MORE
Acne scars are usually pitted and because of this have a crater-likeconfiguration that makes it very difficult to remove them without damaging thr surrounding normal skin. Procedures such as dermabrasion and laser resurfacing are effective at smoothing off the skin but to do this requires removing normal tissue at a depth that usually changes the color of that skin permanently. It either darkens it or, more commonly, bleaches it and also, at least with dermabrasion, gives it a “ planed” appearance.
Sometimes this is a reasonable trade-off and sometimes it it makes matters worse. However, there is still almost always some residual evidence of the acne scars.
My advice is to have an honest consultation with a Board Certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist and then decide the “cost benefit” for your individual situation.
Dr Louis Mes

How long does a facelift last?

A face lift, in one sense lasts for a lifetime but it does not stop aging. When the last stitch goes in, you start all over again. You can’t stop the clock and everyone ages differently. READ MORE
A face lift, in one sense lasts for a lifetime but it does not stop aging. When the last stitch goes in, you start all over again. You can’t stop the clock and everyone ages differently. You have to think of a face lift as a resetting of your clock. If you want to “stop the clock” you will have to have regular touch up procedures and with each you will look more and more artificially tight. Remember that tight is not young. Teenagers do not have tight faces. At your age you would be far better served with Botox and fillers, I suspect.
Be careful!

Dr. Mes

Is a nose job painful?

The simple answer is ..Yes. You will have what amounts to a broken nose. However, the pain varies with how much work has to be done and this obviously will determine how long the READ MORE
The simple answer is ..Yes. You will have what amounts to a broken nose. However, the pain varies with how much work has to be done and this obviously will determine how long the pain lasts. You will have prescriptions for pain medicine and so the experience is usually not too bad.
Dr Louis Mes

Is a breast enlargement safe?

Like any surgery that is invasive and requires anesthesia and pain mangement there are inherent risks. However, a breast enlargement, when performed by a Board Certified plastic READ MORE
Like any surgery that is invasive and requires anesthesia and pain mangement there are inherent risks. However, a breast enlargement, when performed by a Board Certified plastic surgeon has a very low risk profile and is generally considered safe. What has to be assessed by any patient are the long term implications and possible complications of inserting a foreign material, in this case silicone breast implants, into the body to enhance breast size for whatever reason, be it cosmetic or reconstructive.
You have to have a frank and thorough consultation with your surgeon before ANY elective procedure.
Dr. Louis Mes

Can I tighten the skin around my stomach?

There are a number of ways to tighten skin and they range from complex and expensive to fairly simple, depending on what your situation presents. You should make an appointment READ MORE
There are a number of ways to tighten skin and they range from complex and expensive to fairly simple, depending on what your situation presents. You should make an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options.

Dr. Louis Mes

Can a teenager get a nose job?

The only question that differentiates a teenager from an adult is whether or not the face has finished changing. If you are sure her nasal shape had settled, then a consultation READ MORE
The only question that differentiates a teenager from an adult is whether or not the face has finished changing. If you are sure her nasal shape had settled, then a consultation with a Board Certified facial surgeon (ENT or Plastic) is the next step if she wants to have surgery.

Dr. Louis Mes

What is a gummy bear implant?

“Gummy Bear” is used to refer to modern silicone-filled breast implants. The manufacturers use a cohesive gel product that will not leak out if the implant ruptures and because READ MORE
“Gummy Bear” is used to refer to modern silicone-filled breast implants. The manufacturers use a cohesive gel product that will not leak out if the implant ruptures and because of the consistency of the implant, it has earned the nickname "gummy bear."

Do you typically look better after plastic surgery?

This is such a broad question that a specific answer is impossible. Breast augmentation is a common procedure and when performed well and conservatively by a properly trained and READ MORE
This is such a broad question that a specific answer is impossible. Breast augmentation is a common procedure and when performed well and conservatively by a properly trained and Board Certified plastic surgeon, the results are excellent and the patients are pleased. However there are many variables particularly when trying to make dissimilar breast look the same. You need to make an appointment with a surgeon and discuss your options and if possible look at before and after photos with him to see what you can reasonably expect.

Dr Louis Mes

Should I get a second opinion before plastic surgery?

A second opinion is never a bad idea, but be sure that your surgeons are qualified and experienced. There may be a practical reason for your first doctor to suggest something different READ MORE
A second opinion is never a bad idea, but be sure that your surgeons are qualified and experienced. There may be a practical reason for your first doctor to suggest something different from what you had in mind, but it is your nose and face and you should usually have the "last word."

Dr. Louis Mes