If you're researching plastic surgery in Bellevue, Washington, you probably have a long list of questions — and rightfully so. The field of plastic surgery is rich and diverse, encompassing procedures from the face to the body, each with nuances that can significantly affect your results and recovery. At Pacific Sound Plastic Surgery, we see patients from across the Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Seattle, and Mercer Island area, and the same core questions come up again and again.

Below, Dr. Kristopher M. Day, MD, FACS — double board-certified, Ivy League Trained at Brown University, and the only craniofacial fellowship-trained plastic surgeon in the Bellevue market — addresses the most common procedures performed at the practice and the questions patients bring to consultation.

The Most Common Plastic Surgery Procedures at Our Bellevue Practice

Plastic surgery is a field that operates on patients from head to toe, focused on the form and function of the human body. At Pacific Sound Plastic Surgery, the most commonly performed procedures span the face, breast, and body categories — and many patients choose to combine procedures for efficiency and comprehensive results.

Many patients come in focused on one area but discover during consultation that combining procedures — such as a mommy makeover that addresses both the abdomen and breasts at once — offers better value and a single recovery period. Dr. Day evaluates each patient individually to determine the safest and most effective approach for their goals.

Breast Augmentation in Bellevue: The Keller Funnel & No-Touch Technique

When patients ask about breast augmentation technique, one of the most important topics is what's known as the no-touch technique — and the device that makes it possible: the Keller funnel.

How the Keller Funnel Works

The Keller funnel is an FDA-approved, sterile, single-use device that functions like a piping bag — allowing the implant to transfer directly from its sealed packaging into the body without any manual handling. Even in a sterile surgical environment with double-gloved hands, this zero-contact approach offers an additional layer of protection.

The implant arrives in a double-sealed package. Antibiotic solution is added, and the implant glides through the funnel directly into the chest. The dynamic properties of the funnel's material allow the implant to slide through without compression or manipulation. The result: the implant travels from factory packaging to its final position with no contact whatsoever.

This matters clinically. Bacterial contamination during implant placement is a recognized contributing factor to capsular contracture — one of the most common complications of breast augmentation. Minimizing handling minimizes that risk. For patients in Bellevue considering breast augmentation, understanding the technique your surgeon uses is worth exploring during your consultation.

The Truth About Transaxillary (Armpit) Breast Augmentation

Transaxillary breast augmentation — placing implants through an incision in the armpit to avoid a visible scar on the breast — sounds appealing in theory. But the data tells a different story.

According to a peer-reviewed study published in a respected plastic surgery journal — and co-authored by Dr. Day — only about 2% of breast augmentations nationally are performed via the transaxillary approach. The reason this number is so low is not arbitrary: the technique is associated with a meaningfully higher complication rate compared to the standard inframammary fold incision (placed in the natural crease beneath the breast).

Large database analyses from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons — the world's foremost organization of plastic surgery professionals — consistently show the inframammary incision to be among the safest approaches in terms of complication rate. While the idea of no visible scar on the breast is understandably attractive, patients must weigh that aesthetic trade-off against the evidence-based risk profile.

Who Actually Qualifies for a Drainless Tummy Tuck in Bellevue?

The drainless tummy tuck is one of the most frequently asked-about techniques at our Bellevue practice — and one of the most frequently misunderstood.

Yes, avoiding surgical drains would be easier for everyone — for patients managing recovery at home and for the surgical team managing post-operative care. But conscientious surgeons recognize that this technique is appropriate for only a select group of patients, not as a universal standard.

Who Is the Best Candidate?

The drainless approach is most appropriate for patients with a relatively lower body mass index and for those undergoing a mini tummy tuck. The reasoning is straightforward: a mini tummy tuck requires a shorter incision and a smaller surface area of tissue dissection, which means less fluid accumulates during the healing process — which is precisely what drains are designed to manage.

When a drainless tummy tuck is applied to patients who are not ideal candidates, the risk of developing a seroma — a fluid collection beneath the skin — increases significantly. Resolving a seroma can require a return to the operating room, which no patient wants after an elective procedure.

If a drainless approach matters to you, it's absolutely worth raising during your tummy tuck consultation in Bellevue — Dr. Day addresses it with every patient who asks. The key is ensuring the decision is based on your anatomy, not just your preference.

Facelift vs. Mini Facelift: Which Is Actually Right for You?

Few topics in facial rejuvenation generate as much patient confusion as the difference between a mini facelift and a full facelift — and marketing hasn't helped. The word "mini" implies something gentler, less dramatic, and perhaps more accessible. The reality is more nuanced.

When a Mini Facelift Makes Sense

A mini facelift addresses the face alone, with an incision that does not extend past the lower earlobe and behind the ear (which is required for a neck lift). It is genuinely appropriate for patients who identify and address early signs of facial aging before they become pronounced. Think of it as an early-intervention option for those who are proactive.

Why Most Patients Ultimately Need a Full Face and Neck Lift

Here is the clinical reality at a practice like Pacific Sound Plastic Surgery: the vast majority of patients — more than 95% — who undergo a facelift in our Bellevue practice receive a combined face and neck lift. That's because most people don't seek out surgical facial rejuvenation the first time they notice early changes. They consider it for years, deliberate, save, and finally decide when they feel the time has genuinely arrived. By that point, the neck almost always requires treatment too.

The standard face and neck lift has been the benchmark procedure for decades — and it remains so because it works. All alternative procedures, mini facelifts included, are ultimately measured against it. A full face and neck lift can turn back the clock 10–15 years with results that look natural, not pulled.

What a Facelift Does — and Doesn't — Include

A common misconception is that a facelift addresses the entire face, including the eyes and brow. It does not. Understanding the anatomy is important before consultation.

A facelift addresses the lower two-thirds of the face — from below the eyes downward, including the jowls, lower cheeks, and neck. The upper face — the forehead and brow — is the domain of a brow lift. The eyelids themselves require blepharoplasty (eyelid lift surgery), a distinct procedure with its own approach and recovery.

Common Procedures Often Combined With Facelift

Many Bellevue patients choose to combine their facelift with complementary procedures for a more complete result. The most common additions include fat grafting to the cheeks (restoring volume lost with age), eyelid lift (blepharoplasty), brow lift, and buccal fat excision for improved midface definition. These are all separate procedures — none of them are automatically included in a facelift — and each should be discussed individually during consultation so your expectations match your outcome.

Reviewed and approved for publication by Dr. Kristopher M. Day, MD, FACS. Content on this page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual results vary. Schedule a personal consultation to determine whether any procedure is appropriate for your specific anatomy and goals.