Patient Care Information
& FAQ

Facelift results can last up to 10 years or more with a healthy lifestyle, daily sun protection, and medical-grade skin care.

Description text goes hereWhile a facelift targets the lower face, it may not address other areas contributing to a tired or aged look. This is where combining procedures, such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)or a brow lift, can be beneficial to rejuvenate the entire face. Our surgeons can customize a treatment plan that aligns with your aesthetic goals for a natural and harmonious transformation.

There isn’t one “best” age for a facelift. It depends more on your degree of facial and neck laxity and overall health.

At St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery, most patients who choose a full or deep plane facelift are typically between 55 and 75 years old, although candidates can be younger or older, depending on their specific concerns.

A deep plane facelift offers several advantages over more superficial facelift techniques. By lifting the deeper facial tissues rather than simply tightening the skin, it can create more natural-looking results and reduce the “pulled” appearance some patients worry about.

This approach can also provide more comprehensive improvement in the midface, jawline, and neck and may deliver longer-lasting rejuvenation for appropriate candidates.

Following your procedure, small drains are positioned along either side of your neck to remove excess fluids, aiding in the healing process. Your face is bandaged to protect the incision. After 24 hours, the drains are removed, and your bandages are swapped for a more comfortable jaw strap. This strap should be worn daily for 7 to 14 days to minimize swelling and promote healing.

Swelling and bruising peak 3 to 4 days after surgery and then typically subside quickly. You will want to schedule 1 to 2 weeks of downtime as you focus on recovery, but you can expect to see significant improvements when the sutures are removed on day 7.

The incisions are concealed in the hairline and natural creases of the face where they are not readily noticeable. Initially, they may appear red and slightly raised. Within a few months, the resulting scars will flatten and fade. In about 6 to 12 months, the scars lose their color and continue to diminish.

After 1 to 2 months, you can see and feel the transformation as the residual swelling fades. Most patients are photo-ready with a refreshed sense of confidence by the eighth week after surgery.

Following eyelid surgery, patients typically enjoy: Brighter, more open eyes, An improved field of vision, A smoother, more youthful under-eye area, A subtle but powerful transformation

Upper eyelid surgery patients can have the procedure done in our office under local anesthesia. However, lower or quad blepharoplasty typically requires general anesthesia and may need to be performed elsewhere. We will evaluate your unique case during your consultation.

Eyelid surgery results are long-lasting, and many people enjoy improvement for years. For some, the results can last a lifetime, although drooping can recur as you continue to age.

Blepharoplasty is designed to remove excess eyelid skin and improve under-eye bags, which can make the eye area look smoother and more refreshed. However, it does not reliably treat fine lines or crow’s feet caused by muscle movement.

For dynamic wrinkles around the eyes, treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic are often more effective and may be recommended instead or in combination with surgery.

Blepharoplasty is often performed in conjunction with a brow lift or facelift to extend the rejuvenation benefits.

After your brow lift procedure, you can look forward to experiencing: A more alert, refreshed appearance, Eyes that look open and bright, A subtle, more youthful look, A smoother forehead

We will apply a dressing to help control swelling in the forehead and support your brows in their new position. Swelling and bruising tend to peak in the first 3 or 4 days and should significantly improve after a week. Oral pain medication, ice packs, and keeping your head elevated can help keep you comfortable and help control the swelling.

Most patients need 1 to 2 weeks off work before they feel comfortable being seen in public. Gravity makes the bruising descend, so expect the discoloration to travel from the brows to the lower eyelid area after a week. We typically remove sutures on day 7 and will evaluate your healing progress.

It can take 2 months for your brows to settle into position and for most of the residual swelling to dissipate. We will provide detailed postoperative care instructions and advise you on the timeline to resume strenuous activitie

The results of a brow lift can be enjoyed for many years. As the aging process continues, some relaxation of the tissues may occur over time. You will look younger and better than if you hadn’t had the procedure, but a secondary surgery may be required after 10+ years to refresh your look.

Patients who aren’t ready or able to commit to surgery may find that an injectable treatment, such as BOTOX® Cosmetic, Letybo®, or dermal fillers, can temporarily lift and smooth the brow area.

An endoscopic brow lift uses small incisions hidden in the hairline for less visible scarring while still lifting the brow effectively.

It’s also commonly associated with less swelling and downtime, as well as a quicker return to a normal routine, compared to more invasive approaches.

When you undergo breast augmentation with our breast enhancement experts, you can expect the following: Desired improvements in size and shape, More symmetrical breasts, Increased body confidence, Results as subtle or dramatic as you want

Most patients experience a tight, sore sensation in their chests for the first 48 hours of recovery. Swelling and bruising will usually peak by day 3 or 4, and most patients feel ready to return to work after a week, thanks to our rapid-recovery techniques.

You can gradually ease into nonstrenuous exercise after 2 weeks, though most patients need 6 weeks before they are ready to resume their normal workouts and activities fully. Around this point, your implants will begin to “drop and fluff” into a more natural position.

You may need only augmentation if your main concern is volume loss and your nipples and breasts are still well-positioned.

However, if you have noticeable sagging or loose, stretched skin, a breast lift may be needed to reshape the breast for a perkier, more lifted look.

No, the size of the implant does not affect the price. However, silicone gel implants have a slightly higher price tag than saline-filled implants.

Yes, and countless women have done so without problems. If you are concerned about your ability to breastfeed after breast augmentation, be sure to discuss this with your surgeon.

While not made to last a lifetime, breast implants do not have specific expiration dates. If you are happy with how you look and feel, and do not have any concerns, it is safe to leave your implants in place. If your preferences have changed, you can have breast revision surgery to change the fill material, size, and other options.

Yes, patients need to wear a supportive surgical bra during early healing to help manage swelling and support the implants.

You can usually switch to a normal, supportive non–underwire bra after a few weeks. You’ll need to wait to wear underwire bras until you’re fully healed and your surgeon clears you.

Breast lift candidates should be healthy non-smokers with some degree of breast ptosis (sagging), which is often characterized by: Stretch marks, Elongated, flattened shape, Nipples that point downward, Areolae that fall below the inframammary fold

I generally advise you to wait until after having children (at least 6 months postpartum and breastfeeding) before pursuing this surgery, as additional pregnancies and nursing can undo some of your results.

Following a breast lift, our patients look forward to enjoying: Elevated, reshaped breasts, Improved areolae size and position, A more youthful breast contour

Following your procedure, you will need to wear a surgical compression bra for up to 6 weeks to keep swelling under control and support your breasts as they heal. Most patients can shower after 48 hours and feel well enough to return to work after a week.

While you should avoid running or heavy lifting for at least 4 to 5 weeks, you can ease back into nonstrenuous activities within the first 2 weeks. We provide you with detailed postoperative instructions and advise you on when you can resume your full routine.

I take special care to make the incisions as discreet as possible. While it may take 6 months to a year for the scars to mature and fade, they should be relatively unnoticeable with proper care and sun protection.

Although many women breastfeed after a breast lift, the surgery could affect your ability to breastfeed, as it involves repositioning the breast tissue and nipple. Depending on your goals, your surgeon can adjust their techniques to preserve the milk glands and ducts.

During a breast lift, the nipple–areola complex is typically raised and repositioned to a more youthful position. The areola may also be adjusted in size and position, depending on the technique.

You won’t necessarily lose nipple sensation after a breast lift, but it is a possibility. This effect is typically temporary, but it can be permanent in certain cases.

Yes, in select patients, a breast lift can be paired with fat transfer to add a subtle amount of fullness using their own fat.

Keep in mind that fat transfer is generally for modest enhancement, not a major cup-size change that implants can provide.

A vertical breast lift adjusts both the nipple-areolar complex (NAC) and the breasts by raising and repositioning them both. This technique uses a lollipop-shaped incision that encircles the NAC and runs vertically from the bottom of the areola to the base of the breast.

This technique is used for patients with significant breast sagging and skin laxity. It extends the lollipop incision of the vertical lift with a horizontal incision along the inframammary fold (creating an anchor-like shape). It raises the breasts and NAC but also tightens and removes excess skin beneath the breast.

This breast lift procedure is for patients with minimal sagging. The incision is limited to a circle that traces the areola’s border. Your surgeon uses this technique to elevate the NAC but does not lift or adjust the breast tissue.

In this breast lift technique, the skin above the areola is excised, and the NAC is lifted. Like the circumareolar lift, the breast tissue is left alone, and the breasts are not raised higher on the chest wall.

Also known as an augmentation mastopexy, this procedure is part breast lift, part breast augmentation. The surgeon performs the breast lift to correct ptosis, remove excess skin, and repositions the NAC as needed before inserting breast implants to enhance the size and shape of the now-lifted breasts.

Following a breast reduction, patients overwhelmingly report the following benefits: Improved body proportions, Relief from back, neck, and shoulder pain, Perkier, better-positioned breasts, Increased confidence, Greater freedom in dress and activities

Most patients need 1 to 2 weeks off work to recover from their procedure. You will likely have drains to help prevent fluid from building up. We will give you detailed instructions on caring for your drains and making the most of your recovery period.

You can resume light exercise and non-strenuous activities after a week and gradually ease into more taxing tasks over the following month. Most patients can resume activities fully after 5 or 6 weeks.

With this technique, the nipple-areolar complex (NAC) remains attached during the procedure, which typically allows the patient to maintain sensitivity and projection in the nipples as well as fullness in the upper breast.

This breast reduction technique uses liposuction to remove excess fat and volume before a breast lift is performed to remove excess skin and restore the breasts to a higher position.

The NAC is removed as a graft and returned after the reduction procedure. While this has a higher risk of the nipple losing sensitivity and projection, it is a safer option for patients with extremely large breasts in terms of keeping the NAC viable.

Gynecomastia is a condition in which men suffer from overdeveloped or enlarged breast tissue.

This feminization of the chest is often linked to a hormonal imbalance and can be a source of self-consciousness in the men it affects. We offer male breast reduction at our St. Louis, MO, plastic surgery practice to remove excess breast tissue and restore a more masculine chest appearance.

Gynecomastia is often caused by hormonal changes, particularly an imbalance in estrogen and testosterone. However, certain medical conditions, medications, and lifestyle factors (e.g., obesity or excessive alcohol consumption) can contribute to the appearance of male breasts.

Your surgical results are typically long-lasting, as fat cells won’t regenerate once removed from the body. However, gaining significant weight can cause the remaining fat cells to enlarge, which can compromise your results. Keeping a stable weight and adopting healthy lifestyle habits can help you enjoy your results indefinitely.

After treatment for gynecomastia, our patients enjoy: Enhanced chest and neck contours, Greater symmetry in the chest, A flatter, more masculine chest appearance, Increased body confidence

Healthy, non-smoking men who want to treat their gynecomastia through surgery are strong candidates for male breast reduction. During your consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons, we will evaluate your unique case, your medical history, and your goals for the procedure to make sure that surgery is the best choice for you.

Following your procedure, you will need to wear a compression garment to support the chest area and keep swelling to a minimum. This vest-like garment can be hidden well under most shirts. If your surgery involved skin excision, you may also have drains put in place to prevent serous (wound) fluid from building up.

We will give you detailed instructions on properly caring for your drains and ensuring a safe, smooth recovery. During the first few days, you will experience some soreness and bruising, but ice packs, gentle arm movements, and over-the-counter pain medication can alleviate discomfort.

You can resume light, nonstrenuous exercise after a week, though it may take 4 to 6 weeks before all activity restrictions can be limited. After the first 2 or 3 weeks, you will switch from the compression vest to a light, comfortable compression shirt similar to what athletes wear under their uniforms. You will need to wear this garment for another few weeks until you are cleared by your surgeon.

It may take up to 3 months before you are comfortable being seen shirtless. By this point, the swelling will have mostly resolved, and the incisions will have started to fade.

Chin Enhancement is an excellent procedure for patients who have a weak jawline and need some profile balancing.

Chin augmentation with a silicone implant can balance your profile, improve the jawline length, contour your jawline and diminish the appearance of a double chin. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia, and the incision will be placed under the chin and hidden away from plain sight.

• Balanced Profile: A chin augmentation will properly proportion your face. In addition, it will balance out your other facial features.

• Improve Jawline Length: Many patients receive a chin implant because their jawline is too short and their chin is recessing. A chin augmentation will length out the jawline creating beautiful contouring.

• Diminish Appearance Of Double Chin: A recessed chin can often cause the appearance of a double chin. A chin implant will length the jawline and diminish the formation of a double chin.

• Can Be Performed Under Local Anesthesia: This procedure is quick and easy and can be performed under local anesthesia in our office.

• Silicone Implant: A silicone implant is often used for chin augmentation. Your surgeon will place a correctly sized and shaped implant through a small incision under your chin for a more balanced profile.

• Filler: Another option to contour your chin is the use of hyaluronic acid filler. Filler can be used to give your chin a little more definition without going through a procedure.

• Fat Grafting: The third option for chin augmentation is fat grafting. Fat grafting is a surgical process in which fat is taken from one part of the body and injected into another part. During this procedure, liposuction will be performed to harvest fat from another location. The fat will then be injected into your chin creating a more proportionate chin appearance.

You will have sutures under the chin which will come out around days 7-10. You will likely have a little difficulty moving your lower lip normally due to the numbing solution and swelling. Generally, large dressings after surgery is not used but this is on a case-by-case basis.

With the use of a silicone implant, sutures are removed around week 1. Swelling is much improved but still moderate. Bruising is minimal. The improvement in the jawline, facial proportions, and profile are all visible.

The patient is picture-perfect. Additional jawline or neck interventions (filler along the jawline, neck lipo, etc) can be done at this point in time as most of the swelling from the chin augmentation with silicone implant has resolved.

Most patients should not need another chin augmentation as long as there are not any issues.

A lip lift can be a beneficial procedure for any age.

This small procedure can create beautiful results with little downtime. The lip lift can be performed under local anesthesia in our office and serves people of all ages. The procedure will use a small incision that is placed under the nose to improve lip proportions and rejuvenate the lip area. You will see the more pink area of the lips and more upper teeth show when the lip is relaxed. The lip lift offers a more permanent solution to constant lip filler.

• Improved Lip Proportions: This procedure will address the proportions of the pink lip portion to the skin above the lip. This procedure will show more pink of the upper lift and more teeth when the lip is relaxed.

• Rejuvenates Lip Area: For our older patients, this procedure gives a rejuvenated look to the upper lip area. The extra pink in the lip showing causes a more youthful and fresh appearance.

• Creates A More Youthful Appearance: This procedure will create a more youthful area around your lips. It will show more pink in the lips and lift up the area giving off a youthful and fresh appearance.

• Quick And Small Procedure: This is a quick and easy procedure that can be performed in our office under local anesthesia that provides a beautiful result.

This procedure involves a single approach to the incision line. The incision will appear in the design of a bull horn and be hidden in the crease below your nose.

• Immediately after: There will be some swelling and a firm feeling to the upper lip due to the swelling. Pain is minimal and well-controlled with over-the-counter medications. The sutures are blue and in an incision hidden under the nose. The lip lift will look and feel overdone at this stage.

• One week: There is still mild to moderate swelling. The lip has not yet settled into its final contour and shape. All the sutures are removed within a week.

• One to two months: At one month, things are looking and feeling great, the patient is photo-ready! The scar will take a variable amount of time to fade but is easily covered with makeup and the best scar management is sunscreen. (and a silicone-based cream if concern for scar thickening at all).

The incision is hidden in the crease right below the nose and above the cupids bow.

Slim your lower face and enjoy more sculpted and slimmed cheeks with buccal fat pad removal.

This quick and easy procedure is performed in our office under local anesthesia to reduce the appearance of chubby chipmunk cheeks. This procedure involves a 1cm incision inside your mouth on each cheek to eliminate the fat pad that causes chubby and full appearing cheeks. This procedure is often performed in conjunction with a facelift.

• Subtle Slimming Of Lower Face: This procedure will address the excess fat pads that create a subtle slimming of the lower face

• More Slim And Sculpted Cheeks: After removing the fat pad, you will have more slim and sculpted cheeks. So say goodbye to those chipmunk cheeks.

• Reduces Chubby Cheeks: This procedure is perfect for patients who desire a reduction of their “chubby” cheeks. First, the fat pad is removed, which initially causes the look of chubby cheeks that are caused by genetics or weight gain.

• Increases Confidence: All procedures we perform at St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery should increase your confidence. In addition, removing your buccal fat pads changes your appearance subtly without changing your entire face.

Sometimes, this procedure can be combined with a facelift to maximize your results. If is it performed with a facelift, an external approach can be made to remove the buccal fat pads.

• Immediately after: Swelling of the cheeks, minimal pain that is well controlled with multi-modal oral pain medications. When done through an intra-oral approach, we require a soft diet for 3 days and medicated mouthwash for 3 days.

• One week: For the first week, swelling is mild to moderate. If done through an intra-oral approach, the internal incision is healed.

• One to two months: At one month, the swelling is mild to fully resolved, the contour has improved. You are photo-ready by 4-6 weeks.

If you are a candidate for buccal fat pad removal you should not appear to hollow if you lose weight from exercise or natural aging since those areas of fat are separate from the location of your buccal fat pad. Typically those areas of volume loss are on the outer portions of the face.

It is a procedure performed in our office with no real downtime. You can return to work as usual.

The tummy tuck procedure is great for eliminating loose skin, flattening the abdominal appearance, and addressing abdominal muscle weakness. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia and can be performed in conjunction with a variety of other procedures.

• Eliminate Loose Skin: Loose and sagging skin is the number one concern when patients come in for a tummy tuck consultation. This procedure will eliminate the loose and sagging skin leaving your abdomen smooth and contoured.

• Tighten Abdominal Muscles: During pregnancy, your abdominal muscles stretch to fit your baby. These muscles never fuse back together on their own. The tummy tuck procedure addresses these weak abdominal muscles by sewing them back together.

• Create Contour: The tummy tuck procedure is usually performed in conjunction with liposuction. Having the two of these procedures performed creates contour of your body giving you the hourglass figure you’ve always wanted.

• Increases Confidence: Having a tummy tuck procedure can greatly improve your confidence. Our patients love showing off their new bodies in their swimsuits and getting to wear the things that have been hiding away in their closets.

• Immediately after: Pain similar to or less than a C-section. It feels like you did an abs class for the first time. Typically you will use pain pills for 3-5 days. Muscle relaxants are also very effective in decreasing postoperative pain and muscle soreness. Patients are encouraged to walk as soon as possible to help avoid blood clots and improve the speed of their recovery from surgery. You should also have someone with you for help and support for the first few days after surgery is recommended.

• One week:After the first week, you are off pain pills, driving, and drains, if needed, are usually removed 10-14 days from surgery. You are able to start showering at 48 hrs. Patients should be able to walk fully upright at 5 to 7 days. Many patients can begin driving for short distances at around 7 days after their surgery. Patients return to work at 14 days if not doing the heavy lifting. Numbness at the lower abdomen is not uncommon and usually begins to resolve over the next 2 to 6 months though some patients will have some areas of diminished sensation in the lower abdomen for longer periods.

• One to two months: Swelling is subsiding. Most patients can begin baths, swimming, and hot tubs around one month after their surgery. The patient feels normal by six weeks and begins to advance workouts. Gradual building up of workout intensity and duration is encouraged with most patients up to “full speed” in their third month after their surgery. Out of compression by six weeks. 3 -6 months final results are noted

Your scar will be located below the belly button and right above the growing. It is usually hip to hip depending on your type of tummy tuck.

Depending on your lifestyle or career, you will typically take two weeks off from work. However, if your career requires heavy lifting or physical activity, then the recovery could be longer.

No, a tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure. Instead, it removes loose skin, flattens the abdomen, and tightens weakened abdominal muscles.

If stubborn fat is a main concern, a tummy tuck is often paired with liposuction for more contouring.

Yes. With a tummy tuck, you will have at least two drains for typically 10 to 14 days post-surgery.

Yes, you will need to wear a compression garment after a tummy tuck to help support healing and manage swelling.

Many patients may discontinue wearing a compression garment about 6 weeks after surgery, but timing varies by patient.

The mommy makeover is not a set package; it is customized to each patient's specific needs or interests. Most patients, when referring to the mommy makeover, are interested in discussing the breast and abdomen region.

Since the mommy makeover is a customized plan, there is not a set price. However, you do see savings when having multiple procedures performed together.

Most patients will need to take 2-3 weeks off of work for recovery.

The best liposuction candidates are healthy non-smokers who have maintained a healthy weight for at least 6 months. They should have local fat deposits that have resisted diet and exercise and understand that liposuction is intended as a “spot reduction” treatment rather than a weight loss procedure.

This liposuction technique begins by injecting a tumescent solution into the areas to be treated. This solution contains anesthetic, makes the fat easier to remove, and reduces bleeding and bruising. The cannula is inserted via a small incision, breaking up the fat deposits before suctioning them out of the body.

I perform power-assisted liposuction (PAL), which uses a vibrating cannula to break up and remove the fat. This energy-based treatment is gentler on the body and allows for greater precision in more delicate areas of the body.

• Abdomen

• Flanks

• Hips

• Thigh

• Buttocks

• Upper arm

• Back

• Chest

• Bra bulge

• Neck and chin

• Jawline

Following liposuction, patients can look forward to enjoying:

• Shapely contours

• A smoother silhouette

• A flatter abdomen and balanced physique

• Enhanced body confidence

Following your procedure, you will wear a compression garment to control swelling and support your body as it heals. Many patients feel sore and stiff following the procedure, but the discomfort is easily managed with over-the-counter medicine or mild prescription pain medication.

We encourage you to start walking as soon as possible to decrease swelling and accelerate your recovery timeline. Most patients can shower within 48 hours, but we will advise you on your particular circumstances.

We typically remove sutures after a week and cover the incision sites with Steri-Strips™ for the next week or so. Patients can generally resume light exercise after 2 weeks and gradually build up their strength and intensity over the following month.

It can take 6 to 12 months for residual swelling to fully resolve. Swelling may dissipate at different rates, so please note that any bumps or unevenness are likely temporary and should smooth out as your body heals and settles.

While your clothes will fit better following liposuction, and you may go down a dress size or two, the procedure is not intended for weight loss. Instead, it is about targeted fat reduction for trouble areas and putting the “finishing touches” on your diet and fitness efforts.

Yes. Liposuction is often used to enhance a tummy tuck, arm lift, or other contouring surgery. For patients who want to target cellulite, we offer minimally invasive Avéli™ cellulite reduction treatment. If you are looking to redistribute some of the fat being removed, we also offer fat transfer to add volume to another area of the body.

A woman’s intimate region is often changed throughout the aging process and childbirth.

Labiaplasty addresses aesthetic issues on the women’s vaginal appearance. This simple procedure is a great way to improve women’s intimate confidence and is performed under local anesthesia in our office.

• Reduce the labia minora size: Everybody is different, and whether your intimate area has changed due to aging, childbirth, or you were born with it, changes in the vaginal appearance can be made. The labia minora are the inner folds of the woman’s vagina. This area can often be more prominent than you would like, and a labiaplasty can reduce the size.

• Reduces skin around clitoris: A hoodectomy can address excess skin around the clitoris. Reducing the amount of skin around the clitoris makes it easier for the woman to feel sexually aroused through stimulation.

• Add volume to the labia majora: The labia majora are the outer lips of a woman’s vagina. As women age, this area begins to lose volume and shrink. In addition, aging causes a loss of subcutaneous fat, but fat grafting can replace i

Labiaplasty: A labiaplasty procedure alters the aesthetic appearance of the vagina. It addressed the labia minora, labia majora, or other structures of the vulva.

Vaginoplasty:
While a labiaplasty addresses the outside vaginal appearance, a vaginoplasty procedure addresses the vaginal canal.

• Immediately after: Keep all surgical dressings clean and dry for the first 24 hours. Following surgery, Polysporin will be applied to the labia incisions.  The area is then covered with Tucks Pads, Gauze, an Ice Pack and a Maxi Pad or Panty Liner. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing such as yoga pants, leggings but not jeans. We would like you to use a Peri Bottle for 6 weeks. After using the restroom, gently spray the incisions with the Peri Bottle using warm tap water.

• One week:Change the dressings every time you use the restroom and after showering.  The labia may feel itchy or scratchy for a while; this is normal.  It is also normal to have some bloody drainage/discharge for a few days.  There will be significant swelling during the first few days as well.

• One to two months: No sexual intercourse for 6 weeks after surgery. At this time, exercise can resume. Apply A&D ointment as needed

The labiaplasty is a procedure to help correct the outer labia appearance. There is no internal surgical tightening.

Typically patients will take about 1 to 3 days downtime. You will have restrictions on activities such as swimming and sexual intercourse for at least 4 to 6 weeks.