Jul 20 2008
Plastic Surgery - The First Steps
There is a lot of negative news surrounding plastic surgery. I recently saw a show on “E!” with patients telling horror stories about their cosmetic procedures. These unfortunate mistakes could have been avoided if the patient (yes, the patient) took the proper precautions before going in to the operating room.
One of the most major problems with plastic surgery is the surgeries that are being done by people who are not plastic surgeons or even surgeons at all. In a local women’s magazine, there is an ad for liposuction being done by a neurologist. Another local doctor, who is licensed as a podiatrist, does facelifts. How and why are these doctors doing this? With rising insurance costs for doctors, overhead, and the little amount of reimbursement insurance companies and Medicare provide, many doctors are offering plastic and cosmetic procedures to stay afloat. But you wouldn’t go to a neurologist for liposuction so how do they bring people in? It is done by taking a weekend course (not kidding, most are literally a weekend) and paying for a fancy degree or certificate to put on the wall and attract unknowing patients.So how do you make sure you are going to a real plastic surgeon? There are a few qualifications and questions I would require before deciding to go ahead with a doctor and procedure. With ANY surgeon you want to make sure that the letters F.A.C.S (Fellow, American College of Surgeons) appear after their name. This means the surgeon’s education and training, professional qualifications, surgical competence, and ethical conduct have passed a rigorous evaluation, and have been found to be consistent with the high standards established and demanded by the College. (Check facs.org for more information) If you do not see those letters, it means they are not a member, so leave the office or ask before you make an appointment. There are also a few basic questions that are helpful in telling if your doctor is the real thing:1.) Are they a plastic surgeon?
Just ask them. You want a plastic surgeon that specializes in cosmetic surgery, NOT a cosmetic surgeon.2.) Where did they go to school?
Again, a weekend course is not the same as a university.
3.) Are they licensed to practice in your state?
You wouldn’t want to find out later that they were not. Very common examples are the people offering “LifeStyle Facelifts”. These people rent out an office for a few months then pack everything and leave with a ton of money.
It is always best to get at least two opinions from real surgeons before having a procedure. There are many great plastic surgeons out there, just take the time to find them.
One Response to “Plastic Surgery - The First Steps”
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I agree. There are several steps that the patient must take in order to have a successful plastic surgery. It’s something that shouldn’t be taken lightly and if the patient doesn’t do those things, the doctor is the one that ends up looking like an ass.