Though elective in nature, cosmetic surgery is a serious undertaking with real consequences and risks. Patient safety must be given primary emphasis in all treatment plans, and the environment in which surgical treatment is provided must be appropriate to the specific endeavor.
The first step in dealing with risk in cosmetic surgery is to acknowledge it. Although the risks to healthy, well selected patients are small, they are nevertheless real. Knowing the risks ahead of time is critical to good decision making about surgery and equips patients who do encounter complications to better deal with any further treatment needed.
Second, explore the limitations of surgery with your surgeon in detail, asking about what other interventions might be necessary if problematic healing is encountered.
A few common sense precautions can help patient's minimize their risk.
Cosmetic
Surgery Safety: Make
certain your doctor is properly trained
Unfortunately, "Board Certified" doesn't necessarily mean much
today. There are a plethora of "Boards" set up for the express
purpose of allowing members to masquerade as trained specialists. Most doctors
performing cosmetic surgery today ( and calling themselves "cosmetic
surgeons") have no training in plastic surgery, and many have no training
in surgery of any kind! Laws allow any physician with a license to call
himself anything he wishes. One protection is to inquire about the physician's
hospital privileges. If he/she is allowed to perform plastic surgery in
a medical center, his/her training has satisfied the credentials committee
of the hospital. Doctors performing surgery only in outpatient facilities
are not subject to such oversight. Also, find out if the surgeon is certified
by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. (Look for these words exactly,
as there are many imitations!) The American Board of Plastic Surgery requires
that diplomates be trained in surgery and in plastic surgery before certification,
and is the only board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
Cosmetic
Surgery Safety: Make
sure the facilities to be used are appropriate for the contemplated surgery
There has been an explosion in cosmetic surgery performed in non-hospital
facilities. This has been driven in part by economics ( small centers usually
charge less than hospitals), but has also been promulgated by the flood
of physicians practicing "cosmetic surgery" without proper credentials.
The huge numbers of cosmetic procedures performed by general practitioners,
dermatologists, gynecologists and others could only take place in freestanding
facilities outside of the purview of credentialing bodies.
Clearly, some procedures can be safely and skillfully performed outside
of the hospital environment. However, it is the obligation of the practitioner
to see to it that patient safety is not thereby compromised. Where there
is question as to whether the outpatient facility can meet the standards
of the hospital for the performance of a particular procedure, it is best
that the patient be taken to the hospital. Fortunately, some hospitals have
recognized the need of cosmetic surgery patients for affordable hospital
care and have put in place special programs for patients paying for elective
cosmetic surgery. In some instances these programs provide the safety of
the hospital environment at a cost rivaling those charged in outpatient
facilities and doctors' offices.
