Safety In Cosmetic Surgery
There is now a
general acceptance of cosmetic surgery compared to a decade ago. I believe cosmetic surgery is
here to stay. This is shown by the sprouting of cosmetic surgery centers and a significant
increase in the number of cosmetic procedures being done. However, as the number of procedures
increases, the number of problematic cases increases as well. Any form of surgery has its
inherent risks and possible complications, but suffice to say, there are margins of safety that
should not be compromised.
There is a
prevailing impression that cosmetic surgery is only superficial and minor. I do not know who is
guilty of trivializing the profession – the doctor or the patient. Or perhaps, because plastic
surgery avoids the tell-tale-signs of the procedure, only leaving very discreet incision marks,
patients get the impression that it is minor. Nose job scars are within the nostrils; breast
augmentation scars can be hidden along the armpit; scars of liposuction are placed within the
bellybutton. However, underneath those small and hidden incisions are large wounds that
accommodate the purpose of surgery. Cosmetic surgery is a major form of operation. Ergo, safety
is the first most concern.
Here are “tips”
to ensure a safe cosmetic surgery:
-
Know your doctor. Too many cosmetic
surgeries are done by non-qualified doctors. Check his credentials. Try to know if he finished
a formal residency training in Plastic Surgery.
-
Do not scout for the least
expensive or the cheapest doctor. Give importance on his academic and training background. Do
not be swayed by his marketing hype. Ask your friends and the previous patients about his
quality of care.
-
Beware of doctors who make
astonishing promises, and who do not discuss risks and complications.
-
Be wary about doctors who “sell” a
procedure for you. Do not allow any doctor to force you into any procedure you do not want.
-
Avoid controversial drugs,
prosthetics and procedures that have no long term studies and have not been proven to be safe.
It is noteworthy to know if it is FDA approved.
-
Be skeptical about drugs or
prosthetics that are the less expensive or the so called cheaper versions. Take the quality of
the drug or material into consideration more than its cost. If undergoing breast augmentation,
ask about the maker of the breast implants.
-
Do not allow yourself to be
injected or undergo any medical/surgical procedure in a beauty parlor or a similar facility.
-
Make sure that the cosmetic center
or clinic is equipped and certified. Needless to say, there are cosmetic operations that are
safer when performed in the hospital. Inquire about the appropriateness of the operative
setting.
-
Be wary about clinics that are like
one-stop-shops, where they do not give attention to your medical history and medical problems.
-
Avoid liquid silicon to be injected
on your nose, breasts, or any part of your body. The use of injected silicon has been
abandoned since 1975 because of its untoward results.
Cosmetic surgery is very fulfilling for the patient and the Plastic Surgeon when it is done in a
manner that is safe, sound, and realistic. |