Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeons Form Patient Safety Campaign
Wednesday, October 5th, 2011Warning Consumers To Do Their Homework When Choosing A Plastic Surgeon
Salt Lake City, UT. – The Utah State Plastic Surgery Society, which is a regional society of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and a component society of the Utah Medical Association has formed an educational campaign to warn the public that just because a doctor says he can do plastic surgery does not mean that he or she is qualified to do so.
Utah has a soaring number of physicians that are not board certified plastic surgeons that are marketing themselves as “cosmetic surgeons”. Often they advertise themselves as “board certified”, yet consumers aren’t aware of the distinct difference between a board certified plastic surgeon and a board certified cosmetic surgeon, or other board certification. Physicians are marketing themselves this way because of the lucrative, cash up front industry that cosmetic medicine can attract. Many of the patients going to these physicians are getting botched surgeries that can be painful, disfiguring and costly. Several articles have recently created a lot of buzz in the media that talks about this:
• USA Today – Lack of training can be deadly in Cosmetic Surgery
• Cosmetic Surgery gets cheaper, faster, scarier
American Society of Plastic Surgeons Urges Patients To Check Up on Their Surgeons for Their Safety
By law, any doctor with a medical license may legally practice in all fields and perform any procedure on a patient. Some doctors take advantage of this privilege and are performing cosmetic and reconstructive procedures after a weekend course. Board Certified Plastic Surgeons have at least six years of surgical training, have passed rigorous testing and operate in accredited medical facilities.
The Utah State Plastic Surgery Society urges the public to do their homework before undergoing cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. This patient safety campaign focuses on teaching the public how to find a properly trained plastic surgeon, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
For more information on Board Certified Plastic Surgeons or to schedule a consultation contact my office.
