Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeons Form Patient Safety Campaign

Warning 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.

Tags: cosmetic surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Plastic Surgery, Salt Lake City
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Overseas Plastic Surgery

Today’s blog is regarding travel overseas for cosmetic surgery. We are seeing a rise in patients who travel overseas for these types of procedures. Unfortunately, the motivation for this decision is usually entirely cost-based – surgery in third world and less developed countries is usually significantly cheaper. Equally alarming in its frequency are the number of complications from plastic surgery procedures. Breast augmentation, liposuction, and facelift, are among the few procedures that are being reported here in the US by plastic surgeons.

An article recently published by the Associated Press describes a surgeon in Australia who was just charged with manslaughter as a result of his treatment of patients. This physician is originally from the US, but his medical privileges were revoked, prompting his relocation to Australia. There, he became head of his surgery department despite having lost his license to practice medicine in the US. The fact that the US has the most stringent requirements for training, certification, and maintenance of competency should be remembered by anyone seeking care outside of the US. Even in a more “Western” country like Australia, you are not guaranteed the same level of precautions against incompetent providers.

With purely elective procedures such as cosmetic surgical procedures, one should be even more demanding that the plastic surgeon meet these tougher US qualifications before seeking treatment. Also be aware, that in many instances, upon their return home to the US, it has been difficult and even impossible for patients to find physicians willing to assume their care for complications that arose from procedures performed outside the US.

Til next time….

If you are interested in a cosmetic procedure, contact my office to schedule a consultation. Together we will determine the procedures or treatments that are appropriate for you.

Tags: cosmetic surgery, Plastic Surgery
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