In a 3,700-word article, USA Today (9/14, O’Donnell) reported that “a soaring number of doctors who trained in other medical specialties” are turning to “the more lucrative field of cosmetic surgery. Because state laws governing office-based surgeries often are lax, levels of training vary so widely that some doctors are performing cosmetic procedures after only a weekend observing other doctors.” Even though submitting to procedures done by such doctors can have “disastrous” results, “there’s no shortage of patients:

An aging – and often overweight – population is willing to spend money on cosmetic procedures, and people often are seeking lower-cost options to board-certified, sometimes higher-priced plastic surgeons.” President of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Angelo Cuzalina “estimates that 50,000 to 100,000 doctors who aren’t board-certified plastic surgeons are doing cosmetic surgery.” But there are no reliable numbers to compare problems that occur in surgeries performed by board-certified physicians versus problems in procedures performed by non-certified doctors “because doctors are not required to report complications to medical authorities. In addition, states don’t break down deaths by type of doctor involved, and physicians aren’t required to report that they are doing surgeries outside their specialties.” Source: American Academy of dermatology

Comment:  At Piedmont Plastic Surgery & Dermatology all our physicians are Board Certified and many have performed extensive training including fellowships, residencies and certification in their specialties. We are committed to excellence in care at all our facilities. All operating rooms are fully certified and safety inspected regularly.  PPSD physicians are committed to keeping abreast with the latest techniques and advances in their fields and regularly attend national and international meeting as attendees and participants to bring the best of care to our patients.

Patients should be aware that Plastic Surgery is a medical specialty that requires approximately 7 years of training after medical school. The American Board of Plastic Surgery certifies physicians that completed accredited surgical training and have passed written as well as oral peer review exams. Maintenance of certification is required for physicians completing their training after 1994. This is an additional step that the Board takes to insure the highest standard of care.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons as well as the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery require that in addition to ABPS certification its members adhere to stringent codes of ethics and patient safety. Any patient considering plastic surgery should take advantage of these resources in order to verify the credentials of physicians performing cosmetic plastic surgery.

We strive to have 100% satisfaction for our patients with honest expectations and realistic goals set for our patients.

Part II

Cheaper Cosmetic Surgery Clinics Leave Many Patients Dissatisfied.

In a 3,000-word second part of its investigation on botched cosmetic surgeries, USA Today (9/15, O’Donnell) reported on cases related to clinics in Florida. “Critics call it the commoditization of cosmetic surgery. Procedures that once included lengthy consultations with plastic surgeons and trips to the hospital, now often involve meetings in office-park surgery centers with salespeople who tell prospective patients what ‘work’ they need and how little it can cost when performed in their offices, say former patients, other plastic surgeons and plaintiff lawyers.” Critics, such as “lawyers, victims and other plastic surgeons, say these new-style surgery clinics are under so much sales pressure they often don’t sufficiently screen patients for medical problems, do inadequate follow-up and persuade patients to undergo procedures that are either unnecessary or unlikely to get good results.” USA Today reported that cosmetic procedures were up 77% last year because of the clinics that make it cheaper.

In a USA Today (9/15, O’Donnell, St. John) companion piece on non-surgical cosmetic options, dermatologist Anne Chapas, MD, discussed risks and stressed that these procedures need to be performed by experts.