Key Questions To Ask Your Plastic Surgeon Up Front
The sad plastic surgery death of Ms. Solange Magnano in Argentina illustrates the need for patients to ask questions before undergoing any type of plastic surgery.
We've previously discussed the dangers of plastic surgery tourism.. However, the US is not immune to plastic surgery death.
CNN reports that while plastic surgery death rates are not high, they still occur. The FDA says that there are between three and 100 deaths for every 100,000 liposuction procedures in the United States.
This statistic illustrates the need for patients to ask their doctor questions before undergoing any type of plastic surgery. Here are some questions to ask your plastic surgeon before you go under the knife:
Are you board certified?
A lot of times, there are uncertified doctors performing serious plastic surgery. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) have joined forces to raise awareness about the dangers of unlicensed personnel performing medical cosmetic procedures in non-clinical settings. You can read their press release about the dangers of using an uncertified medical professional here.
The results of using an unlicensed medical professional can be disastrous. ABC News reports how a Tampa woman named Sharhonda Lindsay performed buttock augmentations that went badly. Ms. Lindsay was not even a doctor. She surrendered herself to Tampa police after two women went to Tampa police with injuries from the procedures. Had these women asked Ms. Lindsay if she was board certified, they would have discovered that she was not even a doctor to begin with.
Is your office accredited for performing this procedure?
Most plastic surgeries are done in the surgeon's office. Make sure that the office is compliant with safety guidelines and inspections.
Do you have access to a hospital to perform this procedure?
Even though most plastic surgeons perform their surgeries in their own offices, if a plastic surgeon is reputable, he should be able to perform the procedure in the local hospital. If the doctor says he/she does not have that privilege, walk away. Make sure to check with that local hospital in order to ensure that the doctor is telling you the truth.
How many of these procedures have you done?
This will be a good indicator of how experienced your plastic surgeon is. If the plastic surgeon gives you a number, make sure to compare and contrast that with other plastic surgeons in the area who perform the same procedure.
What are the risks?
A good doctor will tell you all of the risks associated with your plastic surgery procedure. Any plastic surgeon who tells you that your procedure is 100% risk free is lying. Don't just walk away from that doctor, run.
For more information, please visit our Related Resources links.
Related Resources:
- Model Death Highlights Plastic Surgery Dangers Abroad (Findlaw's Injured)
- Sub-Standard Care, Treatment, or Surgery (Findlaw)
- Simple Checklist from the World Health Organization Reduces Accidental Surgery Deaths (Findlaw's Common Law)
- Is Your Doctor Certified? (American Board of Medical Specialties)
- Example Medical Malpractice Cases (provided by Biancheria & Maliver P.C.)
- Medical Malpractice Overview (provided by Chopin Wagar Richard & Kutcher LLP)