Report Abuse | Rate It: 
What to Look For When Researching a Plastic SurgeonPosted Tuesday, August 25, 2009 to PROCEDURES > Body Posted by Tom Pousti, M.D. It seems like today there are 1000’s of plastic surgeons to choose from, but what do you begin looking for when checking the qualifications of a doctor and how do you know if they are right fit for you. This article is to help guide you on your search to find the right doctor that suits your needs and how to stay clear from those who are not qualified.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon vs. Cosmetic Surgeon
There are many doctors who perform “cosmetic surgery” but are not Board Certified Plastic Surgeons at all. These are two very different levels of training, certification and practice. Here is what differentiates the “cosmetic surgeon” from the “plastic surgeon”. Board certified plastic surgeons are certified by The American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and are the only members of The American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS). ASPS is the largest plastic surgery specialty organization in the world. Only members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons may display the ASPS Member Surgeon Logo. This symbol of excellence in plastic surgery is what to look for when deciding on a surgeon. It tells you that you are choosing a physician who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. By being apart of this organization signifies quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of preparation, morals, physician practice and study in plastic surgery. The society advocates for patient well-being, such as requiring its members to operate in accredited surgical facilities that have passed scrupulous external review of equipment and staffing.
In order to become a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, the plastic surgeon must complete a rigorous school schedule that can take up to 15-17 years. Dr. Pousti has attended 4 years of college, 4 years of Medical School, 5 years of General Surgery training, and 2 additional years of Plastic Surgery Training. The board certification process starts with the correct amount of training and then proceeds with reviewing the surgeon’s patient cases and a written test as well as an oral test. Dr. Pousti is board certified in General Surgery as well as Plastic Surgery.
Cosmetic surgeons go through medical school and a residency program (which could be Dermatology, Ear/Nose/Throat, OBGYN, etc.) but do not go through any further training. Obtaining training for cosmetic surgeons is done through workshops, seminars and lectures not thru a “board” who oversees the training
Hospital Based Surgical Centers vs. In Office Surgery Centers
Because of the popularity of plastic surgery today, the number of office-based surgery centers are on the rise. Hospitals will give privileges ONLY to surgeons who have had the correct training. Those surgeons performing “cosmetic surgery” who are not trained and/or board certified in plastic surgery, will not be given privileges to perform surgery in a hospital based surgery center and so will have to build a surgical suite in their office. What are the pros of having surgery at a hospital based surgery center?
A review of surgeries performed in U.S. doctors' offices has concluded that death or injury is 10 times more likely in that setting than at a Same Day Surgery Center based inside a hospital, according to a study published in the prestigious Journal Archives of Surgery, September 2003. The researchers found that 66 adverse events occurred per 100,000 procedures performed in offices compared to 5.3 problems per 100,000 procedures performed in outpatient surgical centers. The death rate per 100,000 procedures was 9.2 in offices and 0.78 in the centers, it said. In the study some of the recorded deaths were caused by anesthesia and others by procedures that went wrong, such as an endoscope perforating the esophagus or colon. Following the above study, the Florida board of quality control has forbidden all surgeons from performing cosmetic surgeries in their offices even though such practice saves money. 0 Comments | Share | Save to Favorites Report Abuse| Rate It: Add Comment |