November 2010

Plastic Surgery is Not a Purse Party

It is hard to believe the holiday season is here already!

Fortunately, I can say we were as busy as ever. On the professional front I was the secondary surgeon or secondary consultation for a significant number of patients this year. That is what prompted me to write this article.

It started a few years ago when I removed a set of chronically infected implants from a woman whose surgery was done in Mexico. On her left side the implant was actually not an implant but a "sizer" (a non-sterile implant I use in the office to put in the patient's bra when we are deciding on an implant size).

Sizers look like implants but are not manufactured to be placed inside a human being and have a clear mark on them that says "not for implant". Of course, they are about a fraction of the price. The right side was an implant but did not have a company name on it. I found it odd, I thought it was a fluke and I thought the patient was unlucky.

In the past eight years I have revised at least 20 implants and redone about 15 tummy tucks. I can't even recall the number of fake liposuctions or "iddy biddy" face lifts I have corrected. I welcome a challenging case but dealing with an angry patient that feels cheated is emotionally taxing. Without exception all of these cases were performed by non-plastic surgeons and most of them were not done in Fresno, (thank goodness).

There are entire chains, groups and practitioners that rely on heavy advertising to attract clients. Their business plan is simple. They move into an area, rent space, pay for expensive advertising, promise excellent results with no down time, and prey on as many patients as possible. Then they move to the next town and to the next strip mall. Their practitioners are rarely board-certified in plastic surgery (they can be anybody with a medical license) and are often rotated in from other cities.

Now this brings up the question of authenticity, or put simply "would the real plastic surgeons please stand up"! Now, I admit that I have attended certain parties and purchased some awesome fake purses myself. In fact, I purchased an excellent knock-off for $30. When the zipper fell apart after 3 months I was sad to retire it but felt like I had gotten my $30 worth.

The "price is right" philosophy simply does not apply to plastic surgery. Plastic surgery is real surgery with real consequences. Most patients are lucky to escape having only wasted money on a sham procedure. The unlucky few have real complications with permanent problems wasting months or years in pain or chronic infection.

If you are considering any procedure you would be wise to:

1. Check the Tag: Board-certified plastic surgeons are trained to perform cosmetic procedures on the breast and abdomen (others learned on their own). Ask who the doctor is. Do they even live in town?
2. Know that No Pain= No Gain: It applies to a lot of our procedures. It is difficult to alter a body part without some discomfort!
3. Realize that: Safe surgery requires qualified staff, supplies and equipment. Skill and safety unfortunately isn't cheap.

Sorry to sound a little angry but I went to school and trained for twenty years before I operated on my first plastic surgery patient and I feel that my field has been hijacked.

So just remember, plastic surgery is Not a purse party, you will not get by with a fake!