Plastic Surgery News

PRESS RELEASE - JUNE 7, 2011

 
Plastic Surgeons Shine Light on Misinformation Putting Patients at Risk

Procedures Performed by Non-Board Certified Doctors on Unknowing Patients on the Rise

Atlanta, GA, June 07, 2011—The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)* is the only legitimate medical board in plastic surgery recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and the doctors at Marietta Plastic Surgery are concerned that misleading board certification* claims may be putting patients at risk. Only surgeons certified by the ABPS* are truly board certified* in plastic surgery. Other official-sounding boards do not compare because entry requires far less education, training and testing in plastic surgery; some requiring only a membership payment.

Plastic Surgeons who are board certified by the ABPS*, and are members of the esteemed American Society of Plastic Surgeons†, go through many years of education and training and must maintain their certification with yearly education updates in plastic surgery procedures, safety and testing.  In contrast, other physicians may only attend a seminar and buy the equipment to begin offering cosmetic surgery.

“To the unknowing patient, it is difficult to understand the difference between the American Board of Plastic Surgery*, the credential you DO want, and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, which is an not official board of the ABMS, nor does membership require as much training in plastic surgery,” said Dr. Michael McNeel, a leading board certified* plastic surgeon at Marietta Plastic Surgery in the Atlanta area.  “We’re concerned with the rise in plastic surgical procedures performed by doctors like dermatologists, internists, OB/GYNs, and podiatrists under the name of cosmetic surgeon. Many doctors are offering plastic surgery services they are not adequately trained for, putting patients’ outcomes at risk and the patients don’t know it,” continued Dr. McNeel.

There were 9.5 million cosmetic surgery procedures in 2010, an increase of 9%, driven by consumers’ demand for anti-aging remedies.  This opportunity has propelled many non-board certified doctors to expand their practices.  Stated Dr. McNeel, “Even hair salons and dentists have entered the field.  The advertisements of these self-proclaimed cosmetic surgeons are crafted to confuse the consumer into thinking they are fully trained in plastic surgery. We feel strongly that the patient’s best interest is not at play here.”

Board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery* and membership in the ASPS† are the gold standards in cosmetic surgery patient care. Patients are encouraged to visit www.abms.org to determine whether their doctor is board certified* in plastic surgery. To receive a free guide “How to Choose the Right Plastic Surgeon for You—10 Helpful Tips”, visit www.mariettaplasticsurgery.com/content/news.
     
About Marietta Plastic Surgery
The board certified* plastic surgeons at Marietta Plastic Surgery are known for providing discerning patients with results that enhance their individual personality and character, while giving them the security of knowing they are supported and cared for by an entire team of highly skilled doctors. The surgeons at Marietta Plastic Surgery perform all procedures, including Botox® Cosmetic injections, putting their patients in the most skilled of hands.  Serving the metro Atlanta area for over 20 years, Marietta Plastic Surgery has two conveniently located offices in Marietta, at I-75 and Canton Rd, and in Woodstock, at I-575 and Towne Lake Parkway.  For more information, visit www.mariettaplasticsurgery.com or call 770-425-0118.
       

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HOW TO CHOSE THE RIGHT PLASTIC SURGEON FOR YOU - 10 HELPFUL TIPS

5 Must-Haves

1. Make sure he or she is board certified* in plastic surgery, not some other “board”.
This is the MOST important tip! Any doctor can take courses and train themselves in cosmetic surgery procedures. These doctors then say they are board certified* in an official sounding specialty, but only a board certified* plastic surgeon has had at least 6 years of specialized training, ongoing education and re-certification tests in plastic surgery. Also, the American Board of Plastic Surgery* is the ONLY legitimate plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties--there is no substitute for this mark of distinction. Make sure you know if your “plastic” or “cosmetic” surgeon is actually an OB/GYN, ER doctor, dermatologist or even a family doctor who is calling himself a cosmetic or plastic surgeon.

2. Ask if they have hospital privileges at reputable area hospitals.
Reputable hospitals (WellStar, Northside, Piedmont, St. Josephs in the Atlanta area) will not grant privileges to surgeons unless they are adequately trained. In fact, surgeons have to prove that they have the proper training and experience in order to perform cosmetic surgical procedures in a reputable hospital. Make sure their privileges are in the procedure you’re interested in (an ENT may have privileges in ENT procedures but not for breast surgery or body contouring). Outpatient or on-site surgical centers may not verify training to this extent. Only top plastic surgeons are granted hospital privileges at major hospitals, so if your surgeon doesn’t have them, it is cause for concern—you may want to dig deeper.

3. Find out how many years they’ve been in practice and the training they’ve received.
Having experience in plastic surgery and the procedure you are considering is crucial. This experience comes from their training program and their own work as a practicing physician. Keep in mind that top notch universities and residency programs produce extremely talented plastic surgeons, so even if they don’t have many years under their belts, they were trained by the best of the best. Also, some physicians may tout top-notch training, but you should confirm that it is actually in plastic surgery.

4. Ask if they’ve been disciplined by the board or state.
Do your own research as well. Look online, make phone calls. Unfortunately, there are stories of educated people choosing surgeons who aren’t reputable, but they didn’t know it because they only chose the doctor based on fancy ads. Online physician rating sites can be somewhat arbitrary but if they have several negatives about a surgeon you are interested in, look further.

5. Make sure you have enough time during your consultation—don’t be rushed.
Come with a list of questions and feel satisfied that they have been answered. Also, be wary of “free” consultations—highly skilled plastic surgeons often don’t give away their time for free. Make sure you feel comfortable with the staff and doctor. If you are not comfortable before surgery, you may not feel comfortable afterwards, during a very critical time.

5 Nice-to-Haves

1. Do they practice alone or in a group practice?
Only you can decide which best fits your needs. A multiple-doctor practice offers the option of choosing from a variety
of skilled surgeons and the knowledge that there will always be a capable doctor from that practice available to address your needs. There are more staff members to answer your questions and larger practices probably have an on-site surgical center. Or you may feel more comfortable choosing a smaller practice, working directly with a single practitioner.

2. Do they offer cosmetic surgery insurance?
Even though the goal is not to have any post-procedure complications, they can occur, even in the best of hands. Choosing a board certified* plastic surgeon can reduce those risks. What if you do have a complication like bleeding that requires a return to the operating room? An insurance plan for cosmetic surgery called CosmetAssure covers the cost of these rare but occasional complications. Ask your plastic surgeon if that is included in your price. Also ask if they charge you to remedy any potential complications.

3. Ask about patient testimonials.
Patient testimonials give you a first person account from an actual patient. You may learn about what your experience will be like from your initial call to the office, the consultation, the surgery and the follow up with the physician and his or her staff.

4. Do they have accredited surgical suites on site?
This ensures that their surgical rooms are hospital-grade. An on-site facility affords you the safety and privacy that you may want. There are several certifying agencies such as AAAASF, JACHO and your state agency (Stage of Georgia for Medicare for Georgia residents). Board certified* plastic surgeons are not allowed to perform surgery in an operating room that is not accredited. Other ‘boards’ do not hold their members to this level of safety. In fact some non-plastic surgery board certified doctors will perform surgery in a converted examination room rather than a safe and accredited surgical suite.

An advantage of having your procedure in an on-site accredited surgical suite versus the hospital is that, since the center specializes in plastic surgical procedures, the risk of infections is limited and the staff is highly trained in these procedures.

5. Ask about all potential costs. Be careful about advertised prices!
Make sure you know all the associated costs—they add up. Ask about lab work, post-op checkups, additional medications required. You need “fully loaded” prices so you can compare costs accurately. Just remember, comparing a board certified* plastic surgeon to a non-board certified cosmetic surgeon in price or skill level is like comparing apples and oranges.

* = Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery

† = Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery