Safety rules you need to know BEFORE you pick your plastic surgeon
Mary J. Thomas’s, (wife of Hank Williams Jr.) death after a standard liposuction and explant procedure in Jupiter FL, provoked feelings of fear among some of my patients who were considering liposuction, explant and fat transfer. They wanted to be reassured that these procedures do not carry unusual or high risk.
Unforeseen complications during a surgery may arise from the doctor’s skills and experience, not from the procedure itself. According to the forensic report, Mary Jane Thomas succumbed to a tension pneumothorax the day after surgery, an accumulation of air in the chest from a punctured lung. This is a quickly treatable and reversible condition if it is properly diagnosed. It appears to be the result of an unrecognized injury to the lung during liposuction of the back or the abdomen. If a surgeon believes that an injury may have occurred during surgery, one can request professional assistance or utilize an ER to observe, monitor or image a patient to confirm their safety before sending them home or to a hotel.
The take home message is to have your surgery performed by a plastic surgeon who is Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and a Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Which this patient’s surgeon was not.
Safety rules you need to know
Rule #1
Choose a doctor who is a member of the American Society of Plastic surgeons ASPS.
To become a member of the ASPS one must be eligible or certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). This requires at least six years of surgical training, including completion of a plastic surgery training program accredited by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). The ABPS requires passing of both written and oral exams and collection of case logs that are scrutinized for safe and ethical patient management. The goal of board certification is producing plastic surgeons that are safe, ethical, and stay current in knowledge of plastic surgery as it evolves over the years.
Rule #2
Know the difference: Doctors who advertise themselves as certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) do not meet the training and safety standards required by the ABPS and the ASPS. Studies show that nearly ten percent of ABCS members are not even trained in any surgical discipline. Over half of ABCS diplomates advertised surgical operations beyond the scope of their original residency training.
Rule #3
Look for Certificates, diplomas, and degrees – They should be hanging on your doctor’s wall, displaying the diplomas is a way of reassuring their patients that they are qualified to treat them.
Do not rely solely on information posted in the media or the website. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for proof.