Rolling Back the Hands of Time: The Facts on Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery has made extraordinary
advances both in cosmetic procedures (helping erase the marks, wrinkles
and sags of encroaching age) and reconstructive procedures (correcting
a deformity or burn surgery) in recent years.
In the search for the body beautiful,
many women and men have opted for some sort of cosmetic surgery
to get rid of unwanted fat, smooth out wrinkles or remove a mole
or other beauty mark. Some of the most popular procedures performed
today include liposuction, laser facial resurfacing, face and eyelid
lifts, and rhinoplasty. Whether it is cosmetic or reconstructive,
all surgery carries uncertainty and risk. |
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Choosing A Surgeon
With the growing popularity of plastic
surgery, and the increase in number of physicians performing cosmetic
procedures every year, it's important you understand the credentials of the
person you choose to be your plastic surgeon.
Step I: Develop A List of
Candidates' Names
- Seek recommendations from a family
member or friend.
- Seek recommendations from your family
doctor or nurse.
- Verify the surgeon has completed
residency in Plastic Surgery.
- Check if the surgeon is
board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
- Inquire about any privileges the
surgeon may have to do your specific cosmetic procedure at an accredited
hospital.
Step II: Check All
Credentials
- Once a list of names is compiled,
check credentials by contacting hospitals (verify official approval of
privileges), professional societies, and even the surgeon's office to verify
the type of training and experience the surgeon has had.
Step III: The
Consultation
- Once your list is narrowed down,
consider a consultation with 2-3 candidates to discuss their opinions on which
surgery is best suited for you, type of anesthesia to be used, post-surgical
protocol and their fees. If the procedure is to be performed on an outpatient
basis, it is important to verify the location is an accredited operating
facility. Accredited facilities have been reviewed by an independent
organization and means the facility meets national health and safety standards.
See resources below for information on accredited facilities.
Now it's time to choose the
surgeon that's right for you.
- If you've obtained your surgeon's name
from a good source, checked his or her credentials, are satisfied with your
initial consultation, and have realistic expectations for the surgery, chances
are very good that you'll be happy with the outcome of your plastic
surgery.
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For more information on
other popular consumer issues check out FCIC's Consumer Focus
Archive. |
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Liposuction
During the last decade, liposuction, also
known as lipoplasty, has become the most common cosmetic surgical procedure in
the U.S. Liposuction can be very effective in eliminating collections of fat in
various parts of the body. The most common areas for liposuction are the
thighs, abdomen and "love handles."
During the procedure, pockets of fat are
suctioned out from the body with a tube and vacuum device. For removing larger
volumes of fat or for fibrous body areas, ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL)
may be used. UAL is a new and less common procedure in which an ultrasound
probe is inserted beneath the skin to "liquify" the fat before it is
suctioned.
It is important to keep in mind that
liposuction is not a shortcut to weight loss. Liposuction is an operation with
the potential for some very serious complications. |
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Erasing Away the Wrinkles: Laser Resurfacing
Everyday "wear and tear" on your facial
skin-aging, sun exposure, and other environmental factors-may cause damage such
as age spots and wrinkles. Those looking to remove such flaws and to revitalize
their skin turn to procedures such as laser facial resurfacing or chemical
peels.
Laser resurfacing, also known as a laser
peel, can remove fine wrinkles such as those found around the eyes and mouth.
This technique can also be used to minimize small superficial scars and
unevenly pigmented areas. Laser resurfacing uses a high-energy light to remove
the damaged upper layers of the skin, allowing a fresh layer to become the new
surface. Treatment of deep flaws requires the use of other laser procedures and
should be discussed with your surgeon. |
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Other Resources
This is just a brief overview. For more
information on cosmetic surgery, check out these resources from FCIC and on the
World Wide Web: Publications Available for Ordering from FCIC:
Web Sites*:
*If
you click on these links, you are leaving FCIC's web site. Please bookmark us
before you leave so you can return easily. FCIC is not responsible for the
content of these web sites.
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