What do a cardiologist, oncologist and emergency room physician have in common? All three performed plastic surgery without board certification in plastic surgery and all three are facing severe legal charges. You may think you're in good hands just because you're seeing a doctor, but a Detroit plastic surgeon advises you to think twice. In a recent interview with CNN, he gave some harrowing examples of so-called medical care gone wrong:
• A Michigan oncologist was accused of administering chemo to patients who had no chance of survival and misdiagnosing patients, so he could charge for expensive treatments.
• An Ohio spine surgeon was indicted for persuading patients to undergo treatments for millions of dollars that they didn't need. It is alleged that he told patients their heads would fall off without his surgery.
• A middle-aged woman was left with scarred legs, resembling a burn, after unnecessary laser liposuction by a cardiologist. Another was abandoned by her ENT surgeon after undergoing a lunchtime facelift and getting a staph infection. A botched tummy tuck by an emergency room physician left a woman with a scarred, lumpy abdomen.
The Detroit plastic surgeon handles many secondary problems created by plastic surgery at the hands of untrained doctors. He advises everyone seeking medical care to avoid problems by first doing research:
• Research your doctor online using doctor-rating websites. Check with your state's Board of Medicine to determine whether your physician has had his or her license suspended or revoked.
• Make sure your doctor isn't practicing outside the field he or she has trained for. In the field of plastic surgery, you may encounter doctors who leave their specialties to masquerade as cosmetic surgeons.
• If you're considering plastic surgery, make sure your surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, or better yet, is a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). If you're considering facial plastic surgery, then the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery is considered an equivalent in all states.
• Ask a nurse or other hospital support staff. Hospital workers know who the good and bad doctors are in town.
• Get a second opinion. Ask your primary care physician what he or she thinks or get a second opinion from another specialist in the same field.
Finally, keep in mind that most doctors are honest, ethical people who put patient interests first. You just don't read about them.
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It is so important to make sure your 'plastic surgeon' is actually a plastic surgeon! (And therefore, that she/he is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.)
June 27, 2019 - 8:51amThis Comment
Really great information.
July 4, 2014 - 12:02amNowadays many people go for plastic surgery. But the fact is only few get good results. This is mainly because they are not aware about the procedure. And before that, you must give your first preference in finding a good surgeon. He is the one who can give you the best result. So always be careful in selecting a right surgeon. Sites like http://www.goodsurgeonbadsurgeon.com/ , http://www.realself.com/plastic-surgery/forum etc will give you more details regarding surgeon's details, surgery procedure etc.
This Comment
Picking a doctor you trust is very important. This article has some good questions to ask when having a consultation with a surgeon: http://www.afterobesity.com/questions.cfm
December 10, 2013 - 3:45pmThis Comment
Thank you for sharing this eye-opening information!
Maryann
September 6, 2013 - 5:34pmThis Comment