by Esther Buzard Kiner

Created on: February 24, 2007   Last Updated: April 23, 2007

The pressures of today's society to have that "perfect" body, has resulted in a significant increase in cosmetic surgical procedures. However, there is a new trend emerging that is not only dangerous, but can be extremely expensive, irreversible, and quite possibly fatal.
Plastic surgeons are trained to perform cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. They have extensive experience and knowledge of all procedures such as breast augmentation, liposuction, abdominoplasty, and facelifts. Whether these procedures are performed in a hospital, outpatient surgical facility, or office based practice, the plastic surgeon is an expert in their field. They are specialists.

Due to declining reimbursements by insurance companies, increasing malpractice premiums, and oftentimes just plain greed, a new trend has evolved whereas general practitioners, family practice, obstetrician/gynecologists, cardiologists, and others, are jumping onto the "cosmetic surgery bandwagon", and performing procedures which they are neither experienced nor proficient at performing.
For example: an obstetrician/gynecologist (a physician/surgeon who delivers babies and treats "female" disorders), attends a weekend course on liposuction at a posh resort and then returns to their practice. Patient Jane Doe arrives for her appointment and notices brochures which advertise that her gynecologist now offers procedures such as liposuction, tummy tuck, and other procedures once offered exclusively by a plastic surgeon.
This unsuspecting consumer looks at herself in the mirror daily and sees those "flaws" that she wishes weren't there. She thinks to herself, "Wow,I can have my pap smear, breast exam, and liposuction done all in one appointment. What a great service- one-stop shopping." Seems too good to be true- often, it is. The results can be disastrous- scarring, asymmetry, infection and failure to achieve the desired result to name a few. Many patients who have opted for these services eventually find themselves at the plastic surgeons office for correction and unfortunately some find themselves having to live with the consequences for the rest of their lives.
In short, do your homework. Do some research. Ask questions-lots of them. Make an informed decision. Be smart- if you were having chest pains, would you go to see a plastic surgeon? Probably not. If not, why would you go to your cardiologist to have a breast augmentation?

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