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Home > Consumer Focus Archive > The Facts on Plastic Surgery
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Consumer Focus: The Facts on Plastic Surgery
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Hourglass

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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Doctor

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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Woman looking in the mirror

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.

Sun in a lawn chair

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.

Other Resources

This is just a brief overview. For more information on cosmetic surgery, check out these resources on the World Wide Web:

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