what is plastic surgery?
I like to think of plastic surgery as a blend of art, medicine, science, and imagination. But plastic surgery really is derived from the latin word plastikos which means to mold or shape. Plastic surgery as a speciality in surgery is a 20th century creation. To become a plastic surgeon, you must complete a general, ENT, or oral surgical residency which is followed by plastic surgery residency (7 to over 10 years of training). To become board certified in plastic surgery, you must pass written board examinations and a two day oral examination with examiners reviewing 6 months of your patients operations and photos. This is a very stressful and difficult examination but ensures that the plastic surgeon is safe, ethical, moral, and most importantly….talented. Plastic surgeons perform cosmetic surgery, hand surgery, and reconstructive surgery. Cosmetic surgery improves the normal while reconstructive surgery, takes abnormal to normal. Yes, there are talented non-plastic surgeons that perform cosmetic surgery(dermatologist, dentist, OB-GYN, eye surgeons, ER physicians). In fact, there are more cosmetic surgeons “popping up” everywhere because re-imbursement for their own specialities have decreased such that it is impossible to make a living. But, I would argue that they do not have the training that plastic surgeons have successfully completed nor do they have expertise to deal with some of the common complications of cosmetic surgery. Some cosmetic surgeons have only one extra year of training or non at all. Therefore, please ask your cosmetic surgeon if they are board certified plastic surgeons. Don’t be afraid to ask the difficult questions because you are spending alot of money on an elective procedure that could change your life.
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Dr. Livingston,
Can I trust non-plastic surgeons for cosmetic surgery?
Thank You,
Allyce
thanks for your question because it is an important one!!! Your plastic surgeon that performs cosmetic surgery should be board certified in plastic surgery. This ensures years of additional training in an accredited plastic surgery training program and a high degree of morality and ethics. Cosmetic surgeons that are not board certified in plastic surgery have not received this type of training and sometimes are not even surgical trained, meaning they could be dermatologist, dentist, ER physician, or even a family practioner. They do not have hospital privileges to perform plastic surgical procedures and usually perform cosmetic surgery in their offices with little regulation. Cosmetic surgery is an elective procedure that can change your life, take your time, and please research your surgeon and procedure, always ask if they are board certified by the AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY.
Thank you so much for clarifying this Dr. Livingston. You’re knowledge and advice is greatly appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Allyce
Excellent site
I always learn something new
Dr. Livingston,
I recently read the some doctors, when performing reconstructive surgery for breast cancer patients, are starting to use tissue from the “love handle” area of a woman’s body. I know that typically when reconstructing the breast, tissue is either taken from the abdomen or back, or of course by using breast implants. For those of us who are fit and don’t have extra tissue in the abdomen or back area, and who wanted a more natural look than using implants, would you consider using the tissue from this side area??
Respectfully,
Alejandra
There is an option of taking skin and fat from the flank and using this as a free tissue transfer to reconstruct the breast. This is not a new technique, it is called a Ruben’s flap. There are better options, however, and this is the reason why this flap is not used often. Fat transfers are newer techniques where fat is suctioned from one fatty area and transplanted to the breast for augmentation or reconstruction, however, some of the fat is absorbed and some dies leaving areas of calcification that looks similar to cancer on subsequent mammograms. Thus, I have not begun to offer this to my patients and the American Society of Plastic Surgery does not recommend this procedure for breast reconstruction at the present time. More research needs to be completed in this procedure before I offer it safely to my patients. Great question, and I hope the above answers it satisfactorily.
appreciated lots, I must comment that your website is amazing!