Bad Plastic Surgery - How to Avoid It

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Avoid Bad Plastic Surgery

Lets face it.  Bad plastic surgery is a fact of life.  While we have a right to expect medical practitioners to adhere to medical and professional standards, deviations do occur, often with tragic results. 

You may be seeking to solve problems with your appearance that are making you unhappy.  You hope that cosmetic plastic surgery can help you look better and feel better about yourself.  The last thing you're seeking is the polar opposite of that outcome.

Aside from the accountability the medical profession has toward patients, you must assume responsibility, as well, to avoid risks that your plastic surgery will go wrong.  By taking the precautions outlined below, you should be well armed to minimize the chances of an unsatisfactory, if not a tragic outcome.

Ten Steps You Can Take to Avoid Bad Plastic Surgery 

1. Go to a Board Certified plastic surgeon: Make certain that the cosmetic surgeon you select is board certified. Choose a physician who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This assures that the doctor specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, has undergone years of specialized training, passed stiff examinations and established requisite competence in the field.

2. Be Certain that the Doctor regularly does the procedure you're seeking: A plastic surgeon whose focus is on tummy tucks may not be the best choice to rearrange your nose.

3. Be realistic in your expectations: While cosmetic surgical procedures can deliver astonishing changes, the precise aesthetics you desire, in reality, may not be achievable. Examine your motives and be realistic and reasonable.

4. Be certain you are in good physical and emotional health: The physician you choose should do a thorough examination of your past and present physical health, your emotional health and your motives for seeking cosmetic surgery.

5. If you're a smoker - STOP SMOKING!: Simply stated, smoking can cause complications and impede the desired outcome.

6. Consult at least one more physician: This is too important. Be on your guard. There are too many fraudsters operating in this field who can sound very convincing. Compare the information you are given.

7. Ask for pictures and testimonials: Any competent surgeon who does good plastic surgery will gladly show you these. If you're comfortable doing so, ask to speak with former patients. Get their opinions.

8. Educate yourself about the costs of cosmetic surgery: A doctor offering a cut rate may be signaling that he or she is not competent to perform the procedures. If you are considering having cheap plastic surgery done outside of the United States, bear in mind that many other countries do not adhere to acceptable standards. Do the math, including air fare, hotel, meals, etc.

9. Learn about the risks of surgery for cosmetic reasons: All surgeries entail risks. These include risks of infection, anesthesia, reaction to medications, blood clots, respiratory difficulties and death. Plastic surgery offers no exceptions.

10. Be careful about having multiple cosmetic procedures done simultaneously: This increases the risk of complications from plastic surgery which should be discussed with you by your physician.

More About Cosmetic Procedures and Plastic Surgery Gone Wrong 

A few additional observations are in order.

Yes, there are horror stories about bad plastic surgery continually being exposed in the media, more often than not involving a celebrity. While the vast majority of procedures are performed competently and often with marvelous results, plastic surgery gone wrong has no respect for who you are.

A further word about costs. Cosmetic plastic surgery is elective and is not covered by most forms of medical insurance. For those on a limited budget, it's well to consider whether paying for cosmetic surgery will leave you so financially strapped that the anticipated outcome will not outweigh the pain of financial distress.

This leads to having plastic surgery done in another country. While costs are significantly lower in countries like Brazil, India and Thailand, you must consider the price of air fare, hotels, meals, etc. Many packages are offered, but, in the final analysis, many people report that the only justifiable reason for leaving the U.S. is for the sake of anonymity (many celebrities do this) or simply to combine the surgery with a vacation.

Using your common sense is crucial to making the right decision for you.

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Lensmaster

cdreyer03 wrote...

Great tips! I ranked you 5 stars! Visitors of my Mentoplasty lens will greatly benefit from these. Thank you!

ReplyPosted January 10, 2008