Are You Ready for Plastic Surgery?

Making the right choices will give you the best result

By Robert J. Spies, MD

We live in a world where beauty, youthfulness and fitness surround us. We want to be healthy, feel well and look as good as we can. Movies, magazines, advertisements; it’s all about looking young, beautiful and fit. Television shows and reality series about men and women trying to attain these goals abound. There are health clubs and gyms on almost every corner of our cities. Marathons and triathlons occur routinely. At the same time, plastic surgery seems to get just as much attention. More reality shows came into existence such as The Swan and Extreme Makeover. People see plastic surgery on television, hear about it on the radio and read many articles about it in magazines. Advertisements about procedures, spas and physicians are everywhere. People are seeking the services of plastic surgeons in record numbers. As the popularity of plastic surgery rises, so does the number of physicians performing these procedures. We now have medical doctors, dentists, homeopathic doctors and non-medical trained people performing plastic surgery operations.

There are many good reasons to choose plastic surgery. Some want to look as good as they feel. Their appearance slowly changes by the natural aging process. Others find out that even with diet and exercise, they cannot lose stubborn areas of excess body fat or loose and saggy skin. Then there are women who see their body change after pregnancies and desire their ‘before-the-baby’ look. All of these reasons help improve our self-esteem. In many instances, a plastic surgical procedure can motivate one to either continue good health or start oneself on a more healthy life that includes diet and exercise.

Plastic surgery has obvious and, at times, dramatic benefits. However, it may not be right for everyone. Consider the following when you think about having a plastic surgical procedure:

• No surgery can achieve perfection. There are no guarantees that the results will look exactly as you envision them.
• Plastic surgery can reshape your body, not your life. Self-esteem may improve but surgery will not solve personal of career problems.
• Have plastic surgery for you, not to fulfill someone else’s desires or wishes.
• Do it at the right time, when you do not have any significant stress in your life and you do have emotional support available.
• Understand the risks of plastic surgery.
• Know that plastic surgery is not suitable for everybody. People with mood swings or erratic behavior are not candidates. Nor are those with dependence on drugs or alcohol, or who are receiving treatment for mental illness.
• Be prepared to talk with your physician about your true desires and expectations. Inform him or her of any medical conditions, medications, drug allergies and use of nicotine products.

Anybody who makes the decision to have plastic surgery deserves complete, competent and individualized attention. Many choices are available for consideration. The first and most important is choosing a surgeon you can trust. Board certification is one of the best indicators of his or her training. The smartest choice is to ask for a doctor who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). It is the only plastic surgery certification approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties. In order to be ABPS board-certified, a physician must graduate from an accredited medical school, complete at least five years of surgical training after medical school (a minimum of two years of plastic surgery residency training) and pass comprehensive oral and written exams. Physicians who are certified by ABPS are members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the largest plastic surgery specialty in the world. Members perform surgery in accredited, state-licensed surgical facilities. They also are required to complete continuing medical education including patient safety each year.

Remember this when choosing a physician to perform plastic surgery: in Arizona, any licensed physician may perform plastic surgery without being board-certified in plastic surgery. Just because a doctor is board-certified does not mean that he or she is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

During a consultation, one should ask the following questions:
• Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
• Were you trained specifically in the field of plastic surgery?
• How many years of plastic surgery have you had?
• Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure?
• Is your surgical facility state-accredited and state-licensed?
• Am I a good candidate for the procedure?
• What surgical technique is recommended for me?
• How long of a recovery can I expect, and what kind of help will I need for my recovery?
• What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?
• How can I expect to look over time?

Take all of this into consideration when choosing plastic surgery and you can expect a positive experience and excellent outcome.

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