Category Archives: Blog

A Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon is the Only Way to Go

Over the course of the past decade or so, the amount of money
reimbursed to traditional physicians through insurance company programs
has decreased in a major way. In fact, these decreases have been so
stark that otherwise lucrative careers have seemed to become dead-end
jobs, where raises are less frequent and salaries are nowhere near as
high as they were at the beginning of the 21st century. In a medical
climate like this one, there are plenty of incentives for doctors to
diversify their careers and branch out into services like plastic
surgery.

Plastic surgery,
in fact, is one of the most popular “second careers” for physicians who
are looking to engage in a more lucrative type of practice. That’s
because virtually all plastic surgery procedures are paid for
out-of-pocket, without the assistance of traditional medical insurance
plans. Physicians who provide these services are therefore likely to
enjoy a much better compensation structure. The problem, though, is that
many physicians are simply not certified to branch out into this field.
That can lead to major medical complications and aesthetic
embarrassments for today’s patients.

Unregulated and Potentially Unsafe: Uncertified Plastic Surgeons are a Major Risk

One of the peculiar things about the plastic surgery industry is
that’s virtually unregulated in comparison to traditional medical
practices. Doctors who engage in everything from gynecology to family
practice services and beyond, all must pass board certification
examinations issued by the American Board of Medical Specialties. When
people refer to “passing the boards” or being a “board-certified
physician,” this is what they’re often talking about.

In plastic surgery, though, passing board exams and completing at
least three years of a medical residency is simply not required. In all
but three states, doctors can declare themselves to be plastic surgeons
as long as they already have any type of board certification from the
ABMS. That means patients might be getting cosmetic work performed on
them by physicians who don’t know who to properly complete the
procedure. What results is a botched nose job, a serious infection, or a
dramatic injury that requires tens of thousands of dollars in follow-up
work.

Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons are the Only Way to Go

The only way for patients to maintain peace of mind when seeking a qualified plastic surgeon is to make sure that they’re choosing a physician that specifically holds a plastic surgery certification from the American Board of Medical Specialties. Shadow organizations, often with similar names that include the word “board” in their title, do not guarantee any level of prior experience, residence, or specific education, and that means patients will be at serious risk of injury or cosmetic defects.

Because the stakes are so high with all plastic surgery procedures,
and malpractice can lead to significant financial difficulty, medical
complications, and long-term suffering, patients owe it to themselves to
make sure that their plastic surgeon is properly certified in not only
cosmetic surgery, but also the specific type of surgery that they
perform. Even though it might not be the law in most states, it’s still
the best way to avoid major headaches after the procedure.

Ethnic Rhinoplasty Shows an Understanding of Unique Racial Features in Today’s Patients

Since rhinoplasty first became a major part of plastic surgery operations, the procedure has been almost exclusively associated with Caucasian patients who strive to have the “perfect nose.” Typically, that constitutes a nose that is tall, slender, and somewhat narrow, and this shape is almost exclusively associated with white patients. In recent years, though, plastic surgery professionals have been working to refine their skills and broaden their horizons, embracing different ethnic groups with a diverse number of “perfect” looks and facial features.

The result has been what some are calling “ethnic rhinoplasty” or, in
some cases, ethnically-sensitive rhinoplasty. These procedures take
into account not only the patient’s goals, but also the natural shape of
their nose and the ethnic facial features that set African-American,
Hispanic, and even Asian patients apart from their Caucasian
counterparts. The result is a more natural look, a greater degree of
self-esteem after the procedure, and longer-lasting confidence that
doesn’t require a second or even third operation.

Based on Past Findings: The “Perfect Nose” Had Mixed Results for Venezuelan Patients

In Venezuela, plastic surgery procedures
have only recently become popular among women at all levels of society,
and of all racial backgrounds. For quite some time, the most popular
request made by rhinoplasty patients of color was that their physician
should help them achieve a more perfect nose. Their goal was to
transform the wider, flatter noses of those with African and mixed-race
backgrounds into the taller, more slender noses associated with white
society.

Though a large number of these procedures were performed, the end
result of the plastic surgery work was quite stark. Though patients were
initially impressed with their physician’s work, and appreciative of
their transformed appearance, researchers in Venezuela found that
self-esteem levels soon plummeted back to pre-surgery levels. Many
patients simply weren’t satisfied with the long-term changes made as
part of their surgery, and many actually felt as if they had given up a
key part of their ethnic identity.

A Surgery Designed to Promote Better Ethnic Features and Diversity

In light of the research done in Venezuela, surgeons around the world
have been focusing on ways to bring plastic surgery to those of all
races. Primarily, the goal of this work is to make sure that those with
African heritage, or even those with Hispanic and Asian backgrounds, can
get the same benefits from plastic surgery that Caucasian men and women
have enjoyed since the outset.

Ethnic rhinoplasty, and other race-sensitive procedures like it, is designed to help
patients achieve the perfect idea of beauty within their native race.
It’s a look that appears much more natural on the surface, and
procedures that take this more refined track have been known to produce
long-term benefits in self-esteem, confidence, and interpersonal
relations.

Ethnic rhinoplasty, then, is just one more example of how the plastic
surgery profession is changing with the times, adopting a more nuanced
view of beauty and how aesthetic preferences apply to a much more
diverse cross-section of society at large.

The fractionated CO2 laser is a very exciting technology that may prove
to be the best technology that we have at our disposal. It combines the
vigorous CO2 laser wavelength, but has been recently engineered to
lessen downtime and eliminate side effects with the fractionated
ultrapulse delivery. We are very encouraged by it’s ability to improve
skin texture, tone, fine wrinkles, and even some scarring.

As in architecture, “form equals function”. If a nose appears to fit a face, then it probably functions as intended. We were designed to breathe through the nose, but despite that, they come in all shapes and sizes. You certainly do not need to be a board certified facial plastic surgeon to point out a congenital or acquired nasal deformity that may have a compromised airway.