How to Protect Yourself: Cosmetic Surgery

How to Protect Yourself: Cosmetic Surgery

Every year, millions of Americans elect to have cosmetic surgery. In response to this growing demand, numerous doctors now widely advertise their services in this area of medical expertise. Most surgeons performing cosmetic surgery are qualified; however, beware of inexperienced and insufficiently trained doctors who are attracted to cosmetic surgery because of the millions of dollars spent by consumers each year on this service. If you are looking into cosmetic surgery, consider the following:

How do I find a doctor?

Ask your personal or family physician for the names of qualified surgeons. You can also call your local hospital for referrals and consult the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Compendium of Certified Medical Specialists and their Directory of Medical Specialists at www.abms.org. Consult with several surgeons who specialize in the procedure you want. This will involve a considerable investment of both time and money, as many surgeons will charge consultation fees.

What should I look for in a doctor?

No responsible doctor should mind you asking questions. Find out the doctor’s area of specialty and what training the doctor has completed. Is the doctor certified by an appropriate medical board? Also, confirm the physician's credentials by contacting your local/county medical society or the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA)’s Consumer Services Unit online at www.ahca.myflorida.com or by phone at 1-888-419-3456. The AHCA can also advise you of the doctor or surgeon’s licensing status, as well as the discipline and complaint history of the physician.

Ask about the doctor’s hospital privileges. Find out how many operations the doctor has performed. How many patients required either follow-up or corrective surgery? How safe is the surgery? Ask the physician to explain all possible risks, complications and side effects. Make sure the doctor reviews each step of the procedure with you, including the before, during and after stages of the operation. Who will administer the anesthesia? Who will handle post-op? Where will your surgery take place? Do not forget to discuss your expectations with your doctor. Are they realistic? Ask your doctor if you can contact former patients for referrals. Last, and probably most important, find out how much the procedure, hospital charges, anesthesia charges, follow-up care and any other incidentals will cost. Remember, medical insurance usually does not cover the costs of elective cosmetic surgery, and many physicians require payment in advance.

Where can I find additional information?

The Food and Drug Administration can provide further information about breast implants, collagen injections and liquid silicone injections. To obtain this information, call the FDA’s toll-free hotline at 1-888-INFO-FDA or visit www.fda.gov.

If the physician you choose suggests to you that the operation can be performed in the office, check with one of the following organizations to see if the facility has passed an inspection or is otherwise accredited: the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. at (847)-853-6060 or online at www.aaahc.org; the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities at 1-888-545-5222 or online at http://www.aaaasf.org/; or the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations at (630)-792-5800 or online at www.jointcommission.org.

File a complaint.

Following surgery, if you have a problem that cannot be resolved with your doctor, file a complaint with the Agency for Healthcare Administration online at www.ahca.myflorida.com or by phone at 1-888-419-3456. Additionally, you may file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office online at www.myfloridalegal.com or by phone at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM.