Because some patients choose to go overseas for surgeries that may be cheaper, plastic surgeons in the US and internationally are also seeing “alarming” rates of patients who experience complications. Due to lax and inconsistent safeguards and guidelines used by some international plastic surgeons, patients do not always receive the care they should when traveling for plastic surgery.

For example, patients from the UK who went abroad for plastic surgery reported a 20% complication rate, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS).

As a remedy to this issue, the president of the ISAPS proposed a checklist to ensure safe cosmetic surgery. This proposed checklist covers four key factors for safe cosmetic surgery as follows:

• The patient should be a good candidate for the requested surgery.
• The surgeon must be properly trained and credentialed.
• The procedure should be appropriate for the patient.
• The surgical facility should be an accredited and proven safe venue with properly trained staff and emergency preparedness.

The World Health Organization also champions patient safety. A safe cosmetic surgery checklist it promoted in 2008, with the support of ISAPS, has shown to greatly improve patient safety when used properly, In fact, under the use of the checklist, patient complications were reduced by more than one third and patient deaths decreased by nearly 50%.

The ISAPS stresses that patients understand that just because a doctor has a medical degree does not mean they are qualified to perform any surgery. In order to undergo a safe cosmetic surgery, patients should ensure that their surgeon is trained and credentialed in the procedure/field and that surgery will be performed in an accredited, safe facility.

The ISAPS says it has seen an increase in patients contacting its offices to verify their surgeon’s credentials. This, coupled with appropriate local research, can help patients choose a plastic surgeon who is ideal for performing their safe cosmetic surgery.

To learn more about choosing safe cosmetic surgery options, please join the mailing list of Munster plastic surgeon Dr. Robinson.

Take, for example, a facelift. This procedure, which tones sagginess in the lower parts of the face, could not successfully be performed in an identical manner on a man and a woman. For the man, the ideal result might be a strong, toned jaw line and the woman may desire a softer look, if applying conventional beauty standards.

It is with these conventions that Dr. Tornambe also takes issue. Rather than use a checklist for what is beautiful, he suggests that each woman has a Beauty Quotient. This is made up of three components: Physical Health, Psychological Health and Personal Appearance. He asserts that the combination of these three elements, which can be improved greatly with even minor tweaks or changes, make up a woman’s individual beauty.

When you go in for a cosmetic appointment, like a facelift or even a body procedure, such as a tummy tuck to tone hanging midsection skin, your plastic surgeon will keep this aesthetic sensitivity at the forefront of their mind. The goal of any good plastic surgeon is not to mold you into someone else’s idea of beauty, but rather to highlight your own beautiful features.

“In most major cities, if you want pad Thai or a sweater dry-cleaned when most people are sleeping, there’s someone who will take care of it (for a price). These days, the same is true of beauty treatments,” writes columnist Kayleen Schaefer.

One of the doctors featured in the story, Dr. Neil Sadick, says his busy patients have been asking for early morning and late evening appointments; “Patients used to be able to get out of work when they wanted to, but things have changed,” so he has also changed, adjusting his office hours to be more convenient.

Extended hours may be expected in “the city that never sleeps,” but is the same true for plastic surgeons in Munster or Valparaiso, Indiana? According to Dr. Robinson, some of the same changes are happening here. “We have adjusted our hours to accommodate our patients,” he says.

The doc explains: “We are very sensitive to the time constraints work and family has placed on our patients. In an effort to give them more options, we have been offering late appointments once a month. We have found this to be well received and are considering expanding this to twice a month. Our patients appreciate the flexibility this gives them when their schedules do not permit morning or afternoon appointments.”

• Contact us about scheduling questions at Indiana Plastic Surgery
• Read the article “Urban Beauty Services Offer House Calls in the Wee Hours“

The Cancer Resource Centre provides support, education and encouragement for those facing any kind of cancer, and their families.

Help us help the CRC!

All of the offices in Fountain View Professional Center join together to compete against Community Surgery Center, Community, St. Catherine and St. Mary’s Hospitals and many other area businesses to raise the most funds for the CRC.

Our office has put together a special offer in honor of the CRC – Just schedule a Signature Facial ($65) with Valerie during the month of September and we will donate $15 from each treatment to the Cancer Resource Centre.

To schedule your Signature Facial to benefit the CRC, contact Indiana Plastic Surgery in Munster, IN at (219) 513-2100.

Visit www.cancerresourcecentre.com for more information about the free programs offered to cancer patients and their loved ones.

Additionally, join us for the 7th annual Romp & Roll Walk and Fun Run on Oct 3 to raise funds for the CRC. Learn more at www.rompandroll.org.

These type of services are becoming more popular as more internet-savvy patients choose to research surgery procedures online.  CNN reports that some surgeons have gone as far as implementing a “virtual consultation” using live chat services like Skype or iChat.  These platforms are known for being user-friendly.  One East coast surgeon claims that roughly 15 percent of his patients opt for the virtual consult.

Surgeons in foreign countries have also capitalized on new technology, which has allowed them to reach a wider clientele.  For patients, it’s a great way to gather information or determine if they are comfortable with a surgeon.   Michael Boeckle, who helps schedule surgery “vacation packages” for patients, says “patients usually do not pick their doctor by price, but by how comfortable they feel with the information they have received.”

If you decide to contact us, we can ensure your privacy. We’ll also do our best to address your questions in a timely manner.