Doctor Reviews - Can They Prevent Plastic Surgery Nightmares?

When one thinks of cosmetic surgery, one usually thinks about the United States. The U.S. has become the unqualified leader when it comes to going under the knife for vanity’s sake. With Hollywood stars leading the way, today’s woman (or man) need not be satisfied with their natural appearance. Some Botox here, some liposuction there, and everything’s good to go, right? Perhaps, but the latest plastic surgery cautionary tales are coming out of the Great White North. And the horror stories coming out of some recent hearings has caused some to wonder if a concerted, nationwide effort at harmonizing doctor reviews could weed out some of the bad apples in the profession.

A cosmetic surgeon by the name of Behnaz Yazdanfar, or Dr. Yaz, as her patients tended to call her, was at the subject of professional hearings having to do with charges being brought against him due to the death of a patient named Krista Stryland. Dr. Yaz was being charged with professional misconduct as well as incompetence stemming from the case. Stryland went in for liposuction in September of 2007 and her heart stopped following the operation. Attempts to revive her were in vain. As a result of the proceedings following the tragedy, Dr. Yazdanfar lost her right to practice, but it is the practice of liposuction itself that came under the most scrutiny.

Liposuction is a procedure designed to actually suck fat out of whatever part of the body they tend to accumulate fat stores. This could be in the abdominal area, the legs, the buttocks, or elsewhere. Typically, it is advised that patients be near their ideal weight to have the operation, as it is not meant to be a substitute for weight loss. Rather, it is designed to target those hard to reach areas where fat remains even after the subject has gotten down to or close to their ideal weight. As with all forms of plastic surgery, most patients are women, though a growing number of men are having procedures done as well.

The issue is whether these people are being properly informed of the risks involved in these surgeries. While liposuction has become rather commonplace, the case of Krista Stryland and others shows that it is not without serious risks. With a good system of doctor reviews, perhaps it is possible to send more people to competent and forthright physicians who will be frank and honest with their patients about what they are getting into.