Plastic Surgeon - Buyer Beware

It is becoming increasingly popular for non-traditional practitioners to offer services normally provided by a plastic surgeon. Here is why consumers should practice caution.

A lot of industries experience a decline in business due to economic downturns. In these times they must be creative and competitive to stay in business. While often times, this can be a positive development for consumers, there are certain circumstances need to be cautious. One example is found within the plastic surgery industry. Here are some things to look out for when seeking the best plastic surgeon.

Specialization
As the cosmetics industry booms, both surgical and non-surgical procedures, it’s becoming more common for M.D.s to expand their current practice to include plastic surgery procedures. Because cosmetic procedures are not usually covered by insurance, they guarantee upfront payment to a medical provider. Many justify by limiting their offerings to non-surgical cosmetic procedures like lasers and dermal fillers. But even these non-invasive procedures are not fool-proof.

So doctors, from Gynecologists to ER doctors may take a short how-to course in dermal fillers and decide to start offering the service. This may give them some basic on how to complete the injection without providing a complete foundation on how to get the best results based on a patient’s facial structure or a thorough overview on treating complications.

These doctors may tout the convenience of being a one stop shop and receiving expanded services from a physician you know and trust. However, patients should consider how they would react if their dentist expanded their practice to include well-woman exams. They would probably be shocked. This should be the same reaction to a general physician offering procedures that an experienced and trained plastic surgeon should be performing.

Professional certification
Doctors are not the only non-traditional practitioners to try to be plastic surgeons. many spas and salons are jumping on the med spa bandwagon, expanding their services to include more profitable procedures. Again, most of these will focus on non-invasive procedures such as laser hair removal or dermal fillers. However, it is still important for a patient to investigate the professional certification of a provider before letting an aesthetician sell you services. Also check the state’s regulating board for any previous complaints.

What Med Spa customers may not think about is that even a simple laser treatment may have serious side effects when given to recipients who have certain allergies or take a particular medication. Treatments should not be conducted without first seeing a physician and completing medical history background. Be cautious of any establishment that does not encourage you to consult a physician prior to your treatment. Or, seek out a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon to ensure a safe and positive experience for your next procedure.

Article Tags: Plastic Surgeon, Dermal Fillers

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