Is Your Surgeon Qualified?? A Message from Dr. Quinn
Recently there has been an influx of news stories about patients who have had procedures performed on themselves by persons falsely portraying plastic surgeons. Many times these patients become disfigured and even suffer complications as severe as death from having foreign and toxic materials implanted or injected into their bodies. These types of cases are always a reminder of how important it is to research a surgeon before choosing to have a cosmetic procedure performed.
For any cosmetic procedure you are desiring, you must make sure the surgeon you choose is a BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON, not just a board certified surgeon or board certified cosmetic surgeon. By being a board certified plastic surgeon this doctor has had at least 5 years of training and experience in surgery, with at least 2 years specifically in plastic surgery. He must also be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and operate only in accredited medical facilities.
The way our medical system is set up now, any medical doctor can legally perform a cosmetic procedure without having any specific training, meaning a neurologist can legally perform liposuction without ever having any formal training in surgical procedures. For this reason, some unethical physicians will pass themselves off as “cosmetic surgeons” to make an extra buck. Only surgeons who have gone through the rigorous training and testing necessary to be board certified in plastic surgery can call themselves “plastic surgeons”.
If you are considering a cosmetic procedure, please take a moment to check your surgeon’s board certification. Just visit www.plasticsurgery.org to find a list of accredited plastic surgeons in your area.
Dr. John Michael Quinn, MD, FACS is a board certified plastic surgeon who has not only had specific training in plastic surgery, but has been practicing and perfecting his technique for 23 years. If you are interested in a cosmetic procedure and/or have questions about board certification, please feel free to call our office anytime, 913-492-3443.
