Does Board Certification matter?

We hear this question asked over and over.  It has mattered, it still matters and will always matter.  

Logically, a more thorough approach to training and experience is going to make one surgeon more effective than one who has not received that specialized training. 

Moreover, a recent study of panniculectomies was done to see if it mattered in practice. (Panniculectomies are excisions of large amounts of skin/fatty tissue secondary to massive weight loss.)  

The study, which came to my attention as a Fort Myers plastic surgeon, looked at a total of 954 panniculectomies.  Of these, 694 were done by plastic surgeons and 260 were by non-plastic surgeons.  Non-plastic surgeons had a significantly higher overall rate of complications than plastic surgeons.  

The rate was 23.08% complications for non-plastic surgeons versus 8.65% for plastic surgeons.  

Wound infection rate was 12.69% for non-plastic surgeons versus 8.65% for plastic surgeons.  

So, in the real world, Board Certification DOES matter!

Wrong, Mick. You can get satisfaction

Recent surveys show some interesting findings.  

Over all, cosmetic surgery consumers are more satisfied with their result than not.  Breast augmentation is THE most popular operation currently and patients who go to a board certified plastic surgeon had a satisfaction rate of 94% versus women who went to a NON board certified surgeon and their satisfaction rate was only 88%.  This is really, really important because more and more doctors are touting they are “cosmetic surgeons” when in fact they lack formal training.  

Interestingly enough this was also true for other cosmetic procedures like liposuction, tummy tuck, eyelid surgery and the like.

What is a pumping party?

I know the suspense is killing you – what is a pumping party?  

Instead of injecting Botox, illegal silicon is injected.

Forty-two-year-old Padge Victoria Windslowe is under arrest for the death of twenty-year-old Claudia Adertimi. 

Claudia came over from England to have Ms. Windslowe inject her buttocks with silicone.  She had the injection done and suffered from pulmonary emboli.  

I again can not emphasize enough how important is it to go to a board certified plastic surgeon.  Buyer beware.

FACT:  There were 151,000 body sculpting procedures done in the U.S. in 2011.

Avoid deadly plastic surgery - know your Doctor's credentials

There is no denying the fact that these are tough times economically. Because of this, more and more practitioners are jumping into the aesthetic or cosmetic marketplace. At first thought one might be lulled into a false sense of security – more practitioners - tough economic times - better pricing.

Not so fast.

Now, more than ever, patients need to be extremely diligent in choosing their plastic surgeon. Recently, a cosmetic surgeon was indicted in the deaths of three of his patients. Dr. Peter Norman was in indicted on two counts of second-degree murder and one count of manslaughter in the deaths of three patients who underwent liposuction in his Anthem, Arizona practice

Two of the surgeries were performed by him. The third was done by one his associates, who was not even a surgeon. He was a homeopathic practitioner. Dr. Norman’s training consisted of seven training sessions in liposuction.

This may also be part of what is call the “DVD Syndrome”. With a wide availability of training DVDs in all facets of cosmetic surgery it is very easy for an individual practitioner to become “trained” in the comfort of his own bedroom or study. These DVDs are wonderful educational tools, but in the hands of non-board certified plastic surgeons they can lead to tragedy. Experience and board certification both matter.

In an earlier message on this blog, I discussed what is required to become board certified in plastic surgery. It is deservedly rigorous for exactly the reasons of patient protection.

Shortly prior to the indictment, Dr. Norman attempted to leave the country, fleeing to Germany. US Customs agents apprehended him at Cincinnati International Airport on October 28, 2008.

This arrest may end Dr. Norman’s ill-trained career.

But it doesn’t remove the need to know your plastic surgeon, know his training and check out references and testimonials. There is nothing wrong with asking him or her pointed questions.

For more information about liposuction or other plastic surgery procedures, visit Dr. Brueck's website.

Third Party Validation

A patient recently gave me an article from a newsletter called, “Bottom Line.” The article started off with the line “If you are considering plastic surgery ask the surgeon… Are you board certified in plastic surgery? He/she should be.”

Don't be confused.

There is so much confusion and misunderstanding concerning who is best qualified to perform plastic surgery and, more specifically, cosmetic surgery.

Today, cosmetic procedures, both surgical and non-surgical, are being performed by primary care doctors, chiropractors, nurse practitioners, gynecologists, general surgeons – the list goes on.

All these people probably are very qualified in their specialties. They may even have special certification in their specialties. But is that specialty cosmetic surgery?

What specialty are they board certified in?

All things being equal , a board certified plastic surgeon is still your best and most prudent choice. The training and examination process to become a board certified plastic surgeon is long and demanding.

I discussed this in more detail in an earlier blog posting – including three to five years of general surgery followed by a plastic surgery residency of two to three years of advanced training. In my case, I added a fellowship in cosmetic surgery. Surgeons with the training I have received and my experience are in the best post positions to consult with you about both surgical and non-surgical procedures.

The "Lunchtime Lift"

Recently, I attended a special seminar about a quick face lift procedure. (See my earlier blog message.) I call it the “lunchtime lift” because, at about an hour-and-a-half, it is so fast to complete. In most cases, it literally can be completed over lunch time.

On the way to observe a live demonstration of the procedure, I sat next to a family doctor from Kentucky. He was undecided about the procedure because, he said, he was concerned about the “facial nerve” that enervates the facial muscles. This is a true story. I don’t know where he finally came out about whether or not to do the procedure for his patients.

How much money is "wasted"?

But I think this points up the potential for decisions that are not in the patients best interests. I have seen patients spend thousands of dollars of brand-name fillers and say the look No better. These are not bad products for certain patient needs but , in reality, many of these people need to have a real face lift and/or full face peel or laser resurfacing to meet their objectives. All the money they spent did not give them the results they wanted.

Don’t be reluctant to ask a doctor if he or she is board certified and, even more important, in what specialty he or she is board certified.

On this first day of 2008, I and my staff wish you a healthy and blessed New Year. If you have any questions, just email me at RJBrueck@abodyandface.com

What is Board Certification? Why should you care?

Thoughts on cosmetic surgery by Dr. Robert J. Brueck -

Unfortunately, it is rare that someone these days asks me if I am Board Certified. I got asked that question more frequently 20 years ago. Yet, today we live in a “buyer beware" market.

When I came to Fort Myers 28 years ago, there were four plastic surgeons. Now if you look in the telephone directory, there are maybe 60 or more surgeons. Most are NOT plastic surgeons – they are general surgeons, ophthalmologists, ENT, dermatologists, etc.

In the Yellow Pages, if you want to pay to be listed, they are more than happy to take your money. It matters not to them how qualified a doctor is.

What does it take to be Board Certified?

To be Board Certified in plastic surgery one has to complete four to five years of general surgery training followed by two to three years of training specifically in plastic surgery.

If you trained at an approved program you become “board eligible”.

Many times plastic surgeons will do fellowship training. This is time spent “ultra-specializing” in a particular part of plastic surgery. I did a fellowship in cosmetic surgery since it has always been my first love. Some plastic surgeons will do fellowships in burn therapy or hand surgery.

Written And Oral Exams

Once you have completed your residency and/or fellowship, you first must take an all-day written examination from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. (Yes, you get a lunch break.)

If you successfully complete your written exam then you become eligible for the oral exam. This process usually takes two to three years of private practice. During this time, you have to compile a complete listing of all your cases, which you submit to the Board of Plastic Surgery for its review. These are submitted before your exam and the Board will select certain cases for you to present and/or discuss.

These oral exams are conducted before two other Board Certified plastic surgeons. They will question you on your particular cases or on the whole gamut of plastic surgery. You must take two to three oral exams during the course of the day.

Once all the oral exams have been completed, the Board then goes into seclusion to discuss the results of all the examinees that day and you either pass or fail. If you pass, you are now Board Certified.

Quite an ordeal!

It is certainly more demanding than a weekend course on face lifts or liposuction. That is why, more than ever, you need to be cautious. With the proliferation of Medi-Spas, I am always amused when the doctor gives his or her name followed by the words, “Board Certified Physician.”

Surely, if he or she was Board Certified in plastic surgery, they would say so. Maybe they are Board Certified in podiatry, general surgery, ophthalmology – all important disciplines, but that is not the same as Board Certification in Plastic Surgery. A Board Certified plastic surgeon should be able to discuss all the options available to you as a patient, not just some.

Food for thought as you consider cosmetic surgery and who should perform it for you.