Plastic vs. Cosmetic Surgeons

[lilhokie]

Today I had my 2nd consult and it was with a Cosmetic Surgeon, not a plastic surgeon. Because he is not a Plastic Surgeon, he can not be board certified. He does not do any reconstrutive surgery, which is why he is a Cosmetic Surgeon. I'm still not sure which doctor I liked better, I felt pretty comfortable with both of them. They both do over 200 breast augmentation's a year and have very little complications and complaints about them.

Does anyone have any experience with using a CS instead of a PS? Would you recommend not using a CS and sticking with a board certificed PS instead? Any comments on this would be appreciated.

Thanks

Carol

[YummeeCookee]

If it were me, I would def stick -w- someone thats a board certified plastic surgeon. Ive heard too many horror stories about women going to CS's and getting all sorts of complications.

Surgeries are risky, its best to be in the hands of a professional who has had the proper training. Any doctor can call himself a "cosmetic surgeon," even a dentist.

"By choosing a plastic surgeon who is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc., you can be assured that the doctor has graduated from an accredited medical school and has completed at least five years of additional training as a resident surgeon. This includes a minimum three-year residency in an accredited general surgery program and a minimum two-year residency in plastic surgery. To become certified, the doctor then must successfully complete comprehensive written and oral exams. Board Certification is a voluntary process."

[Jess]

Originally Posted by YummeeCookee

If it were me, I would def stick -w- someone thats a board certified plastic surgeon. Ive heard too many horror stories about women going to CS's and getting all sorts of complications.

Surgeries are risky, its best to be in the hands of a professional who has had the proper training. Any doctor can call himself a "cosmetic surgeon," even a dentist.

"By choosing a plastic surgeon who is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc., you can be assured that the doctor has graduated from an accredited medical school and has completed at least five years of additional training as a resident surgeon. This includes a minimum three-year residency in an accredited general surgery program and a minimum two-year residency in plastic surgery. To become certified, the doctor then must successfully complete comprehensive written and oral exams. Board Certification is a voluntary process."

Couldn't agree more!

[PetuPetu]

Ditto what YummeeCookee said.

[Admin]

My surgeon doesn't do reconstructive surgery, but he IS board-certified by the ABPS. He just chooses to do only cosmetic procedures.

Are you aware that ANY surgeon can call himself a "cosmetic surgeon"? Did you know that even DENTISTS have performed plastic surgery b/c they have advertised themselves as "cosmetic surgeons"? Who is the doc that's not certified that you're thinking of using? I strongly recommend against that. If you had a heart problem and required surgery, would you go to a cardiologist, or would you go to some other type of doctor that has NO formal training for heart problems? In essence, going to a non-certified surgeon is the SAME thing. Look at http://www.justbreastimplants.com/re...tification.htm. I don't care how nice a doctor is or how much you might "like" him.....the important thing is that they're permanently altering your body, and they need to have the proper qualifications. You're paying for surgical results, not for his personality. There are bunches of great QUALIFIED surgeons out there, so there'rs no reason to choose a doctor that doens't even have the formal training it takes to become board-certified by the ABPS. IMO, having surgery with a doctor like that is like playing russian roulette with your body.

[finally!!!]

Originally Posted by Nikki

My surgeon doesn't do reconstructive surgery, but he IS board-certified by the ABPS. He just chooses to do only cosmetic procedures.

Are you aware that ANY surgeon can call himself a "cosmetic surgeon"? Did you know that even DENTISTS have performed plastic surgery b/c they have advertised themselves as "cosmetic surgeons"? Who is the doc that's not certified that you're thinking of using? I strongly recommend against that. If you had a heart problem and required surgery, would you go to a cardiologist, or would you go to some other type of doctor that has NO formal training for heart problems? In essence, going to a non-certified surgeon is the SAME thing. Look at http://www.justbreastimplants.com/re...tification.htm. I don't care how nice a doctor is or how much you might "like" him.....the important thing is that they're permanently altering your body, and they need to have the proper qualifications. You're paying for surgical results, not for his personality. There are bunches of great QUALIFIED surgeons out there, so there'rs no reason to choose a doctor that doens't even have the formal training it takes to become board-certified by the ABPS. IMO, having surgery with a doctor like that is like playing russian roulette with your body.

My feelings exactly.

[pla]

and mine too!!
seriously, even when they are board certified, complications may occur..
you should try to minimize your risks, and that starts with chosing a doctor who's qualified and specifically trained in the area

[Jiggle]

I agree 100% with Nikki. It's just too risky. Please be careful.

[lilhokie]

Thanks so much for your responses. I had a consult with this doc because I have a good friend who used him for both a tummy tuck and her breast augmentation. I really had no intention of using him, but thought I'd just visit to take into consideration what he had said about size, placement, etc.

Thanks again.

Carol

[Admin]

I have a friend in NY that went to a non-certified ps b/c some other people had gone to him and had good results. Unfortunately, my friend din't have good results, and several other women came onto the forum in the following months and posted their complaints as well. This particular doctor had one girl that was REALLY into promoting him on various forums, and even SHE wound up changing surgeons.

Check out the surgeons listed at www.justbreastimplants.com/plastic_surgeons/florida/. All of those surgeons are ABPS certified and have clean disciplinary histories with the Florida state medical board.

[cici]

board certified....that's all I have to say
I felt comfortable and safe knowing I was in good hands.

[miabellamama]

Have to say, I agree with the girls, If I'm putting my life and looks in someone else's hands, I'd like to think I had done everything in my power to make sure I had picked someone that would take the best possible care of me!

[Slinky]

Just want to jump in and re-enforce what everyone else has said. If someone is going to cut into my body, it will only be someone I know is competent. To me, that means board certified. Glad to hear you aren't planning on using the cosmetic surgeon.

[CATCOOPER]

I totally agree with all the girls. You should definilty go with a board certified surgeon.

[nvogel]

You hit the nail on the head....Unfortunately, I went to someone that is not a board cert. plastic surgeon. And I have had one problem after another. This person has a resume on his website that is a mile long and it says that he is board cert. in cosmetic surgery(?) not plastic surgery. He also has a dental degree!! After I mentioned it to him he seemed to get a little defensive and said that plastic surgeons are only trained in reconstructive surgery and can call themselves "cosmetic surgeons" even though they may have not even performed 1 cosmetic procedure in their career.

So, I have heard arguements from both sides and it tends to get very confusing. But, if you only remember one thing, it is go to someone that is cert. by the ABPS.

[ElizaMoon]

I had my breast augmentation performed by a cosmetic surgeon. I stupidly thought that being a board certified cosmetic surgeon is the same thing as a board certified plastic surgeon and it's NOT. The cosmetic surgery board isn't even a "real" board! If I had found this forum, or figured all this out before my breast augmentation I never would have chosen my doctor, even though he has a ton of experience.

That being said, I'm over a year post-op and I have absolutely no complications and my results are great. But I do consider myself to be VERY lucky in this respect. I do like my doctor and had a good experience with him, but f I ever have to get a redo, I will choose another doctor. It's just too risky.