(Long Island, N.Y.) The news is perfect timing for me. As I’m considering going under the knife to correct some minor issues that came up after I gave birth to two children, the news headlines are plastered with the dangers of plastic surgery, following the tragic death of Donda West, mother of hip-hop star Kanye West.
While the circumstances surrounding her death are still surfacing, one thing’s for sure: The nation is taking a closer look at these ‘elective’ surgeries and weighing the risks versus rewards. My heart goes out for the West family. Now that the nation’s talking about plastic surgery—I’m looking in the mirror and wondering if my own desires to get some work done should be re-examined.
A 2004 study published in the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, found that deaths occurring at office-based surgery facilities are rare—less than ¼ percent. More than 400,000 operative procedures in accredited office-based outpatient surgery centers were studied from 2000-2002. Serious complications were infrequent, occurring 1 in 298 cases or 0.34 percent with death occurring 1 in 51,459 cases or 0.0019 percent, which is comparable to the overall risk of such procedures performed in hospital surgery facilities. And a new study presented at the ASPS annual scientific conference in October reported similar findings.
“The death of a patient is always tragic and devastating for all involved, particularly the patient’s family and the medical team,” said Richard D’Amico, MD, ASPS president in a prepared statement. “However, we don’t want to unnecessarily frighten the public. While this situation is rare, the decision to have a plastic surgery procedure is serious. No-risk surgery doesn’t exist.”
It’s a tough decision. Do I take my chances? Roll the dice? Take this news and heed the warnings? There’s just so much more to consider now than how many CC’s or what cup size do I want to be. For me, I not swayed by all the media pressure to be perfect nor do I think bigger breasts or a flatter tummy would suddenly make my life divine. Frankly, I just want to get back to my old self: The way I looked before kids. But now I have a lot of thinking to do. Is it really worth it?
For those who still think the rewards outweigh the risk, ASPS recommends six essential points when considering any plastic surgery procedure:
- Do your homework: Research the procedure, the benefits and the risks. Go to www.plasticsurgery.org for the latest information on plastic surgery procedures.
- Have realistic expectations: Ask your plastic surgeon about the benefits and risks of your surgery; discuss your expectations and understand side effects and recovery time.
- Be informed: Talk to patients who have had your procedure so you know what to expect.
- Ask tough questions: Consult with your plastic surgeon and discuss your full medical history to determine the most appropriate treatment.
- Choose an ASPS Member Surgeon: ASPS Member Surgeons are qualified, trained and properly certified. They adhere to a strict code of ethics, receive continuous education and operate only in accredited facilities.
- Confirm accreditation of outpatient surgery center: If your surgery may take place in an outpatient surgery center, be sure it is accredited. ASPS requires that all members who perform surgery under anesthesia must do so in a facility that meets certain criteria, such as the appropriate accreditation and state licensure.
“It’s one thing to have training, but it’s another to have your competency tested. This is why board-certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is so crucial,” said Dr. D’Amico. “As a patient, you should ask yourself, ‘Why wouldn’t this surgeon be board-certified in plastic surgery?’”
All ABPS-certified physicians have:
- Graduated from an accredited medical school;
- Completed at least five years of surgical residency training, usually three years of general surgery and two years of plastic surgery;
- Practiced plastic surgery for two years; and
- Passed comprehensive written and oral examinations covering both the cosmetic and reconstructive areas of the specialty of plastic surgery.
When you watch all the TV shows that depict plastic surgery as “happily-ever-after” only, you can’t help but think, “Hey, why don’t I go in for a few enhancements.” The E! network’s Dr. 90210 takes these complicated procedures and ties them up in a pretty bow. I know first hand that it isn’t always so pretty. I’ve had friends tell me stories…..
Still, I can’t help but wonder if a little nip/tuck would put a spring in my step. But at what cost?
