Too often, liposuction is driven by technology and associated marketing rather than by the training and skill of the medical practitioner. You have seen or heard the frequently slick ads touting the amazing outcomes that can be yours when you have your liposuction using “their” miracle machine. Such may or may not include the following:
SmartLipo™ Slimlipo™ LipoLite™ Etc.™
The most important factor is not the machine. It is the doctor performing the liposuction. No machine can correct for poor technique, lack of experience, improper training and a lack of appreciation and understanding of aesthetics.
Unfortunately, many of those physicians (or clinics) that advertise and use these liposuction machines, can be characterized by one or more of these deficiencies. They may market themselves as cosmetic surgeons (possibly because they took courses, etc.) but, in fact, their primary medical training was in family care, internal medicine, emergency medicine, cardiology and so forth.
You don’t see the word “surgery” attached to any of these. That should also serve as a warning.
There are general surgeons who do use these liposuction machines. However, their training is in areas completely unrelated to liposuction and the aesthetic realm. Another hint: most plastic surgeons first train in general surgery and THEN undergo at minimum of an additional two to three years of specialized training in plastic surgery before opening their practices. It must just be that the additional training and experience is important.
So – who do you want to have performing liposuction on your body?
Thought so!
Make sure that your doctor a plastic surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. I am and have been practicing in the Scottsdale and Phoenix area going on 25 years.
Now, for a little levity, check out this video touting an amazing suction machine.
Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona
The adage that “you get what you pay for” is very true for a segment of the plastic surgery market. In fact, it can be further modified to state that “you get what you pay for – and less!” What I am referring to is seemingly bargained priced cosmetic surgery that is not being performed by plastic surgeons but instead by those who have had little training and may not have your best interests at heart. These often includes physicians who have not had extensive formal surgical training but instead have taken even just “weekend” courses to learn and earn their way to luxury.
Unfortunately, many patients seeking plastic surgery select their physician based on price or glitzy marketing but neglect to thoroughly investigate their credentials and reputation. I have seen too many patients in consultation who were subjected to considerably substandard cosmetic surgery performed on them often by unscrupulous, greedy and poorly “trained” doctors who deceitfully and dishonestly portrayed themselves as plastic surgeons either overtly or by overwhelming inference. They may use the term “cosmetic surgeon” as if it is a synonym for a “plastic surgeon” in name and training which it is not. These commonly have included physicians with primary medical training in internal medicine, family practice, gynecology, emergency medicine or general surgery.
The attraction invariably was much lower total prices along with fancy ads. Ironically, many experienced the bait and switch scheme resulting in total expenditures that often far exceeded what they would have paid to have their surgery performed by a reputable, well-trained plastic surgeon. Of course, if you then add in the total costs for corrective surgery (which may never fully reverse the inferior outcome that they were left with) and the final outlay can be multiple times higher.
As a health care consumer, you need to do your homework though it can be daunting and you still can be deceived. Don’t be swayed by marketing, suaveness of the physician or their staff, a luxurious appearing office and low prices as these are often ruses and props used to further deceive you into believing that you will receiving top notch care. It is quite often just the opposite.
Make sure that the doctor that you are considering is residency trained in plastic surgery and board certified or board eligible (this board eligible part can be confusing) by the American Board of Plastic Surgery though this doesn’t guarantee a particular result. It does at least inform you that he or she has received a certain level of training necessary to be able to perform as a competent plastic surgeon.
The often cited and wannabe “American Board of Cosmetic Surgery” is not officially recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties but is instead somewhat of a marketing deception that uses its official sounding name to confuse the public into believing that their “certified” physicians are the equivalent or better than residency trained and board certified plastic surgeons.
Buyer beware!
As most of you already know, I trained in a plastic surgery residency program in Massachusetts and am a board certified plastic surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery which is a recognized board by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
If you would information on any type of plastic surgery that I perform such as breast augmentation surgery, tummy tucks, rhinoplasties and facelifts, you can call my office at 480-451-3000. We would also be happy to schedule a complimentary consultation for you if you so desire.
Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona
In an article posted on June 21st, I discussed the risks that people take by seeking cosmetic surgery south of the border (Don’t Seek Plastic Surgery South Of The Border). Attempting to save money, too many patients expose themselves to substandard and poorly regulated medical care that results in disappointingly inferior outcomes for the “fortunate”, permanent and irreversible severe scarring and deformities for many or even death for the very unlucky. Expenses for corrective surgery, which doesn’t fully resolve the deformities, can far exceed what the aesthetic procedure would have cost to be performed by a board certified plastic surgeon in the United States.
A variation on this theme involves cosmetic surgery being performed in this country by individuals who are unlicensed, may not even be formally trained or who may be enterprising illegal aliens individuals who exploit their own ethnic community in order to make money. At times, this can be a difficult deception to discern especially for those who are not well educated or at least versed in what to look for or inquire about. These practitioners often lie about their credentials, licensure and experience and may even operate out of a store-front or their home and under the radar.
Such was the case involving two sisters of Mexican descent who were running an illegal cosmetic filler practice in Sylmar, California. Their injection of liquid silicone into the buttocks of a perfectly healthy 22 year old Hispanic female in July lead to her needless death – a horrific but not rare tragedy that can be perpetrated by these illicit operations. The women who performed the injections fled to Mexico.
Deciding where to seek plastic surgery is very important and should be taken seriously – and not just for a breast augmentation, tummy tuck, rhinoplasty or even liposuction – but also for injectables such as Juvederm®, Radiesse® and Botox®. Your decision should be based primarily on qualifications and reputation and then secondarily on price. Though there is never any guarantee of outcome, make sure that the physician that you are considering is either board certified or board eligible by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) which has rigid ethical standards. (I am both board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and am a member of the ASPS.)
If you have any questions regarding my qualification or certifications in plastic surgery or on any cosmetic surgery procedure that I perform or to schedule a complimentary consultation with me, please call my office at 480-451-3000.
Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona
