..Is any surgery safe? When it comes to plastic surgery, it is not hard to come across horror stories of botched procedures and unqualified doctors doing more harm than good. At times, it seems that there are endless lists of the many dangers of plastic surgery and few useful articles on how you can decrease those dangers.

Plastic surgery is not any riskier than any other surgery. In fact, plastic surgery can be very safe. All surgeries have certain risks, but when performed by an experienced, licensed and board qualified surgeon like our VIDA medical team, any surgical procedure can be super safe, keeping risks at a minimum.

Plastic surgery can be very safe. Every medical procedure, from getting a tooth filling to an elective surgery will have some risks. However, there are certain steps you as a patient can take in order to make your plastic surgery as safe as possible.

Research your doctor’s qualifications and then research him some more.

This is the most valuable thing you can do to minimize the risks of plastic surgery. Great doctors qualified to perform surgery should not be that hard to find and investigate.

Questions to Ask Before Surgery

Is your prospective surgeon board certified?

Anywhere in the world, surgeons should be board certified by their country’s Board of Plastic Surgery. These certifications expire too, so double check if their board membership is up to date. This guarantees that your prospective surgeon is up to date on the newest and safest surgery techniques and procedures.

How long has your doctor been in Plastic Surgery?

What is his area of expertise within the field? Experience matters a lot. You don’t go to a dermatologist for a stomach ache, right? Same here. You should be able to verify how long has your doctor been a plastic or cosmetic surgeon and ask about experience in the particular procedure you are interested in.

Can your prospective doctor provide you with references?

Good doctors will probably post a couple of patients’ before and after pictures, but excellent doctors will be more than happy to give you information on former patients, show you a ton of before and after pictures and even refer you to testimonials for a reference. Honesty and transparency are a great indication of safety! Another great tool for patients is RealSelf, an independently operated site that combines doctor’s expertise and patient’s unfiltered reviews, experiences, and before and after photos.

Can your prospective surgeon provide you the information on the anesthesiologist for your procedure?

Sadly, we’ve learned about doctors who employ different anesthesiologists every time they perform a surgery. Look for trustworthy doctors who will give you the complete information on the anesthesiologist that will be in your surgery. The anesthesiologist should also be licensed and board certified.

Does your prospective surgeon take you into consideration?

Look for a doctor who will not only talk to you about the procedure but who will thoroughly verify your medical history and any risk factors you might have coming into the surgery; such as age, weight or being a smoker. Also, trust your instinct! We always advise patients to choose a surgeon that will take the time to listen to all of their doubts and questions.

Go to an accredited facility. Better yet, go to an internationally accredited facility.

Great doctors will be very careful of the facilities they operate from. However, just to be extra safe, as a patient, verify the facility’s credentials. If traveling abroad for your plastic surgery, check for a surgical facility accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF).

VIDA Wellness and Beauty center was actually the first surgical facility in Mexico to obtain this accreditation! Verifying these type of credentials assures that not only the doctors but the clinic as well are up to international standards. What does this guarantee? This accreditation guarantees a place that is clean, safe and equipped to care for patients during and after surgery.

 After finding a surgeon you trust, listen to him.

Make plastic surgery safer by following your doctor’s instructions on how to prepare for surgery and how to handle your aftercare. Different procedures will have different requirements, but one thing is certain: being out of the operating room does not mean the procedure is over. A huge part of making plastic surgery safe is the aftercare. Talk to your surgeon about any lifestyle changes you need to make, time off and activities you should avoid. Sometimes, it’s the little things that can make a huge difference such as following a soft diet and taking short walks after surgery that can make your procedure a smooth (and safe) one.

When plastic surgery is dangerous

Plastic surgery can be dangerous if you, as a patient, don’t research the doctor, the facility and don’t follow pre-op and post-op instructions. Plastic surgery is dangerous when:

• Doctors not properly trained as plastic or cosmetic surgeons attempt to perform plastic and cosmetic surgery.
• The doctor is not licensed.
• The doctor is not board certified.
• The hospital or clinic is not clean or up to date on patient safety standards.
• You do not follow your surgeon’s instructions on how to prepare for surgery.
• You skip follow up appointments or don’t follow your surgeon’s instructions on how to care for your drains or incisions.
• You don’t follow a healthy diet as prescribed by your surgeon, before and after the surgery. This includes no drinking or smoking!

If you have any doubts or questions regarding Plastic Surgery safety, do not hesitate to give us a call at 619-738-2144. By helping our patients be better informed, we can make plastic surgery safer every day!