Surgery Safety
With any cosmetic surgery procedure, the patient must equip themselves with the necessary information beforehand in order to ensure maximum safety and the best potential for great results. The main factors involved in becoming well informed and making sensible choices are explored below.
Find the right surgeon for you
Your surgeon needs to be trustworthy and reliable. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) makes the job of assessing a surgeon a lot easier, as members of the society must have a minimum of five years of surgical training, at least two of which must be in plastic surgery. They must be experienced in the common procedures such as face and breast surgeries, and agree to abide by strict ethical guidelines. This all helps to guarantee your safety and the quality of your treatment.
Beyond qualifications and professional standing, your other primary concern should be how comfortable you feel with the surgeon performing the procedure. Are they approachable, and have they or their staff answered all of your questions professionally? Surgery is a major step in your life, and regular checkups are common after the surgery, so finding the surgeon who makes you feel secure is a crucial part of the decision-making process.
Check for accredited facilities
Wherever your surgery takes place, the facility should be accredited to ensure adherence to strict health and safety regulations, plus the best equipment and staff. The safety records of accredited outpatient facilities are outstanding, and the ASPS requires member surgeons to use properly accredited clinics and hospitals.
Depending on the surgery, you may need to spend a day or so in a facility for post-operative care. Be sure to also make enquires into their accreditation. A fully licensed facility should provide care at all hours by at least two trained members of staff, with the right medication and equipment on hand in the event of any complications.
Know the risks
The consultation with your chosen surgeon is one of the most important steps in the process; this allows a back and forth of pertinent questions which allow the surgeon and the patient to gain a wealth of useful information (see our article on consultations for more specifics). This is one of your opportunities to find out about the risks involved with the procedure. Surgeries are never free of risk, and cosmetic surgery can carry an extra aesthetic dimension should the surgery not produce all of the expected results. Before signing any consent forms and going forward you should seek to understand risks such as infection, anaesthesia dangers, unpredictable scarring, hematoma, pain and more. It is also possible that some procedures will end up requiring more surgery should they produce an unsatisfactory outcome.
Follow instructions
If you decide to go ahead with cosmetic surgery, be sure to follow all the instructions you are given to ensure that the best possible results are achieved and maintained.