Why Getting Cheap Plastic Surgery is Like Buying A Discount Parachute

Posted on 29 Mar 2016

There was a lengthy article in USA recently called “Cosmetic surgery gets cheaper, faster scarier,” which is well worth reading. It is an in-depth investigation of cheap, quick-fix plastic surgeries that are being done by non-plastic surgeons across the country.

We will not give you a blow-by-blow of all these horror stories, but there are four very common themes.

First, many of these surgeries were performed in non-accredited facilities. This means that the necessary safety measures for such operations may not have been available, or that the equipment used was sub par. It may even be possible that there was not proper sterility in the operating room.

Second, many of the doctors were not plastic surgeons and may have only had a three day course before they decided to perform plastic surgery.

Third, operations that should have been done under general anesthesia were done under local. Frequently, this is because the doctor does not have privileges to this procedure in a hospital or out-patient surgery center.

Fourth, the cost was much cheaper than everyone else, they were encouraged to have the operation done quickly, and they never saw the physician who was doing the operation, until the day of surgery.

Let’s face it: you would never buy a discount parachute, because your life could depend upon it. The same can be said for discounted cheap, quick-fix plastic surgery. Very few of us would approach something this important with so little care. But it is happening all around the country.

Although good credentials can’t guarantee a successful outcome, there are a few things you can do to make sure that you don’t have the same experience as the patients in the article:

• Go to a Board Certified plastic surgeon and attest that s/he will only operate in accredited facilities. Don’t be hurried or rushed. Take your time. Ask Questions. And, do your homework!
• Make sure the facility where your doctor is doing the surgery is an accredited facility.
• Make sure your doctor has hospital privileges to do this operation in a hospital.
• If the price you are being quoted is way lower than anyone else, beware!
• Find out something about your doctor. Look at online reviews, and read his/her profile on sites like RealSelf.com. If you can’t find them online, that should tell you something.

If you have a friend who is going to have plastic surgery, please help us get the word out. This can save them a whole lot of grief! Contact Dr. Keith Neaman today to learn if you are a candidate for plastic surgery and be sure to schedule your consultation at our office in Salem, Oregon.