February 15th, 2010 admin
No it’s not a dating service, but in this article from the New York Times, patients can now go online an meet a surgeon who might answer their questions about a procedure. It’s an interesting idea but I caution against it.
First of all, you as the patient should see the physician in his/her “natural environment.” That is, his office. What happens if it’s a mess or you don’t like the decor? It may seem crazy but it’s part of forming an opinion about who he is, almost like going to a restaurant. Also, you’ll want to meet the staff and see what the doctor is like in person, not just on a computer screen.
As for the surgeon, there is no substitute for seeing and putting your hands on a patient in order to get a good idea of what you are and are not capable of doing. A computer screen cannot take the place of a good physical exam.
So overall, I’d pass on this idea. Clever marketing but poor medicine.
Posted in Plastic Surgery | 1 Comment »
November 30th, 2009 admin
When you go for your plastic surgery consultation, here are the first five of 42 questions you might consider asking:
6. How many (insert Procedure here) have you performed?
7. How many revisions of your own work do you perform?
All surgeons perform revisions of their work. It just goes with the territory. Also ask if you will be charged for such work and how much.
8. Would you be willing to perform cosmetic surgery on a loved one?
In all honesty, some people would and some would never. I don’t think there is a correct answer for this question, but the reasons for or against may give you some insight in to your surgeon’s personality.
9. Why are you or are you not a good candidate for this procedure?
10. What are the complications of this procedure?
Very important question. There are complications for hang nail surgery. Your surgeon must absolutely must inform you of this as a matter of protocol. If he/she does not, find another surgeon.
Posted in Home, Plastic Surgery | Comments Off
November 29th, 2009 admin
When you go for your plastic surgery consultation, here are the first five of 42 questions you might consider asking:
1. How long have you been practicing plastic surgery?
Not always a good indicator of competence, bu, in general,t it the more experience, usually the better results.
2. Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
This the official Board for plastic surgeons. The American Board Cosmetic Surgery is not. To be Board certified requires approved training and then an extremely rigorous written and then even more rigorous oral exam. It is a very difficult exam i can assure you. The pass rate is extremely low compared to other medical sub specialties. It does not guarantee that your surgeon will give you great results, only that he/she is competent and ethical.
3.When will you re certify?
Surgeons certified after the mid 1990’s, will need to recertify every ten years. Older surgeons are exempt from the exam.
4. Gave you ever been disciplined by the board, the state or any hospital?
With more surgeons practicing in all fields, professional misconduct is on the rise. Hopefully you will get an honest response.
5. What is your favorite procedure to perform and why?
Every surgeon has one. The answer might give you some insight into his/her personality and competence.
Posted in Plastic Surgery | Comments Off
September 24th, 2009 admin
Maybe.
Although all plastic surgeons have seen a decrease in business due to the recession, the number of people coming for plastic surgery will a specific goal in mind, like getting a new job, I think has increased. This article in the New York Times seems to support this. I find that more and more people are coming in to look better as they find themselves looking for a new job. Of course cheaper alternatives to the knife like BOTOX and fillers such as Restylane are leading the pack, eyelid surgery, liposuction, facelifts and tummy tucks are also very popular these days. A younger, more youthful and vigorous appearance tends to show prospective employers that you are up to the task. Of course there are no guarantees, but it is sure better than going into that interview looking worn out and tired.
So if you are thinking about a better look, there are a lot of ways to attain it through plastic surgery. Come in for a free consultation and let me show you how.
Posted in Liposuction, Plastic Surgery | Comments Off
July 31st, 2009 admin
I believe most plastic surgeons are well-trained, caring professionals. However it is not beyond our abilities to inadvertently give people unwanted results. This doesn’t mean a complication like bleeding or scaring (although these are always possible), but changing the way someone looks so they are not recognizable.
When you see celebrities with “bad’” plastic surgery, sometimes they might have actually asked for that kind of change. No one really knows what was requested but their surgeon. Still, a tight facelift, a frozen forehead or gigantic breasts maybe the result of a well meaning surgeon. As hard as we try, we are still human and it is sometimes difficult to translate what someone wants in terms of results into the actual surgical result.
What about computer imaging? Mostly, this is just a marketing gimmick. Just because surgeon a can make you look beautiful on a computer, doesn’t mean she can in the OR. Just understand that a “good-bad” result is always a possibility no matter who your surgeon is. Check out this article from MSNBC for more insight.
Posted in Bad Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgery | Comments Off
April 1st, 2009 Kenneth M. Rose MD
Cosmetic surgery offers you many possibilities for increasing your personal satisfaction with your body. It can be easy to get excited about what cosmetic surgery can do, but you need to proceed thoughtfully through the process of deciding to undergo an elective surgery. Your consultation with your cosmetic surgeon is a crucial time to communicate your concerns, goals, and have all of your questions answered to your satisfaction. Below I’ve listed some standard questions that should be part of any good consultation.
- What results can I expect from my cosmetic procedure? No matter which cosmetic procedure you are considering, you need to be given a clear idea of what a plastic surgeon can accomplish with your body.
- How many years have you been specializing in cosmetic surgery? This question will also help you assess the experience of the cosmetic surgeon.
- What are your educational credentials and training? Ideally you are looking for a cosmetic surgeon who has been specifically trained in plastic surgery during residency after medical school.
- What will my recovery be like? In relation to your specific procedure you need to find out how long you can expect recovery to take and what limitations on your activities will be necessary. This information is very important to know when you need to take time off from work. It varies by procedure, such as for eyelid surgery or a breast reduction.
- What are the risks of my cosmetic surgery? Any surgery presents a chance for complications like infection or bleeding. You should seriously consider any possible risks and their consequences for you. Your plastic surgeon should be willing to discuss them.
- Where will the surgery take place? You will want to know if your surgery will be at a hospital, surgeon’s office, or outpatient surgery center. Any of these locations can be appropriate depending on your procedure.
- Who will administer anesthesia? This question is particularly important if you will need to have general anesthesia during your procedure.
- What will my procedure cost? There is no need to be shy about discussing the cost. Your plastic surgeon should be forthright about the cost of his or her services. Be sure to get an estimate of total costs, including lab work and follow up visits so you will not have any budgetary surprises after your surgery.
- What will happen during my surgery? Your plastic surgeon should be willing to explain the technical details of your surgery. You have a right to know what will be done to your body.
I hope these questions help you when you go for your consultation. Remember there are never any guarantees with any surgical procedure, but you should at least have a clear idea of what you are getting yourself into
Posted in Plastic Surgery | 3 Comments »
December 7th, 2008 Kenneth M. Rose MD
This is a good article from The New York Times about Gerald Pittman a plastic surgeon here in Manhattan. It makes a strong case of how to avoid plastic surgery. I think it’s a little exaggerated, like surgery is the absolute last resort (after all he makes his living by operating), but there is a lot of truth to it.
Believe it or not most good plastic surgeons turn down a large percentage of their prospective patients. Some are just not candidates for surgery. That could be because they are not psychologically realistic about the results, they are poor candidates for the particular surgery they want (i.e. an obese person wants a tummy tuck or a heavy smoker wants a facelift) or the surgeon’s personality and the patient’s just don’t mesh.
The best thing you can do as a patient is be realistic about the results (liposuction and tummy tucks are not dieting substitutes) and try to be in the best physical shape before the procedure. This combination of positive attitutde, good surgical judgement on the part of your surgeon and prime physical condition, is the best way to insure a a great result.
Posted in Facelift, Plastic Surgery, Tummy Tuck | 3 Comments »
November 30th, 2008 Kenneth M. Rose MD
It’s no secret that times are financially hard for everyone. Plastic surgery is no different. One survey I read said that cosmetic surgery is down 40 to 60% in the last year. As such a lot of plastic surgeons may be cutting corners to get new patients. It is important that you know that your doctor is qualified and is doing your procedure in a certified surgical facility. This article explains what questions you should ask when having your consultation. Whether economic times are tough or not, you should probably ask these questions anyway.
You should also look at my television interview on WCBS-TV “Beware of Bargain Plastic Surgery.” drrose_wcbs_6208
Remember surgery is serious business. It should not be taken lightly by you or your surgeon. The most important part of your experience is really not the result, but how safely you get there.
Posted in Bad Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgery | 1 Comment »