In Office Plastic Surgery Not Always Safe

Accredited hospitals are held to strict safety guidelines and are accountable to national certifying agencies, physician’s offices are not held to the same standards.

While a more beautiful appearance at an affordable price is the ultimate goal of many Americans exploring plastic surgery options, the issue of patient safety is of paramount concern and should never be overlooked. As the number of less invasive cosmetic surgeries increase exponentially in this country each year, ensuring that the procedures performed outside of a hospital setting take place in a safe, clean ambulatory facility is becoming more important than ever before.

Distinguished New York City plastic surgeon Dr. William Rosenblatt is on the forefront of the movement to protect patients undergoing outpatient surgeries performed in physician’s offices and other non-hospital settings, and was recently appointed by the New York State Department of Health to a committee exploring such issues.

A senior member of the Office Based Committee, Dr. Rosenblatt is working to educate the public about ways that they can ensure that their surgeries are performed as safely as possible and that their physician is held accountable to specific safety protocols.

While patients tend to put a lot of stock in the affordability of procedures, he notes, the issue of safety is often overlooked. “Important questions should be asked when considering an outpatient facility or doctor’s office,” he says. “How is the quality of the monitoring equipment and what kind of safety backups are in place? Is the medical team prepared for any emergency or complication that might happen? Does the physician enjoy hospital privileges, indicating a history of medical competence?”

Dr. Rosenblatt notes that while accredited hospitals are held to strict safety guidelines and are accountable to national certifying agencies, physician’s offices are not held to the same standards. “How do you know that your surgeon has the necessary safeguards in place to protect your health in case of complications?”

The answer, explains Dr. Rosenblatt, is to look for a board certified plastic surgeon who belongs to either the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) or the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), groups whose members are monitored by organizations like the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF). Without this accountability, he notes, patients are taking serious risks with their health and well-being.

Dr. William Rosenblatt is an active member of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. He has served as President of the New York County Medical Society and is a Delegate to the American Medical Association representing the physicians of the New York State. As the first chairman of the Lenox Hill Physician Hospital Organization, Dr. Rosenblatt has worked to help shape the future of the medical profession. For more information see New York Plastic Surgeon

Plastic Surgery is No Longer a Pain

Revolutionary tools minimize post-operative pain and maximize the plastic surgery experience.

Sculpting your breasts and slimming your abdomen without the fear of severe pain has now become easier than ever before. The synthesis of new technological breakthroughs in both cosmetic surgery and pain management has provided physicians with surgical pain pumps -- revolutionary tools for minimizing post-operative pain and maximizing the plastic surgery experience.

Renowned Atlanta plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Howard is excited about the implementation of these new pain pumps for minimizing post-operative pain relief in breast and abdominal plastic surgery procedures and now offers the instruments in most breast augmentation and tummy tuck surgeries.

“I’ve noticed a significant decrease in the amount of pain medication use after surgery in addition to increased patient satisfaction,” Dr. Howard reports. “The new pain pumps have incalculable benefits for patients.”

The pumps are placed directly in the areas of surgery and deliver a constant infusion of anesthetic medication where it is most needed. They normally last anywhere from 3 to 5 days, offering tremendous pain relief during the immediate post-operative period when the pain is typically most severe. “I have been able to get these pumps on formulary at many of the hospitals where I practice,” he notes. “Patient satisfaction is extraordinarily high.”

Dr. Brian Howard obtained his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine, in New York, where he graduated with honors. He completed a six-year residency in Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, Texas, and was subsequently Board Certified. He is Board Certified in both Plastic Surgery and Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery.

Dr. Howard is currently the Chief of Plastic Surgery at North Fulton Regional Hospital. Dr. Howard is in private practice in North Fulton County, in the metropolitan Atlanta area, where he holds clinical privileges at multiple medical facilities. For more information see http://r4md.com/pr/cosmetic_surgery/georgia/atlanta.html


http://www.resource4cosmeticsurgery.com/