Research could reduce the risk of Cosmetic surgery malpractice

Although cosmetic surgery is an optional procedure, it is still a complex operation which could involve serious complications.  However, some people do not consider the risks of cosmetic surgery malpractice before going “under the knife” and fail to make simple steps to check the qualifications and credentials of the doctor who will perform the operation.

The recent death of Donda West, the mother of celebrity rapper Kanye West, has drawn attention to the risks of plastic surgery complications.  West died on November 10, a day after having multiple elective cosmetic procedures.  Following her death, it was discovered that the doctor who performed the operations was not certified by any of the boards who specialize in cosmetic surgery, and at the time of her surgery, the Medical Board of California was investigating whether to revoke the doctor’s license to practice medicine because of multiple criminal convictions and complaints.

Much of this information could have been discovered before the surgery through public resources which are available.  Unfortunately, many individuals do not do any research about their physician before undergoing cosmetic surgery.  This is particularly troubling since most patients choose the surgeon to perform the proceedure on their own, without a referral from a primary care provider or health insurer. 

One of the easiest steps which can be taken to make sure a physician is qualified to perform a cosmetic procedure, is to verify that they are certified by a medical specialty board which requires training for the surgery.  There are several different medical boards which require special training to ensure the qualifications of a physician to perform cosmetic surgery.  For example, the American Board of Plastic Surgery requires a cosmetic surgeon have 5 years of residency training, 3 years of surgical training and an additional 2 years of cosmetic surgery training.

Many board certifications can be verfified through the ABMS (American Board of Medical Specialties).  At least four different boards registered through the ABMS require some form of cosmetic surgery training.  It can be determined if a surgeon is certified by one of the ABMS boards by calling (866) ASK-ABMS or visiting http://www.abms.org/.

The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is another major board for cosmetic surgeons which is not a part of the ABMS.  Certification with this board can be verified through http://www.abfprs.org/.

COSMETIC SURGERY MALPRACTICE LAWYERS

The medical malpractice lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. investigate potential lawsuits for serious injury or death caused by mistakes or neglect during surgery.  Potential cosmetic surgery malpractice lawsuits are reviewed nationwide and there are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained.  If you, a friend or family member believe that a preventable mistake during cosmetic surgery caused an injury, request a free consultation.