When you are looking to make a purchase do you check reviews and the star rating? I bet you do! Most of us look for reviews and star ratings when we want to purchase a product. Just think of Amazon. BUT when it comes to finding the best plastic surgeon or choosing a clinic, reviews and star ratings do not always reflect if a surgeon is good, or if a clinic is safe and reputable. In fact they can be an extremely dangerous way to find a surgeon to perform cosmetic surgery.

Cosmetic surgery regulation in the US and Canada is extremely lax. Let’s look at a shocking case. Dr. Osakatukei Omulepu, MD, a doctor who failed his board exams multiple times. Yet in the US because he had a medical license, he was legally able to perform cosmetic surgery procedures. He promoted himself with an online profile and had a 4.3 star rating and numerous 5 star reviews. 

During two procedures he is reported to have punctured or stabbed the liver and small intestine. His medical license has finally been revoked after he made numerous serious errors, which in one case resulted in the death of his patient. Many of the complications occurred following Brazilian butt lifts, widely considered the most dangerous cosmetic surgery procedure. 

If you are considering cosmetic surgery in 2023 it is critical you check that you are going to a specialist plastic surgeon.You are guaranteed a fully qualified, verified specialist plastic surgeon if you choose one from the CSA Consultant Directory.

 

Shocking Patient Errors by Doctors Performing Brazilian Butt Lifts

Following a Brazilian butt lift procedure performed by Dr Omulepu on Crystal Call, she was found unconscious by her mother with no doctor in attendance. Her mother rushed her to hospital and she was diagnosed with shock and kidney failure. Crystal was lucky, she survived following an emergency blood transfusion thanks to her mothers quick actions. But the hospital said if she hadn’t received medical treatment when she did, she would have been dead an hour later.

Lattia Baumeister and Adianet Galvin did not survive following errors made by Dr Omulepu during Brazilian Butt lift procedures. Lattia stopped breathing on the surgical table and died, and Adianet died from a fat embolism, shortly after her procedure.

And Dr Omulepu is far from an isolated case of patient deaths at the hands of doctors with no surgical qualifications or official training. 

Kizzy London  died after a Brazilian butt lift performed by Dr. Arnaldo Valls, who had no official surgical qualifications or training and performed the procedure after taking a three day course in liposuction and an eight day course on fat-transfer gluteal augmentation , according to the Florida Department of Health (FDOH). He had an online profile with a 3.8 star rating and many 5 star reviews.

Considering a cosmetic surgery procedure in the UK or the US? In the CSA Consultant Directory every fully qualified, specialist plastic surgeon, is verified with the appropriate medical body.

 

The Three Rules to Find a Good Plastic Surgeon

 

Shocking and scary, I know! So how do you find a good plastic surgeon? 

Follow these three rules:

NEVER chose a surgeon based on reviews or star ratings

 

1. Check credentials

 

US and Canada: Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and/or the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS)

UK: Plastic Surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register under plastic surgery.

Australia and New Zealand: Board Certified by the Australian Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABPRS) 

 

2. Look for memberships to one of the below well-respected organizations that have high standards and strict criteria for their members

 

UK / EUROPE

• • British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons – BAAPS

• • British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons – BAPRAS

• • The European Association of Plastic Surgeons – EURAPS

 

AMERICA / CANADA

• • American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery – ASAPS

• • American Association of Plastic Surgeons – AAPS

• • American Society of Plastic Surgery – ASPS

 

AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND

• • Australasian Society of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons – ASAPS

• • Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons  – ASPS

• • International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery – ISAPS

 

3.  Red Flags

 

Doctor or Physician 

If you see the title physician after a doctor’s name run a mile! They have not had formal training in plastic surgery. 

 

The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS)

The ABCS is not recognised by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

Eight Questions to Ask When Choosing a Plastic Surgeon

 

Ok, so you have narrowed your search down to three or four plastic surgeons, how do you know which one to choose if they all hold the same qualification? Below are four questions to ask a plastic surgeon before you make your decision to go ahead with a cosmetic surgery procedure.

 

How many of this type of procedure have you performed in the last 12 months?

Many plastic surgeons will perform a wide range of procedures and therefore may perform some procedures more than others. By asking how many of the specific type of procedure you want they have performed you can get a good idea if this is something they specialize in.

 

Why am I a suitable candidate for this procedure?

A good plastic surgeon will refuse to perform a procedure if they think you are not a suitable candidate. Additionally, your plastic surgeon should be able to advise why you are a good candidate and how likely you are to have a positive outcome that meets your expectations. 

 

Are there any charges for revision surgery if I suffer a complication or I am not happy with the results of my procedure?

Your plastic surgeon may either discount their surgical fee or perform revision surgery without charge, however there are often other charges. This is why it is important to not ask if the surgeon will charge for revision surgery but if there are any charges. Charges related to revision surgery include fees for the:

Anesthesia

Facility 

Medical appliances such as implants

Follow up appointments

Additional surgical procedures

 

What anesthesia will be used and who will it be administered by?

The two main types of anesthesia are local and general. Local anesthesia is injected into the surgical site and numbs the area allowing the surgery to take place with the patient fully conscious. General anesthesia puts the patient into an ‘unconscious’ state which means they will have no recollection of the procedure. Local anesthesia is also used in combination with general anesthesia to reduce pain following the procedure. 

IV sedation also referred to as twilight anesthesia may also be used with local anesthesia that can be administered at different levels, and typically makes you feel relaxed and ‘out of it’ although you still remain conscious. General anesthesia should always be administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist or in the UK an anesthetist registered with the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCOA). 

 

How many procedures do you perform on average in a day?

Different procedures will take different amounts of time, however, all plastic surgeons should limit how many procedures they perform each day. On average between four and six is normal. Any more and time constraints and fatigue can kick in which increases the chance of potentially fatal complications due to errors.

 

How many days a week do you operate?

Most surgeons operate four to five days a week maximum if they operate for more days a week then this, their concentration and technique may be affected, resulting in mistakes, complications and higher revision rates.

 

What facility will my procedure take place in and if there is a need for emergency medical care what hospital will I be transferred to?

Depending on your procedure and the plastic surgeons preference you may have it as an outpatient or inpatient. You may also have it in a clinic or a hospital. 

In the US check that the facility is certified by one of the below certifying bodies: 

Joint Commission (also known as JCAHO)

American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)

Medicare

In the UK check the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating of the facility. 

If you are having your procedure in a hospital or an outpatient surgery center or clinic, check which facility you will be transferred to if you need emergency treatment, and if there will be any additional charges.

 

Have any of your patients ever needed intensive care or life saving emergency treatment following a procedure?

This is something they should know as it will be extensively documented.