Why Bad Plastic Surgery Happens
When it comes to plastic surgery, it seems what we mostly hear about is phony (uncredentialed) doctors using substandard equipment to do plastic surgery at bargain-basement prices or filthy overseas operating facilities being run by unlicensed personnel. Another common problem is insufficiently trained doctors who are operating outside of their own specialty. These situations do exist, and they make for sensational stories. Most bad plastic surgery cases, though, are much more subtle and harder to see coming.
According to board-certified plastic surgeon Matthew Schulman, MD, poor follow-up and (the original surgeon's) poor judgment are among the most common reasons he ends up doing corrective surgery on patients with bad plastic surgery results. These two factors happen far more often than the cause of a less than ideal result or poor surgical technique.
Poor Follow-Up
Poor follow-up often occurs because the patient has gone overseas to have surgery (often due to the lower cost) and has no idea where to go to have their stitches removed. In addition, some of the more common complications, such as infection, blood clots and necrosis, are difficult to diagnose over the phone, and a follow-up visit is often foregone when surgery has been performed in another country. Unfortunately, many of these cases end up in an emergency room, being treated by a doctor such as Dr. Schulman whose Manhattan practice has 25% of his patients coming for corrective surgery.
Poor Judgment
As for poor judgment, the problem is often a case of the surgeon taking an approach that is overly aggressive (i.e., performing too many major procedures in the same operation or over-tightening the skin). Poor patient selection is another big problem. A patient’s health (both physical and psychological) must be taken in to account for each and every procedure. Patient expectations about outcome are another huge factor in patient selection. Is the person expecting the surgery to change his or her life? Or does he/she expect liposuction to erase decades of poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle?
Simple Human Error
It happens every day in hospitals, doctor’s offices and surgical facilities around the globe: mistakes, such as a drug mix-up or dosage mistake or even mistaken identity (a patient goes in for an eye lift and winds up with someone else’s breast implants), do happen.
Plain Old Bad Luck
There are even more possibilities that go under the heading of just plain old bad luck. Infection is a fact of human life, and one is never more vulnerable than when his or her body is surgically opened up. Previously undiagnosed medical conditions can rear their ugly heads for the first time during or after surgery, causing a myriad of possible complications. Previously unknown allergic reactions to medications administered during surgery can wreak untold havoc. All of this can happen by no fault of the surgeon, patient or medical staff.
Educate Yourself
Regardless of the reason, bad plastic surgery can have permanent devastating effects on your looks and your life. Education is key when it comes to minimizing your risk. The best way to protect yourself is to arm yourself with knowledge. Learn more by checking out the links below.
Share Your Story
Have you had a bad experience with plastic surgery? Are you concerned about the results of a procedure?Join the conversation.
Sources:
Interview with Andrew Jacono, MD, New York, NY; conducted on 8/5/08
Interview with Jeffrey Killino, Esq. (attorney for the family of Tracey Jordan), Philadelphia, PA; conducted on 7/31/08
Interview with Matthew Schulman, MD, New York, NY; conducted on 7/31/08
