A recent report of the death of yet another American seeking cheap cosmetic surgery south of the border illustrates the ultimate price that people are imprudently willing to pay in order to potentially save money. Not everyone who undergoes plastic surgery in Mexico ends up dead or with disastrous results but I have surely seen countless patients over the years who have ended up permanently disfigured and scarred unnecessarily. Adding insult to injury, they often had to spend thousands and thousands of dollars more in attempts to correct their deformities. Many also were emotionally scarred from their experiences.
Is it really worth the risk to travel to a foreign country where rules, regulation and oversight are extremely lax, where the law is generally on the the practitioner’s side and you don’t really know what you are getting? Definitely not! Don’t go to Mexico or similar countries.
Plastic surgery should be taken seriously, whether you are considering a breast augmentation, tummy tuck, liposuction, facelift or any other procedure. This is your body and you do want the best possible results even though there are never any guarantees. Make you decision based on qualifications and reputation, not price, and confirm the information.
Many doctors who perform cosmetic surgery may mislead you into thinking that they are plastic surgeons when they are not. They may even claim to be board certified members of a cosmetic surgery board but this is essentially a marketing ploy to give them the appearance of legitimacy. Be wary.
For most cosmetic plastic surgery procedures, you should make sure that your doctor is either board certified or board eligible by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Being a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which has strict ethical standards, is also important. These don’t guarantee an outcome but can surely assist you in making your decision. (I am both board certified by this board and a member of the plastic surgery society.)
If you have any questions regarding plastic surgery qualifications or any cosmetic surgery procedure such as breast enlargement, liposuction, tummy tucks or are interested in scheduling a complimentary consultation with me, please call my office at 480-451-3000.
Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona