How did this happen? Has there been some Renaissance-like enlightenment? Some quantum leap in technology? "Lasers"???
Absolutely not.
The only thing that has happened, and what is at the heart of the explosion in "providers" offering aesthetic services with little to no training, is that insurance reimbursement for medical services within the areas of medicine that these "providers" are legitimately trained in has declined precipitously over the last 15 years, and there is no relief in sight.
So if you are a gynecologist or general surgeon having a hard time making ends meet, and the insurance companies want to pay you less and less for your services, why NOT take a weekend course, buy a liposuction machine, and start advertising your new skill?
I would argue that in the long run, these doctors are only damaging their own reputations and credibility... They have little hope of ever being viewed as true experts in plastic surgery (lacking the legitimate training and board certification), and with their sudden and unexplainable change in practice either sending the message that they are not able to succeed within their primary specialty or that they would do anything for more money.
Why do I care? While on the surface it may appear that I am interested in protecting my own bottom line, what really upsets me about this mess is what the work product coming out of these "providers'" offices is doing to the reputation of ALL providers of plastic surgery services (including those of us with legitimate training and certification) and to the reputation of the services we provide.
Every time the Orlando area eye doctor who markets himself aggressively as a liposuction expert (he says he "invented" aqua lipo- the latest in a line of world changing technologies available only in his office) delivers another terrible outcome (I see many patients with severe dents and deformities after he did Smart Lipo on them), the unfortunate patient involved inevitably wonders whether the outcome could have been better had she made better choices, or whether her terrible outcome is the best that can be achieved with the procedure (many women have told me he tells them they have "good" outcomes, despite their mirrors and eyes telling them they look terrible).
I have written before on how best to choose a plastic surgeon (http://orlandoplasticsurgery.blogspot.com/2009/11/choosing-plastic-surgeon-part-2.html#699)- but the key is to be sure you are, in fact, dealing with a plastic surgeon.
If the doctor you are seeing is not a member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, you should probably look elsewhere, and be glad you escaped without injury.
The good news is that there are many legitimately educated, trained, and skilled Board Certified Plastic Surgeons available who can offer you a safe and effective body contouring procedure. Even if you cannot or would not come to see me for these services, I urge that you see one of these reputable colleagues.
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