Plastic Surgery is a hot topic, it is a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry in the United States alone. According to the the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), "13.1 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures, including those that are minimally-invasive or surgical, were performed in the United States in 2010, up 5 percent from 2009." They go on to further state "In addition, more than 5.3 million reconstructive plastic surgery procedures were performed last year, up 2 percent. The increase in cosmetic plastic surgery mirrors the rise in consumer confidence throughout most of 2010."
While these are good signs for the consumer confidence index and the U.S. Economy in general, there is a sour note in the midst of a legitimate industry. There are unlicensed, untrained, under trained, inexperienced and unqualified individuals masquerading around as plastic surgeon's. Their claim? Getting you superb results for a fraction of the cost. These people are frauds and people should be not just weary, but should avoid anything that sounds suspicious.
What would be considered suspicious? Let’s take for example 55-year-old Ruben Dario Matallana-Galvas and 47-year-old Carmen Olfidia Torres-Sanchez of Las Vegas, Nevada. A grand jury in Las Vegas has indicted a Colombian couple on murder charges stemming from a fatal buttocks enhancement surgery.
The Las Vegas Sun reported Wednesday that "55-year-old Ruben Dario Matallana-Galvas and 47-year-old Carmen Olfidia Torres-Sanchez face a slew of charges, including practicing medicine without a license, second-degree murder and robbery.
The couple was arrested at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas on April 9 in the death of 42-year-old Elena CaroPolice say the couple gave Caro an injection in the buttocks because she wanted a shapelier figure. She was later found a few miles away from their medical office and was taken to a hospital, where she died."
The couple ran a floor tile business. The woman was dropped off by her daughter to have the procedure performed in he back room. Las Vegas Metro Police Lt. Lew Roberts said this is the first death in recent years related to fraudulent medical practices, but other people have been injured at makeshift doctors' offices in the Las Vegas area. "The tragic thing about this case is that this isn't an isolated incident of somebody going to an unlicensed alleged medical facility," he said.
(Information from: Las Vegas Sun, http://www.lasvegassun.com)
With the wide variety of licensed cosmetic surgeons at your disposal with just a click of the mouse, you would think it should be that simple. I cannot speak in ultimate terms but most of the time people utilizing these facilities are having a hard time making ends meet, and those frauds are there lying in wait to take advantage of the economically strapped. You've heard it before, but its tried and true, you get what you pay for. Meaning, if you pay cheaply, you will pay dearly. It doesn't apply to all situations but in this regard it surely does.
I have to ask myself and I hope you ask yourself as well, Would you honestly allow someone to inject you with anything that wasn't in a professionally licensed medical facility, where they were qualified technicians? It is hard enough to know if your equipment is properly sterilized in that environment (reference Dr. Depak Desai at Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada), so why would you risk some backdoor treatment, house party injection, or unlicensed practitioner to treat you?
People choose Plastic Surgery for a variety of reasons and I say whatever floats your boat, but please choose wisely. Please choose a reputable cosmetic surgeon, one who is licensed with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Many plastic surgeons are now more than ever willing to work with you regarding financing and there are plenty of medical credit cards who can offer you interest free terms on short term loans, or low interest rates on long term loans. The point I'm making is that you should be your own best advocate for your health choices.If you cannot afford a plastic surgeon do not take short cuts, just wait until you can do it right. I promise you will thank yourself for the favor. Just because they say they are a doctor doesn't mean they are, do your homework.
References:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/
http://www.plasticsurgery.org/
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