InFocus | Health Care 2009
Finding a surgeon to suit you
If you are thinking of going under the knife, you must find an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon and a well-established clinic. We help you do your homework.
- By Catherine Rankin Harper, Feature Writer
- Published: 23:25 January 27, 2009
- Image Credit: Shutterstock
If you are thinking of going under the knife, you must find an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon and a well-established clinic. We help you do your homework.
While plastic surgery as a reconstructive procedure has been carried out for thousands of years, elective aesthetic plastic surgery —now more commonly known as 'cosmetic' surgery — is a more recent development.
Operations to reshape noses, augment or reduce body contours and counter the effects of ageing are now part of a booming industry, complete with a multitude of clinics and surgeons.
But how can you be sure of choosing the right clinic and surgeon, and indeed the right procedure, for you?
Qualified surgeon
According to Dr. Jaffer Khan, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at the Medical International Specialist Centre in Jumeirah, your first concern should be your surgeon and his qualifications.
"Make sure he or she is board certified in plastic surgery, and has been in practice for some time," says Dr. Khan.
"The surgeon's qualification should always include ‘Plast', which shows that they are a specialist in plastic surgery, and not just qualified in general surgery." Dr. Tahani Al Janabi, Director of Clinical Operations at the American Academy for Cosmetic Surgery Hospital in Dubai Healthcare City, agrees.
"Your surgeon can also have other qualifications, such as a PhD in reconstructive surgery, as long as they are a board certified plastic surgeon," she says.
Dr. Khan recommends seeking word-of-mouth referrals, and talking to the surgeon's previous patients about their experience.
"And of course, make sure you are happy with your comfort levels when you're with the surgeon," he says. "Do you feel as if you're being told everything, including the potential side effects?"
Adequate consultations
Dr. Al Janabi suggests spending time talking to the surgeon, to make sure all of your questions are answered. "One meeting is not enough," she says. "And the surgeon should show you how you will look after surgery."
Trust is vital, according to Dr. Al Janabi. "Fifty per cent of healing is down to your trust in your surgeon," she says.
Adequate consultations prior to surgery are also crucial for Dr. Khan.
"I'd suggest more than one meeting, unless you are outright sure you are happy. "Ideally I would suggest at least two consultations before anything is done," he says.
Common mistake
Both surgeons agree that realistic expectations are key to achieving a successful outcome.
"The most common mistake patients make is thinking that faces are symmetrical," says Dr. Al Janabi.
"In fact, they are not, and therefore they will not necessarily be after surgery."
Dr. Khan assesses patients' expectations based on what is realistically achievable. "If the patient's expectations are unreasonable, or if what they want is technically not possible, then I will refuse to operate," he says.
Dr. Khan estimates that one in ten patients will be turned away for these reasons, or if there is a reasonable doubt that the patient is considering surgery for their own reasons and nothing else.
"I always look at each patient and ask myself if I would perform the surgery on a member of my own family," he says. "If I wouldn't, then the answer is always no."
High standards
When you are comfortable with the surgeon, ensure the facility itself is also satisfactory.
"The clinic should have high standards of efficiency and cleanliness, and the atmosphere should be unhurried," says Dr. Khan. "You should also be given a consent form to sign, which highlights potential side effects of the kind of surgery carried out."
Dr. Al Janabi agrees. "The clinic should look nice and clean. The Department of Health regularly inspects clinics to ensure good hygiene, even down to the cleanliness of the nurses' nails."
Unsatisfactory results
Dr. Khan stresses that it is important for the patients to remember that it is they themselves who are taking a risk — for a procedure that is not medically necessary — and the fact that all surgeries carry an inherent risk.
If, despite careful preparations, you are not happy with the result of your surgery, are there steps to be followed to ensure the best possible outcome? "Give the surgeon a chance to rectify the problem," says Dr. Khan.
"If the issue is a medical one, such as an infection or a blood clot, then go directly to them. "If the problem is that you are not satisfied with the result of the surgery, then by all means seek a second opinion, but do give the surgeon a chance."
Consult the same surgeon
Dr. Al Janabi highlights the importance of returning to the same surgeon for technical reasons.
"If, for example, you are not happy with a rhinoplasty, it is important that you go back to the original surgeon.
"He will know what he did to your nose and where, and this is important when deciding how to proceed," she says.
