Non-Cosmetic Doctors Profiting by Doing Cosmetic Procedures?
A recent article in USA Today described a situation not unknown to those of us who are long-time cosmetic surgery-only practitioners.
Writers Jayne O’Donnell and Jillian Berman did a nice job of pointing out what many people in the public don’t quite know or understand: there is a migration across specialty lines by some practitioners anxious to augment their income by performing elective cosmetic plastic surgery procedures that are beyond the usual boundaries of their specialty.
Writers O’Donnell and Berman reported the history of a patient who stated that “…her OB/GYN offered to do a tummy tuck after she delivered the lady’s third child.”
Next, the same patient reported that her eye doctor suggested injectables to the wrinkles between her brows when she went in for an eye exam.
The patient couldn’t quite figure out what was going on.
Traditionally cosmetic plastic surgery procedures on the body have only been performed by plastic surgeons. Surgeons who pass the test of the American Board of Plastic Surgery are expected to be the only specialists who are duly qualified to perform tummy tucks. While OB/GYN specialists have knowledge of the anatomy of the lower abdomen, tummy tucks and liposuction are not taught in obstetrics and gynecology residencies. They are not considered part of the specialty.
What about an eye doctor suggesting injectables for the wrinkles between her brows, such as Botox or Dysport? If the doctor is a subspecialist in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery, those injections are properly part of his toolbox. But, the average ophthalmologist may not have the training and experience to be a superstar at it. Patients need to know that.
In my book, Secrets of a Beverly Hills Cosmetic Surgeon, I discuss this migration across specialty lines and why prospective patients must be on the ball when evaluating an offer from their doctor that seems unusual and at odds with respect to the typical scope of that specialty. Understand that because of the inequities and burdens of dealing with health insurance companies, many doctors are so frustrated and fed up that they look for an alternative form of practice. It is not always practical or possible to go back and take a full six or seven year residency, so many of them decide to try to master some of the techniques that have been perfected by other specialities.
This is not to say that an ophthalmologist would necessarily be incompetent at doing Botox or Dysport. Know that there is not much downside to these procedures; difficult to get into major trouble.
However, an obstetrician/gynecologist doing a tummy tuck enters a whole different realm and I would be very skeptical, as a patient, before signing up to have the procedure done by that doctor. The more appropriate doctor is one who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has long-time experience performing a procedure after the prescribed period of education and training.
Today, unfortunately, it is a matter of Caveat Emptor. Buyer beware.