Plastic surgery safety checklist

Posted by PC
December 18, 2007

Thousands of cosmetic surgery procedures are performed each day without incident. However, since plastic surgery has risks, things do go wrong occasionally and it is simply something one has to live with. Having said that, some risks are preventable either by taking proper care or by not doing certain procedures.

The death of Dr. Donda West after plastic surgery is a reminder to us all that we should be aware of the risks and do all that is possible to have a safe procedure. According to Dr. Mandell-Brown, a plastic surgeon, here are top ten factors for safe surgery:

    Outpatient surgery should be performed in less than 6 hours. For those procedures requiring more than 6 hours, the patient should be admitted to a health care facility (also called a plastic surgery recovery retreat) for observation.
    Surgery should be performed at a AAAHC (Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care) facility. The surgery facility should also be state licensed.
    Only a licensed anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist should administer anesthetic.
    To decrease risks of a blood clot the facility should use leg compression during surgery.
    Post-operatively the patient should wear support stockings to decrease blood clot formation.
    For high-risk patients (history of smoking, use of birth control pills, or family history), oral blood thinners or subcutaneous heparin help decrease blood clots.
    An independent physician should perform a pre-operative history and physical for surgical clearance.
    Appropriate lab work and EKG testing should be done pre-operatively.
    Ask if your cosmetic surgeon is board certified by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. This is the only board that specifically certifies cosmetic surgeons.
    Do not go by reputation alone. Check malpractice records, and County and State Medical Societies.

Please print this page and bring it to your consultation and to your surgery.

Plastic surgery

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