Cosmetic
surgery is very affordable in the Philippines and there is an increasing
number of Filipinos each year who decide to undergo various cosmetic
surgery procedures.
The
greater acceptance and growth of cosmetic surgery among the general
public has encouraged more doctors to enter this field. In the Philippines
however, any licensed medical doctor can perform any kind of cosmetic
surgery without legal impediment. Any doctor can label himself or herself
as a "cosmetic surgeon".
Ideally, cosmetic surgeons should have formal training in plastic and
reconstructive surgery. However, there are cosmetic surgeons who have
no formal surgical training at all. Other cosmetic surgeons may have
training in another surgical specialty (general surgery, ENT, OB-Gyne,
or ophthalmology). Then there are cosmetic surgeons whose training is
in a non-surgical specialty, such as dermatology, family practice or
internal medicine.
Often portrayed as a "turf battle", the issue of training
and credentials in cosmetic surgery is actually an issue of public safety
about which responsible doctors are necessarily concerned. With so many
doctors laying claim to the title of "cosmetic surgeon", it
is no wonder that patients are confused. Many have a hard time distinguishing
between plastic surgeons who have formal residency training in plastic
and reconstructive surgery, and those who do not. Many have in fact
become victims of unscrupulous practitioners who sweet-talk and peddle
certain procedures with the promise of making the patient look better
at a much lower cost than what is usually quoted by reputable plastic
surgeons. To save on expenses, these procedures are even performed inside
beauty parlors!
A common example is the injection of substances onto the nose in order
to have the effect obtained by a surgical noselift. A number of patients
have suffered complications from having silicone oil or paraffin wax
injected onto their noses. Why do patients allow themselves to be injected?
The main reason is the very low cost of nasal injections. The cost of
nasal injections is from P7,000 to P10,000, ( around $ 125 to $178 )
as compared to a surgical noselift which will cost from P20,000 to P30,000
($357 to $536).
Some doctors offer breast or penis augmentation by sucking fat from
the abdomen, thighs or buttocks and injecting the fat onto the breast
or penis. This kind of surgery is not effective at all and may lead
to infection and the formation of pus or abscesses in the recipient
areas. Other practitioners advertise the use of endermologie or other
techniques to remove stretch marks in the abdomen when in actuality,
no treatment has been proven to actually remove these stretch marks.
Some doctors solicit the endorsement of television/movie stars and delude
the public into equating such advertisements as proof of their surgical
"expertise". Various organizations are formed to "certify"
cosmetic surgeons and some consumer awards for the best cosmetic surgeons
are merely organized promotions by private companies which winners pay
for.
Patients
considering cosmetic surgery should know that choosing the right surgeon
is the single most important decision they will make. Be sure to
have all the facts you need in order to make an informed judgement.
The training and experience of your cosmetic surgeon is the most important
factor in the success of your surgery.
