Jan 27, 2010
Picking the right surgeon is a bit daunting.
Most of the time we can only go on our impression of the doctors personality and the amount of framed certificates hanging on his wall, and that could be all together misleading.
Just because someone has the personality of a goldfish doesn’t mean he is not picasso in the operating room!
So how do you find the surgeon who will create the ideal you have in your head?
Here are some ideas that should help (and some that might not help at all…):
- Do they have the highest qualifications available?
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“Members of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons have recognised training in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery and operate to the highest standards. Member surgeons operate only in accredited surgical facilities, adhere to a strict code of ethics, and regularly attend continuing medical education courses.Look for the letters FRACS after a doctor’s name. This means that they meet the standards of surgical training set by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). The RACS is the only accredited surgical training college in Australia.You can also check that a doctor is a specialist in plastic surgery by calling the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons’ information hotline on 1300 367 446 or by clicking on the ‘Surgeon Search’ button at www.plasticsurgery.org.au”
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Have they performed many surgeries in the particular area you want. Have they done extra training in that field? Some surgeons do mostly Breast Augmentation, wheras others might be trained in Craniofacial surgeries, and would be more suited to nose surgeries.
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Do you know anybody who has been a patient with the surgeon. Forums such as this one are a great way for people to share their experiences in an unbiased way.
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Google their name, if no lawsuits apear thats a good sign…
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It is a good idea to go to 3 consultations to get several opinions on what would be best for you. Different surgeons might have totally different ideas on what you should have done.
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When you went to the consultation did you feel that the surgeon listened to your goals and desires? It is important to listen to their proffessional opinion, as that is their area of expertise, however your goals are individual, and a good surgeon should be able to take your aims and ideas and help you achieve as close to that as possible. A surgeon that makes you feel uncomfortable may not be easy to deal with if something goes wrong down the track, especially if you need a redo. What are their guarantees if there are problems? Will they cover any costs that may arise due to complications.
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Ask to see photos of their patients, but keep in mind that they will always show the good cases! These pictures can give you an idea of where the surgeon makes the incisions and what procedures he does regularly.
- There are risks in every surgery, don’t always base your decision on the cheapest option. This does not mean that the outcome will be better if you pay more money, but in Australia, the more qualified a plastic surgeon is, generally the more they can charge. A registered, board certified surgeon will have undergone more training than a cosmetic surgeon and will likely charge accordingly. It is your life and body that you are trusting to this person, so make sure you feel completely happy before proceeding.
Know your stuff. Research what you are doing as much as you can, be informed and you will be prepared to ask the right questions. If you know clearly what you want you will be in a better position to get it!
Lastly, check for a picture of a wife on the desk- if she looks extra-ordinarily attractive, chances are she has benefited from his skilled hands, and you know you are in good hands!
This advice is only ‘partially’ correct. It is simply a sad fact that some of the worst damage in cosmetic/plastic surgery has been done in Australia by the most qualified of surgeons. For example Dr. Morris Ritz from the Melbourne Institute of Plastic Surgery completely disfigured a woman and she sued and won in an out of court settlement, The worst part about this was the fact that well after causing this woman to lose a breast – as well as much much more- Dr. Morris Ritz was “flogging” lunch time breast jabs on TV – With absolutely NO SENSITIVITY WHATSOEVER for his past actions. It is of course true that one must first of all check the qualifications of one’s surgeon, however, in the case of plastic/cosmetic surgery, patients should als remain mindful of the fact that there is a LOT of money to be made in this industry and perhaps a ‘buyer beware’, rather than a trust in the doctor, should also be encouraged !
In other words, more than with any other kind of specialist, one should really check the PRESS and CHARACTER of the surgeon!
I have to agree with the above comment. Anyone looking for the FACTS to back up the warnings about plastic/reconstructive surgeon (and member of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons!) need only follow this link
http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/stories/7952219/the-beauty-trap
My girlfriend was going to see Dr. Morris Ritz until I found out more about his history. It is disgraceful that the Australian Medical Board has done nothing about this man. Nothing. Please be very careful of Dr. Morris Rit
http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/stories/7952219/the-beauty-trap
I have to agree with the above comments. Regarding the two doctors who were the subject of The Beauty Trap on Australian sixty minutes- Dr. Morris Ritz, who is responsible for the mutilation of the body of Kerry Mullins, has not been held accountable for his actions. The Australian Medical authorities have done NOTHING to protect women from Dr. Morris Ritz, who, while the public was ignorant of the fact that Kerry Mullins lost an entire breast – and so much more- as a result of his negligence- went on national TV promoting himself as the macrolane (lunch time boob jab) pioneer of Melbuorne, with a sickening piece of self promotion that breached all the advertising guidelines. He continues to try to cover his TRUE deeds with a proliferation of ‘advice’ articles on the internet, that dare to refer to him as the breast surgeon women can ‘trust’. All of this, while at least the surgeon at the centre of the Lauren James liposuction death has had the decency to express his regret and vow never to perform liposuction again. All of this gross level of self-promotion in which Dr. Morris Ritz engages, shows no care for women at all- He expresses NO FEELING for the pain caused to Mrs. Mullins and her family and treats other women as if they are stupid- stupid enough to not research past his shameless, gross self promotion.
Regarding Dr. Morris Ritz, Melbourne Plastic Surgeon, and the other surgeon who was the subject of the beauty trap, both of these surgeons are fully qualified plastic/reconstructive surgeons and members of The Australasian Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Royal Australasian College Of Surgeons. Now, it is true that doctors make mistakes- often tragic ones- but that is usually when a ‘patient’ is already sick! When perfectly healthy women die and are permanently disfigured and mutilated at the hands of surgeons, surely one has to question why these boards don’t do ‘something’. What is wrong with the medical board of Australia? Why does it not, at the very least, insist that surgeons like Dr. Morris Ritz work under supervision for a period of time? And what about the ‘societies’ surgeons like Dr. Ritz belong to? Don’t they have any sense of decency? Any capacity to suspend members who kill and mame healthy women? Okay, we all know that none of this was deliberate, and I don’t suggest a jail sentence, or even the cancelation of a license- but surely SOME kind of disciplinary action must be undertaken somewhere… I don’t think that anyone should rely on any surgeons ‘memberships’ when places like the Australasian Society of Plastic Surgeons permits its members to behave like this without so much as a slap over the wrist. Really, who CARES about ‘qualifications’ and ‘memberships’ when this kind of behaviour is so readily tolerated? Y