Newport Plastic Surgery:Liposuction Safety Matters

Liposuction is one of the most popular procedures. Many doctors (including non board certified plastic surgeons)  compete for the liposuction business. Special liposuction deals that seem too” good to be true” are about to become a thing of the past; at least in Florida. According to recentonlinearticle The  Sun-Sentinel  reports that Governor Rick Scott of Florida  recently signed legislation stating  that doctors can no longer perform most liposuction procedures in offices that are unregulated. These higher-level restrictions, which take effect on January 3, were backed by ASPS plastic surgeons, the Florida Medical Association and the Florida Board of Medicine, which oversees doctors. This may increase liposuction prices across the state of Florida.

Liposuction Cost Should Not Out Weigh Safety

With respect to the cost issue, the president of the Palm Beach County Society of Plastic Surgeons said, “The idea is not to make people pay more. It’s a safety measure to make sure people don’t die.” The medispas and doctor’s offices that were able to charge less could do so because they were eliminating services and facility fees to bring prices down. According to the Sun-Sentinel, in recent years some doctors and unregulated beauty businesses offered and performed liposuction without administering sufficient and appropriate anesthesia. Instead, they gave patients sedative pills or creams. After 14 Floridians died because of medical distress during liposuction in the past 10 years, Senator Eleanor Sobel filed the legislation. The new law requires facilities to be inspected, approved, and regulated, prior to allowing doctors to perform liposuction within the facility. The ASPS maintains that cosmetic surgery including liposuction can be safely performed in a hospital, a surgicenter or an office-based surgical facility. Data shows that accredited office-based facilities have a safety record comparable to that of hospital ambulatory surgery settings. But, most office-based surgical facilities are not accredited.  Patient should understand that the ASAPS requires its members to operate in accredited, state-licensed or Medicare-certified facilities.

Liposuction Performed With The Highest Standards

Liposuction should be perfomed with both safety and results as  equal goals.Local procedures performed within an office based procedure room are permitted. General anesthesia has different requirements. Although the regulation against office-based liposuction does not exist in California, Dr. Seify is careful to explain to patientsthe value of an ASPS board-certified plastic surgeon versus any doctor who performs liposuction. Liposuction is a surgical procedure and the results are heavily dependent upon the skill of the plastic surgeon performing the procedure. Patient should have a thorough examination prior to surgery and clearly understand which areas will be treated and what the patient can expect. Patient should fully understand the type of sedation that will be used, the state of consciousness for the patient, and how pain and discomfort will be handled. Dr. Seify and his staff welcome patient questions during the patient consultation concerning competitive pricingand information needing further clarification for the patient. Dr. Seify’s main goals are to exceed the expectations of his patients in the safest manner possible.