ISAPS 2010: The Global Summit on Patient Safety

Last August 14, 2010, the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery inaugurated the ISAPS Global Summit on Patient Safety. With speakers from various specialties, including legislators, travel and insurance representatives, as well as plastic surgeons, this was definitely a very interesting forum for me.

The growing commercialization of aesthetic surgery has resulted in many more cases being done each year compared to the past. In the past few years, we have heard many reports of cases of cosmetic surgery tragedies. The case of the Sylmar sisters who did silicone injections in the buttocks which resulted in a woman's death, and the Donda West case, wherein the mother of singer Kanye West died from complications of  cosmetic surgery, are just some of these. Although many of these procedures were performed by people who are not qualified, board certified plastic surgeons, many of the people who read the news reports do not know the difference between a board certified plastic surgeon and someone who just decides to do cosmetic procedures even without the proper training. It is a challenge for us to educate patients about this. Although some may say the concern of plastic surgeons is mainly about the issue of other doctors practicing our specialty, for us, it is all about patient safety.

Aesthetic surgery is a surgery of want rather than need. It is not like other surgeries where people are sick and they have to undergo certain procedures. They just have to accept the risks that go with the procedure they need. Perfectly normal people undergo many aesthetic procedures every year. How can we protect them and reduce these tragic cases?

Part of the forum focused on the legislation that has been done in countries like France and Denmark. In France, they have succeeded in initiating changes and today, there are strict regulations about who can perform procedures. Specialists are only permitted to perform plastic surgery in the part of the body they have specialized in. They are allowed to perform procedures only in their area of specialty. They also have other regulations regarding the presence of paramedical personnel, and the mandatory waiting period after being given a quotation by the surgeon. Other countries like Denmark, Norway and Singapore also have guidelines and policies protecting the patient. Germany also has a ban on advertising for aesthetic surgery. There is no such legislation in the Philippines. And although I have said it before, I will say it again - in the Philippines, it is legal for any doctor, whatever training they have undergone, to do cosmetic surgery.  If patients knew what is involved in aesthetic surgeries, I doubt whether anyone would disagree with me that for greater patient safety, it is best to have strict guidelines about who may perform these surgeries.

I really hope that in the future, the Philippines will catch up with other countries in protecting aesthetic surgery patients through legislation.


Read more of these articles:How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines
Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.
Cosmetic Plastic Surgery PhilippinesInformation about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

ISAPS Congress 2010

The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery is celebrating its 40th anniversary during the 20th Biennial Congress on August 14, 2010 to August 18, 2010 in the Moscone Convention Center and San Francisco Marriott Hotel, San Francisco, California, USA.

The congress provides the latest in aesthetic surgery education and board certified plastic surgeons from more than 80 countries are attending.

The ISAPS Global Patient Safety Summit took place on the first day of the congress and topics such as Global Regulations, Medical Procedures Abroad and Achieving Global Patient Safety were discussed. Since most of my practice is composed of patients from abroad, these topics were of special interest to me.

Various specific procedures such as Periocular Rejuvenation, Facial Rejuvenation, Rhinoplasty, Aesthetic Breast Surgery, Aesthetic Reconstructive Surgery, and Abdominoplasty are covered during the five day congress. I have found that there is always something new to learn even in the procedures I have been doing for many years when colleagues share their particular way of handling a procedure. As I always say, continuing education is an important part of a plastic surgeon's responsibilities as we strive for excellence, progress and patient safety.


Read more of these articles:How to Select a Qualified Plastic SurgeonThe Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery PhilippinesInformation about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeonand having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Cosmetic Surgery for Teenagers

The recent news about Charice Pempengco receiving Botox and Thermage treatments has stirred up controversy worldwide. The controversy centers mainly on the question on whether teenagers should be undergoing cosmetic treatments at a relatively early age. In my practice, I do not encourage cosmetic surgery in teens unless there are serious issues about a teenager's self-esteem that can only be corrected with a surgical procedure. If there is a history of the teenager suffering emotionally because of a body feature such as a saddle nose or a flat chest, there may be justification for performing cosmetic surgery to improve the teenager's self-esteem.

In the case of the procedures Charice Pempengco underwent, we are not dealing with deformities brought about by a congenital deformity (such as cleft lip or palate) or due to trauma (such as car accidents or burns) but instead, doing procedures on a normal-looking teen. There have been conflicting reports about why she underwent these procedures. If she was experiencing jaw pain, this can be an indication for treatment with botulinum toxin injections. If done for cosmetic reasons, the question is whether she underwent these procedures because she herself was bothered about the fullness of her face. I believe that a doctor should not convince a patient that she needs a certain procedure if she herself does not bring up a concern about a certain feature. Even parents should not convince their children to undergo cosmetic procedures. It can be harmful to a child's self esteem to be told she/ he needs a cosmetic procedure.

Aside from the issue of Charice Pempengco's age, another concern is the fact that the procedures were done publicly, with entertainment reporters witnessing the event and writing about it. As a plastic surgeon, this concerns me because we don't want to send the wrong message about these procedures. First of all, we don't want full-faced individuals, especially teenagers, to come to the conclusion that having a full face is something that needs correcting. Because she is a public figure and she underwent these procedures publicly, Charice Pempengco seems to have given this message, even if unintentionally.

Also, doing the procedures publicly seems to trivialize cosmetic procedures because people can get the impression that these are beauty parlor procedures. In my practice, I have seen many patients who have undergone some procedures in places like beauty parlors and who require some kind of corrective surgery. Cosmetic procedures should not be taken lightly and even seemingly simple procedures like nose augmentation and eyelid surgery can have serious complications when not done by qualified, board certified doctors.

Read more of these articles:How to Select a Qualified Plastic SurgeonThe Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery PhilippinesInformation about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeonand having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

The four day annual Aesthetic Meeting of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation for 2010 truly lived up to its theme of being “A Capital Experience with a Global Perspective.”

The scientific program included scientific sessions and teaching courses on topics such as the Role of Biofilms in Implant related Complications, Hot Topics in Aesthetic Surgery, Mastopexy Augmentation: Making the Right Choices, Optimizing Outcomes in Breast Augmentation, New Devices in Plastic Surgery, The Pinch Blepharoplasty for Safer and Superior Results and many more. After each session, participants were given the opportunity to ask questions, to provide for an interactive learning experience.

Among the international faculty of key opinion leaders were Renato Saltz, Jack Fisher, William Adams, Bahman Guyuron, Foad Nahai, and many more world renowned plastic surgeons. Exhibits featuring the latest developments in the field of aesthetic surgery were held at the Prince George’s Exhibition Hall of the Convention Center. The opportunity to see the latest in products and services was also an educational experience for the participants.

Before the conference proper, there were optional courses and the Allergan academy, which gives continuing education about Breast Surgery. This year’s theme was “Optimizing Outcomes in Revsion Breast Surgery”.

The annual Aesthetic Meeting of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons is considered by many aesthetic plastic surgeons to be the most important convention of the year.

Read more of these articles:How to Select a Qualified Plastic SurgeonThe Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines
Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

The Annual Meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery is ongoing at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in the Washington, DC area. With the theme "The Aesthetic Meeting 2010 - A Capital Experience with a Global Perspective", the meeting offers board-certified plastic surgeons scientific sessions and teaching courses on a wide range of topics. More details about some interesting topics in the coming posts...


Read more of these articles:How to Select a Qualified Plastic SurgeonThe Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery PhilippinesInformation about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeonand having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Breast Augmentation Options

Anyone who does some research on Breast Augmentation will find out that there is a wide range of options available to a patient considering this procedure. Breast augmentation is definitely not a "one size fits all" procedure and for good results, a plastic surgeon must help his patient understand these options.

The choice of breast implants is based on a variety of factors. Her physical characteristics (body measurements, skin), patient preference for breast profile and budget are among the important factors to consider. There are so many implants available, made by various manufacturers, in different price ranges. The plastic surgeon must choose the proper implant to give the best results for his patient. Other decisions to make include where to make the incision (which determines where the scar will be), and what level to position the implant. The problem with doctors who practice plastic surgery without the proper training is that with their limited knowledge and experience, they may not be able to make the best decision about the different options available.

Plastic surgeons are not miracle workers and we cannot promise perfect results. Contrary to how media sometimes portrays plastic surgery, even the best surgeons can have some complications. Thus, the best plastic surgeons will not promise their patients a risk free operation. However, with their specialized training and years of experience, complications are usually minimized and dealt with accordingly if ever they occur. Less experienced doctors who lack the proper training may not be able to deal with complications properly. Also, every year, in the various international plastic surgery conferences, there are updates regarding minimizing complications. Many of these conferences are open exclusively to plastic surgeons.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines