Plastic surgery performed by non-plastic surgeons

The first story, featured by CBS Atlanta, described the near-fatal experience of Kenyatta Brown, an Atlanta-area mother of four who nearly bled to death after seeking breast augmentation with an eye doctor practicing plastic surgery outside his specialty of ophthalmology.

Breast augmentation surgery is relatively routine for board-certified plastic surgeons who perform thousands of these procedures each year, but for a physician who has not completed a plastic surgery residency and has little experience performing plastic surgery, breast augmentation is risky and may produce disastrous results.

It is important to note that medical authorities, such as state licensing boards, do not monitor or restrict specialty practice, so any licensed physician is legally allowed to practice plastic surgery or any other medical specialty regardless of his or her training or experience level.

Unlicensed cosmetic medicine practitioners

In an even more troubling and more recent incident reported by the Orange County Register, 22-year-old Mayra Contreras died after receiving silicone butt injections administered by two sisters running an unlicensed cosmetic medicine clinic out of their San Fernando Valley home.

Since Contreras’s untimely death, the women allegedly responsible have fled to Mexico in an effort to escape arrest.

Contreras didn’t realize she was taking her life in her hands by allowing non-medical personnel to inject her body using silicone, a substance that is already widely known for producing granulomas and other complications, even when administered by a doctor or other qualified medical professional.

Each of these unfortunate cases underscores the fact that medical aesthetics is truly a “buyer beware” industry.  Unscrupulous and unqualified practitioners offer deep discounts to lure potential victims with low prices in an effort to cash in on this lucrative industry where upfront payment is the norm.

Before you consider cosmetic treatment prices

To avoid putting your health and aesthetic outcome at risk, research your doctor’s credentials and training, view his or her before and after photos of similar patient cases and get feedback from other patients before undergoing any cosmetic procedure.  Make price the last consideration in choosing a doctor to perform your cosmetic enhancement.

Be sure to seek a board certified Houston plastic surgeon with experience performing breast augmentation, injectable fillers or any other procedure you desire to achieve your cosmetic goals.

The president has issued a proclamation declaring this week “Women’s Health Week.”  In an official press release, directives were outlined that may help “break existing barriers” and “improve the health of American women for generations to come.”

Some of those steps include:

• Lead a healthy life and set an example for young people.
• Take advantage of preventive care with routine screenings and checkups.
• Practice simple everyday activities like using sunscreen, exercising regularly, and eating healthy.
• Emphasize the role of women in promoting the vitality of our children and communities.

Online resources were also cited for promoting the goals of women’s health week, including the Whitehouse Council on Women and Girls, womenshealth.gov, and girlshealth.gov.

The data, collected on 351 women by scholars from the University of Pittsburgh, revealed that those “who consistently breast-fed their children had waist circumferences that were an average of 2.6 inches smaller than women who had never breast-fed.” Physicians discussed these findings in the Bay Area last week during the American Heart Association conference on cardiovascular health.

Although breastfeeding appears to make a significant difference when it comes to unhealthy belly fat, as Dr. Nieca Goldberg suggests, these women may also be engaged in healthier lifestyles.

Read more about this study at womenshealth.gov