Guest guest Posted June 29, 2000 Report Share Posted June 29, 2000 In a message dated 6/29/00 7:41:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Graduate-OSSGegroups writes: << So the purpose of this post is to tell you that Plastic and > reconstructive surgeons are really really really different! So how do you > know what you need? >> Hi everyone, Having just gone through a round of this myself I would add several things to Vicki's post. 1. Some plastic surgeons are truly both " reconstructive " and " cosmetic " . If you can find one of them it is well worth the search. 2. Many " reconstructive " surgeons are Board Certified - many " cosmetic " surgeons are not. I think that Board Certification is a minimum requirement to help insure a quality result. That is not to say that Board Certification is a gurantee by any means. But given the random and risky nature of plastic surgery you should at least know your doc is good enough to have earned that difficult credential. 3. Because this type of surgery is so expensive, and often out of pocket, you want to find someone who can give you the most bang for your buck! To me that means: first, good surgery which can reconstruct what needs reconstructing, but second, it means good cosmetic skills amd instincts so that " shaping " and " sculpting " which may be needed and appropriate can be considered and discussed - possibly included and " combined " prudently with the basic proceedures. A purely reconstructive surgeon won't even suggest some of these helpful options. (For example, I love the results of the lippo suction on my upper/outter hips and thighs which was easily done at the time of my abdominalplasty(thanks to the lifted belly flap). Two of the first surgeons I talked to never even addressed the possibility of that with me. To go back and do it now would be WAY more difficult and lots more expensive.) 4. Shop until you drop - get several well chosen consultations done. Most good surgeons will do them at no charge. Beware the guy who has to charge for that! 5. Make the doc show you pictures of what he or she's going to do. Experienced docs will have many to show you. 6. Never fail to talk to former patients of any doc you are seriously considering. Just my two cents worth! Carol in Philly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2000 Report Share Posted June 29, 2000 Carol, Perhaps you could ask your PS to give your number or e-mail address to his/her patients to contact you. Donna Nave (on the sunny coast) Now a BMI of 28.3 Open RNY 3/23/99 Dr. Olchowski Wilmington, NC http://www.2weighless.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2000 Report Share Posted June 29, 2000 Any Doctor can show you pictures of another patient if the face is blacked out or a waver is signed. This is the only way to protect patient confidentiality. Donna Nave (on the sunny coast) Now a BMI of 28.3 Open RNY 3/23/99 Dr. Olchowski Wilmington, NC http://www.2weighless.com In a message dated 06/29/2000 7:08:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time, zedora@... writes: << I asked my PS for pics and she said that those were confidential and that she had to receive the patients' permission before anyone could view them. Being that this procedure (breast lift) was done at a teaching hospital and that she had a wonderful rep among all the docs that I spoke to, I went along with that. Her work is good but if I want to consider further surgery, how do I get to talk to other patients without compromising patient confidentiality? >Carol >Richmond, VA >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2000 Report Share Posted June 29, 2000 Hi! Just read your post... I asked my PS for pics and she said that those were confidential and that she had to receive the patients' permission before anyone could view them. Being that this procedure (breast lift) was done at a teaching hospital and that she had a wonderful rep among all the docs that I spoke to, I went along with that. Her work is good but if I want to consider further surgery, how do I get to talk to other patients without compromising patient confidentiality? Carol Richmond, VA >>> CarolASig@... 06/29/00 10:43AM >>> In a message dated 6/29/00 7:41:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Graduate-OSSGegroups writes: << So the purpose of this post is to tell you that Plastic and > reconstructive surgeons are really really really different! So how do you > know what you need? >> Hi everyone, Having just gone through a round of this myself I would add several things to Vicki's post. 1. Some plastic surgeons are truly both " reconstructive " and " cosmetic " . If you can find one of them it is well worth the search. 2. Many " reconstructive " surgeons are Board Certified - many " cosmetic " surgeons are not. I think that Board Certification is a minimum requirement to help insure a quality result. That is not to say that Board Certification is a gurantee by any means. But given the random and risky nature of plastic surgery you should at least know your doc is good enough to have earned that difficult credential. 3. Because this type of surgery is so expensive, and often out of pocket, you want to find someone who can give you the most bang for your buck! To me that means: first, good surgery which can reconstruct what needs reconstructing, but second, it means good cosmetic skills amd instincts so that " shaping " and " sculpting " which may be needed and appropriate can be considered and discussed - possibly included and " combined " prudently with the basic proceedures. A purely reconstructive surgeon won't even suggest some of these helpful options. (For example, I love the results of the lippo suction on my upper/outter hips and thighs which was easily done at the time of my abdominalplasty(thanks to the lifted belly flap). Two of the first surgeons I talked to never even addressed the possibility of that with me. To go back and do it now would be WAY more difficult and lots more expensive.) 4. Shop until you drop - get several well chosen consultations done. Most good surgeons will do them at no charge. Beware the guy who has to charge for that! 5. Make the doc show you pictures of what he or she's going to do. Experienced docs will have many to show you. 6. Never fail to talk to former patients of any doc you are seriously considering. Just my two cents worth! Carol in Philly ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LETS GET GEEKY! http://click./1/6085/10/_/576511/_/962306658/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2000 Report Share Posted June 29, 2000 --- Carol Ivory wrote: > Hi! > Just read your post... > I asked my PS for pics and she said that those were > confidential and that she had to receive the > patients' permission before anyone could view them. > Being that this procedure (breast lift) was done at > a teaching hospital and that she had a wonderful rep > among all the docs that I spoke to, I went along > with that. Her work is good but if I want to > consider further surgery, how do I get to talk to > other patients without compromising patient > confidentiality? > Carol > Richmond, VA Carol, I certainly find that odd. In my quest for PS, I visited 3 different plastic surgeons, and all of them had photo albums of before/after pics of former patients to show their work. I wonder why she hasn't worked this out already. Surely you're not the first patient to ask to see pics... Sharon __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2000 Report Share Posted June 29, 2000 It seems that some docs have pics with the head cut off... (have seen)... also, I was called by my PS & asked if I would speak to another patient about to get the same thing I had done... I agreed w/no problem, talke w/her on phone & invited her over to see me. I always ask to see pics... I think the docs should anticipate the need to have pics Trish >Hi! >Just read your post... >I asked my PS for pics and she said that those were confidential and that she had to receive the patients' permission before anyone could view them. Being that this procedure (breast lift) was done at a teaching hospital and that she had a wonderful rep among all the docs that I spoke to, I went along with that. Her work is good but if I want to consider further surgery, how do I get to talk to other patients without compromising patient confidentiality? >Carol >Richmond, VA > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2000 Report Share Posted June 30, 2000 >--- Carol Ivory wrote: > > Hi! > > Just read your post... > > I asked my PS for pics and she said that those were > > confidential and that she had to receive the > > patients' permission before anyone could view them. > > Being that this procedure (breast lift) was done at > > a teaching hospital and that she had a wonderful rep > > among all the docs that I spoke to, I went along > > with that. Her work is good but if I want to > > consider further surgery, how do I get to talk to > > other patients without compromising patient > > confidentiality? > > Carol > > Richmond, VA > >Carol, >I certainly find that odd. In my quest for PS, I >visited 3 different plastic surgeons, and all of them >had photo albums of before/after pics of former >patients to show their work. >I wonder why she hasn't worked this out already. >Surely you're not the first patient to ask to see >pics... > >Sharon > Carol... I went to two dfferent PS's and both had photo albums as well.. I would really consider going elsewhere for that reason alone.. Even though this is reconstructive.. I want it to look good.. and to make it look good is a 'artform' that some doctors should be proud of Really.. look for someone who can show you thier work or ask HER to provide you with pictures of pts who agreed and tell her that you are concerned because your 'friends' who have had or are considering PS all got to see before and afters of patients. (Also, all the pics I saw were with the heads missing from the pics unless it was facial surgery.. ) Huggles! Sally in San Diego ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2000 Report Share Posted June 30, 2000 Sharon I thought that it was strange too. But then, after trying for 48 hours to get her to write me a Rx for an infection that I developed, nothing else seems as strange. She is a good surgeon (her speciality is trauma patients in addition to the plastics) but if I have any more surgery I will investigate and probably go with someone else. If it weren't for the folks on this list. I would feel pretty hopeless zbout getting information. When you are not a part of a particular community, like medicine or law, it can leave you feeling pretty shut out when you are attempting to get answers to a particular problem. You guys have been wonderful in your sharing.. Carol >>> kelly_ossg@... 06/29/00 04:44PM >>> --- Carol Ivory wrote: > Hi! > Just read your post... > I asked my PS for pics and she said that those were > confidential and that she had to receive the > patients' permission before anyone could view them. > Being that this procedure (breast lift) was done at > a teaching hospital and that she had a wonderful rep > among all the docs that I spoke to, I went along > with that. Her work is good but if I want to > consider further surgery, how do I get to talk to > other patients without compromising patient > confidentiality? > Carol > Richmond, VA Carol, I certainly find that odd. In my quest for PS, I visited 3 different plastic surgeons, and all of them had photo albums of before/after pics of former patients to show their work. I wonder why she hasn't worked this out already. Surely you're not the first patient to ask to see pics... Sharon __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2000 Report Share Posted June 30, 2000 Thanks! If she was willing to do that, I would suggest it. But since she is on call at 5 local hospitals the chances of that are pretty slim. I will however, consider that option if I get any more work done. Carol >>> mspmedic@... 06/29/00 07:23PM >>> Carol, Perhaps you could ask your PS to give your number or e-mail address to his/her patients to contact you. Donna Nave (on the sunny coast) Now a BMI of 28.3 Open RNY 3/23/99 Dr. Olchowski Wilmington, NC http://www.2weighless.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0% Introductory APR! Instant Approval! Aria Visa - get yours today. http://click./1/6035/10/_/576511/_/962321142/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 2, 2000 Report Share Posted July 2, 2000 I feel that if we are having PS done and ask to see pictures of a Doctors work and that doctor cannot or will not show them then maybe that Doctor might have a real reason to not want to show his/her work......I say MOVE ON. Find a Doctor that WILL show off their work. Donna Nave (on the sunny coast) Now a BMI of 28.3 Open RNY 3/23/99 Dr. Olchowski Wilmington, NC http://www.2weighless.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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