Gynecomastia Support Forum
General => Gynecomastia Talk => Topic started by: Paa_Paw on June 25, 2008, 03:26:19 AM
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This evenings TV news brought word of an Unlicensed person who has been posing as a Doctor and performing Cosmetic surgical procedures in Florida with disastrous results. A quick look revealed more similar cases just across the border in Mexico. There are more similar stories from all over the globe.
We are all very well aware of the emotional impact Gynecomastia can have on a man regardless of his age or ability to cover the cost of surgery. Sometimes, Driven by the strong desire to get rid of what they perceive as a deformity, Some young men seek surgery at these cut-rate clinics.
It cannot be overly stressed that You are the one person on earth who has the most to lose if your surgery is performed by someone of questionable ability.
The charlatans who market a variety of supposed cures for Gynecomastia are not much better.
Their aim is to turn your desperation and your hopes in to cash. If you suffer in the process, they really do not give a damn.
If you are going to resolve your situation to you own satisfaction, you need to be a very well informed consumer of the goods and services offered.
Anecdotal evidence, stories and testimonials do not add up to proof of the validity of the claims of anyone marketing products which supposedly "Cure" gynecomastia.
Just because someone calls themselves Doctor, Is no proof that they actually are Doctors.
Not everyone who is willing to perform cosmetic surgery is properly Qualified.
Products should have a double blind trial using a large sample group and be subject to peer review.
The qualifications and certifications of Doctors and Surgeons is too easy to verify to ever get your name on the news because you were disfigured or died at the hands of someone who was not qualified.
Most of us who post here are not medical professionals, certainly I am not. I fully expect for anyone with a brain to question what I have to say and follow up by doing their own homework. I think that anyone here, Professional or not, feels similarly.
Please! Do not allow your desperation to pressure yourself into doing something stupid.
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wow! Do you have news story link?
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Thanks for the post. Very good advice.
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Of all states, why FL? Why must you scare me like this Paa? Lol, the guy I'm looking into has been here for 30 years though so I'm not to concerned about him being a phony. :)
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Unfortunately, I walked through the room while my wife was channel surfing. I caught the one item and she was on to another channel so I don't know the news channel she had stopped at. One of the patients was a young man with Gynecomastia who actually wound up with breast implants.
I Googled "unlicensed Surgeons" and there was simply too much material for me to absorb.
Sorry I don't have a link for you, but it should be easy enough to find if you would care to do a search.
Besides, I really want you to question what I've said and do your own research. Trust me, It really is better that way. The information may have a greater impact if you are forced to find it for yourself.
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Cody, As I pointed out in the original post, The qualifications of a Doctor / Surgeon are actually very easy to verify and there is no reason for you not to verify that information.
Actually, Good reputable people in any career field actually invite you to check them out in this way. You start right out with a relationship built on faith and trust based on knowledge.
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the sad thing though is how many general surgeons think they can handle anything and slice you up in any direction without a thought for scars, cosmetics, or current technique. and sometimes guys off in the third world are more expert. even certifications are no guarantee, you have to do your own research.
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the sad thing though is how many general surgeons think they can handle anything and slice you up in any direction without a thought for scars, cosmetics, or current technique. and sometimes guys off in the third world are more expert. even certifications are no guarantee, you have to do your own research.
'' sometimes guys off in the third world are more expert'' :o
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well i'm thinking of general surgeons in the states who amazingly just made straight 5-inch horizontal slices straight across the areolas, versus ps's people have been satisfied with results from in mexico like caloca or that guy in cuzco peru. i'm not saying i recommend the next plane to the philippines, but i don't believe you're guaranteed a nightmare just because you go elsewhere or guaranteed satisfaction here, it's always going to be research case by case. you want somebody who knows and and is experienced with gyne technique, not somebody who thinks they can handle you just because they've taken out a hundred appendices.
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HHH I agree, there is a trend for a significant number of people to travel abroad in search of elective surgery at lower cost. Some of the surgeons are top rate and fully qualified. It can be more problematic trying to verify the Qualifications though in some countries.
Often, the cost of travel, lodging etc. negates the savings in surgical costs and a person would not be conveniently connected to their surgeon if some kind of follow up was needed. All the pros and cons need to be carefully weighed.
Your statement about general surgeons performing specialized operations is well taken as well. In the past, I have known of GPs who performed major surgery. In an emergency, in a remote location, A person does what they must. In the case of Gynecomastia, or any other condition treated by elective surgery, There is no reason to settle for anything less than a specialist.
I really love my family Doctor, one of the things I like best about him is that he will never go in over his head. He is highly intuitive, Last summer he sent me for an abdominal ultrasound suspecting an AAA. (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm) He then referred me to a Vascular Surgeon. He was right, But it is not bad enough to require surgery providing I keep my blood pressure under control.
I have great respect for anyone who is humble enough to honestly say "I don't know" or "this is beyond me." My personal Dr. is one of those people.
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I hear you on this one. I mean, ive always been very desperate to get this surgery, for at least the past 6-7 years ive wanted surgery sooooo bad, but just could never afford it. I now realize from this board, that it is a serious procedure, and needs to be done by a qualified PS, thats why i am taking the steps for saving up a lot of money. Im currently working 2 jobs, and pretty much giving up my life to slave away at work, so i can finally have enough to go to a good, board certified plastic surgeon. It sucks that it costs so much, but in the end your going to have better results and it will be well worth it.
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My experience has been that the things I had to work hardest to attain later meant more to me as a result.
Conversely, the things that came easily were not valued later.
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Paa-Paw
Very very sage advice indeed.
Dr Jacobs
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Apparently, a GP can take a 'Week-end crash course' in Plastic/Cosmetic Surgery and he/she can call themselves a Plastic Surgeon.
Is there any truth to this?
GB
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Yes, there is truth to this. That is why properly trained plastic surgeons have tried to emphasize their training and background to their patients. But in this world, it is caveat emptor -- let the buyer beware. There are many physicians, of various backgrounds and specialties, who take weekend courses in some type of cosmetic procedure -- and then go out and market themselves as plastic surgeons or cosmetic surgeons.
As a rule, if you are interested in plastic surgery, you should check the credentials of your doctor and make sure he/she is certifed only by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Elliot Jacobs, MD, FACS
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Apparently, a GP can take a 'Week-end crash course' in Plastic/Cosmetic Surgery and he/she can call themselves a Plastic Surgeon.
Is there any truth to this?
GB
wtf?! :o
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I had actually walked into TCC (Toronto Cosmetic Clinic) to talk about my Gyne. I had booked the surgery and everything ($500 deposit). When I got home I did some research on them on the web. They were being investigated for a post op death from lipo (similar to Kanye Wests mom). I then called the Ontario College of Plastic Surgeons. To be a PS in Ontario, you have to be accredited - which TCC was not. Technically you can be a family doctor and perform these operations in a private clinic here. The college gave me a list of accredited surgeons.. and I went from there. I'm not saying that TCC would have been a wrong choice, but I feel more comfortable being under the care of an accredited surgeon. If you're in Ontario, or any other Province or state for that matter, There must be some kind of governing body that can guide you to the right people. I lost my $500 deposit... but I'm really happy I did the research.. lesson learned.
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It cannot be stressed too often that each person must take the time to do their own homework.
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I recently returned from a cosmetic surgery seminar in Las Vegas. I was truly outnumbered as a plastic surgeon. Most attendees were OB/GYN's, family practice docs, and general surgeons. One OB/GYN had the nerve to tell me that he's taken a weekend course on breast augmentation and was performing that procedure. Those docs can all call themselves cosmetic surgeons or even plastic surgeons, but not ONE of them can honestly say that they are CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY. That's why we plastic surgeons stress that phrase to you so emphatically.
It's a dangerous world out there.
Dr. Pope, M.D.
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Thanks Dr. Pope,
What you just said cannot be repeated too often.
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Unfortunately, I walked through the room while my wife was channel surfing. I caught the one item and she was on to another channel so I don't know the news channel she had stopped at. One of the patients was a young man with Gynecomastia who actually wound up with breast implants.
I Googled "unlicensed Surgeons" and there was simply too much material for me to absorb.
Sorry I don't have a link for you, but it should be easy enough to find if you would care to do a search.
Besides, I really want you to question what I've said and do your own research. Trust me, It really is better that way. The information may have a greater impact if you are forced to find it for yourself.
''One of the patients was a young man with Gynecomastia who actually wound up with breast implants.''
how did his breasts look , any good? LOL ,
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That image, thankfully, was not shown but simply mentioned.
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[quote author=Dr. Pope link=topic=14675.msg104798#msg104798 date=1216527654]
I recently returned from a cosmetic surgery seminar in Las Vegas. I was truly outnumbered as a plastic surgeon. Most attendees were OB/GYN's, family practice docs, and general surgeons. One OB/GYN had the nerve to tell me that he's taken a weekend course on breast augmentation and was performing that procedure. Those docs can all call themselves cosmetic surgeons or even plastic surgeons, but not ONE of them can honestly say that they are CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY. That's why we plastic surgeons stress that phrase to you so emphatically.
It's a dangerous world out there.
Dr. Pope, M.D.
[/quote]
:o
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Many years ago, when I was in surgical training as a resident, I was speaking to a fellow resident. He was in training in Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery) and I was in training in General Surgery. When I mentioned that I was interested in Plastic Surgery, which would entail a total of seven (7) years of surgical training AFTER graduation from medical school, my friend said to me, "Why don't you train in ENT? -- it's the short cut to Plastic Surgery" (ENT training was a total of four years -- not seven). I told him, "No thanks -- if I am going to be a Plastic Surgeon, I don't want to take any short cuts."
This story illustrates the fact that there are many doctors who take short cuts -- for various reasons and in different ways -- in an attempt to call themselves a Plastic Surgeon. There is no substitute for proper training under supervision of a senior Plastic Surgeon. That is why it is so important to check the credentials of your surgeon. It is not enough for a surgeon to say he is Board Certified -- he could be a Board Certified Dermatologist who calls himself a Plastic Surgeon. Make sure he is Board Certified only by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. That is the patient's only means of assuring himself of the proper qualifications of his Plastic Surgeon.
Elliot Jacobs, MD, FACS
Diplomate, American Board of Plastic Surgery
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Funny that you should mention a Dermatologist.
Years ago when I was an Air Force Medic, we had a joke about Dermatologists.
They have the softest job in all of Medicine. Their patients are never acutely ill at 2AM and few of them ever are completely cured so a lifetime income is assured.