Page 14 - BCMS ONline directory

COSMETIC MEDICINE

continued from page 13

tributions to society. Transformative procedures like rhinoplasty and and easy access without vetting the surgeon can tip the scales away
breast reduction can not only change someone’s outward appear- from safety in favor of cost. It is my hope that as a healthcare com-
ance, but also provide improved functional outcomes of enhanced munity, we physicians will recognize the potential positive impact
nasal breathing and diminished musculoskeletal pain, respectively. of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures for our patients and help
Taken as a whole, aesthetic surgery and aesthetic medicine can en- guide individuals seeking this care toward safe and favorable out-
hance quality of life. comes. Extending the same accepted advocacy for patients’ rights,
A motivating influence to pursue a career in medicine is the education, and safety to the realm of aesthetic surgery and aesthetic
promise of being able to make a positive impact on the health of medicine as we do for all other aspects of healthcare is tantamount
patients. It’s no wonder, then, that many choose to focus their train- for optimal outcomes. In this way, stories like that of our fellow
ing and careers in plastic and reconstructive surgery. As the number Texan will become infrequent or even only in the past.
of patients seeking aesthetic interventions increases, so too do the
number of physicians offering these services. Concomitantly, di- Dr. Christian Stallworth is dually board certified by both the
minishing reimbursements, the stranglehold of government and in- American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
stitutional oversights, and physician burnout can also contribute to and the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck
the allure of providing cash-pay aesthetic care. While there is no Surgery. He is a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of
fault in this alone, the attraction can entice a slip down the prover- the Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for UT Health San
bial slope further and further from the purpose and safety of their Antonio / The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
training. As reported in the New York Times, this trend is growing He also works part-time in private practice. He is a member of the Bexar
and poses confusion and risk for patients. In the United States, we County Medical Society.
ensure our collective expertise through licensing exams, board cer-
tifications, accredited training programs and maintenance of certi- Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the au-
fication. Yet how these safeguards and accreditations are promoted thor and not meant to represent those of UT Health San Antonio or The Uni-
to the public through YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and the in- versity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
ternet can be both perplexing and misleading. To practice many aes-
thetic procedures, a hospital setting is not necessary, thereby Resources:
eliminating the added layer of patient protection found in operative 1. RhinoCenter - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rinocen-
ter/1744481225832343?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARCtSp2Lpj42Ppn-
credentialing and privileging. In an outpatient venue, professional
PqcNLuQdFjmglJ0hm1EI7EHTYv0qZV0xkzym2QoBmZgje9G
oversight can be lax. Patients, then, may find care, no matter how
wb20Gk4yZgYdbxdeZ8&fref=mentions
invasive, in a setting like those previously mentioned in Mexico, 2. https://www.dallasnews.com/news/news/2018/11/24/dallas-
Georgia, Florida, or even here in Texas. In addition, there is a grow- woman-dead-after-botched-nose-job-mexico
ing threat of counterfeit drugs and equipment. For example, the 3. https://patientsbeyondborders.com/medical-tourism-statistics-
FDA has cautioned about some improperly manufactured injecta- facts
4. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-
bles and toxins masquerading as legitimate pharmaceuticals in the
health/wp/2018/06/05/a-doctor-who-rapped-and-danced-during-
U.S. marketplace. FDA warning notices have been issued to over
plastic-surgeries-was-negligent-lawsuits-say/?noredirect=on&utm_t
1000 physicians nationwide who are known to have administered erm=.36c222ed0ebe
fraudulent injectables. Ultimately, patients may access care that is 5. https://verdict.gtla.org/2018/12/06/the-tale-of-the-dancing-
hazard laden if they haven’t performed adequate due diligence. doctor-and-disturbing-lessons-learned-about-the-current-state-of-
Without proper oversight and guidance from the medical commu- surgical-practices-in-georgia/
6. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2019/
nity at large, they may find easy access to treatment that promises
05/01/florida-passes-strict-controls-plastic-surgery-
great outcomes for reduced expense. In these cases, if it seems too
centers/3617669002/?fbclid=IwAR3uf9JjFAoxAl-
good to be true, it probably is. ObToqVO5R26Gua6E121ZrdzBW1iE9OLkYFYTZeZpYdlc
Today, the increasing accessibility and acceptability of cosmetic 7. https://www.aafprs.org/media/stats_polls/m_stats.html
surgery procedures is greater than for any previous generation. But 8. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/News/Statistics/
while the rewards of this burgeoning medical industry can be great 2018/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2018.pdf
9. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/30/us/30plastic.html
for both patients and physicians alike, so too can be the risks.
10. https://www.fda.gov/media/90808/download
Whether home or abroad, to seek treatment based solely on cost

14 San Antonio Medicine • July 2019