That said, the vast majority of plastic surgeons go through a similar education process, which includes an Internship, Residency, and in some cases involves a "fellowship" for more specialized training.
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Finding Top Plastic Surgeons with Special Interests/Expertise
Top-notch cosmetic surgeons (experts) are often referred and known as masters of certain aspects of their field, such as condition, or surgical procedure specialties. All plastic surgeons are trained to practice many different cosmetic surgery procedures, however, the reality is that no one surgeon will master and excel at every condition or surgical procedure in their field. Therefore, it's key to find top surgeons in certain areas based on particular special interests and/or expertise.
Plastic surgeons master and regularly perform particular surgical procedures in their areas of specialization. Another key finding top-notch plastic surgeons is finding those who are referred by their peers the most for certain surgical procedures, and those who practice those surgical procedures 75% - or more of the time.
Finally, every surgeon has a special interest/expertise in a particular specialization. Therefore, it is also important to find top-notch plastic surgeons based on their special interests or particular / areas of expertise. Typically, plastic surgeons will master and be recognized for certain procedures; usually one of seven types of procedures.
Top Plastic Surgeons Nomination Process
Relevant medical doctor credential information databases and extensive research is essential in finding top-notch cosmetic surgeons. Therefore, now more than ever, innovative methodologies are becoming main-stream to help individuals find top-notch plastic surgeons who have special interests/expertise in certain surgical procedures.
Step 1: Board certified plastic surgeons (only) are randomly selected using owned comprehensive doctor credential information databases and a proprietary system.
Step 2: The proprietary system and software faxes or emails selected plastic surgeons, asking them "If one of your loved ones needed medical attention in your field, which of your peers would you choose?"
Step 3: Emails and faxes contain a user name & password that, allow doctors to login to the database. Doctors then complete form, nominate their peer(s) and submit.
Step 4: The research team receives the doctor nomination data, reviews the data and prepares for the next phase.
Step 5: Those surgeons who are selected by their peers numerous times are then reviewed for proper nationwide licensure status, disciplinary actions, malpractice judgments, and are cross-referenced using 13 owned/leased doctor credential information databases that provide confirmation of doctors' complete nationwide licensure statuses and relevant credential information.
Step 6: The research team reviews and refines the pool of nominated plastic surgeons, and verifies credentials.
Guide to Top Plastic Surgeons Methodologies
It's safe to say that there is no requirement or universal agreement, used to research and find America's Top Plastic Surgeons. However by implementing innovative technologies and solid methodologies to research every physician's complete profile in conjunction with, extensive survey results proves to be the best alternative.
Years in practice, academic appointments, hospital appointments, fellowship training, membership affiliations, reputation/recognition, awards, professional years of experience, special interest/area of expertise, malpractice judgment(s),disciplinary actions, and board certification status are all important considerations to finding plastic surgeons at the top of their careers.
Outcome
Every cosmetic surgeon has a different combination of background, training, and experience. The more effort you put into your research, the better your result. Use the tips above to get you started on your search for the plastic surgeon(s) that will be the most skilled, qualified, and trustworthy to meet your specific medical needs. Many people that do not put the time and effort into finding the right plastic surgeons experience, medical complications or results that plague them the rest of their lives.
Marketed as an effective, pain-free, minimally invasive fat removal method, lipodissolve is relatively new in the world of aesthetic weight loss procedures. It is popular presumably because the procedure consists of a series of localized injections rather than surgery, making it sound like a mild alternative to liposuction. Clinics and spas that offer the procedure claim that opponents of lipodissolve (also known as lipolysis, lipotherapy, or lipo dissolve) are simply cosmetic surgeons who just don't want to lose the business! What is the truth about lipodissolve? Is it a procedure worth considering?
What is it?
Lipodissolve is a procedure whereby a mixture of chemicals and substances is injected into the body with the goal of removing fatty deposits at the site of the injection. The "cocktail" used is not standardized and varies among lipodissolve providers, however the active ingredient that dissolves the fat is common to all. That is phosphatidylcholine, a chemical produced from the soya bean which is approved by the FDA for breaking down fats in the blood of patients with a high risk of heart disease. It is NOT approved by the FDA for use in cosmetic procedures or for injecting into fat layers of the body. Also included in the lipodissolve cocktail is sodium deoxycholate, a product of cattle bile which is a water-soluble ionic detergent. The other ingredients are determined by the physician who orders the mixture, and might include antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, plant extracts or other substances, some of which may not be approved or regulated.
The substance is injected into the body at the location where the fat will be removed. Over a period of several weeks, the chemicals begin to break down the fat cells and they are absorbed into the body. Each session takes between 15-30 minutes. After a period of 6-8 weeks, another series of injections can be given. Typically, patients require anywhere from 4-8 injection treatments to complete their procedure. Lipodissolve is only claimed to be effective for treating small, localized areas of fatty deposits and should not be thought of as a weight loss procedure. Prices vary widely among providers, and can range from $300 per treatment to over $1500 per treatment.
Does it work?
Other than testimonials put forward by lipodissolve providers on sponsored websites, it is difficult to find evidence that the procedure is effective. On the contrary, there are many, many customer reports that indicate little to no effectiveness after multiple lipodissolve treatments. One of the earliest and best-known lipodissolve companies was Advanced Lipo Dissolve, also known as Fig. In December of 2007, Fig went bankrupt under the pressure of pending lawsuits and a huge number of complaints against their business practices filed by customers with the Better Business Bureau.
Is it safe?
There is ample evidence that suggests a multitude of complications, side effects, and adverse health issues as a direct result of the procedure. In addition, because the solution injected into your body varies dramatically from provider to provider, there can be no simple answer to the question of effectiveness. Without knowing exactly what's in the mixture, it's impossible for experts in the field of aesthetic medicine to provide a complete list of possible associated problems. Lipodissolve is not recommended for pregnant women, nursing women, or patients with existing health issues such as diabetes or HIV.
A quick internet search will turn up a host of problems experienced by lipodissolve customers, including:
· Allergic reaction - many cases have been reported from mild to extreme.
· Pain - although the procedure is claimed to be quite painless, customers report a lot of pain in the days following the injections, some have described the pain as 'terrible'.
· Localized tissue death - the chemicals used in the cocktail have been cited as the cause of skin necrosis at the site of the injection, necessitating, in extreme cases, skin grafts. Because there is no requirement that a licensed surgeon administer the injections, there have been many cases where the injection was made in layers other than fat, causing damage to the cells and tissues in the injected area.
· Bacterial infections have been reported.
· Nausea, dizziness and fever are possible side effects of the treatment.
· Mild diarrhea may be experienced as fats are eliminated from the body.
· Increased or erratic menstrual bleeding has been experienced by some patients due to the hormones in the dissolved fats.
· Nodules (lumps) under the skin have been widely reported in lipodissolve customers, although for the most part they subside after a few weeks.
· Skin 'dimpling' has been reported, and occurs when the fat is removed from a very small area and not in the surrounding area, making for a very lumpy appearance.
More Bad News
Because there are no completed long-term studies involving lipodissolve, (and even if there were, without regulation of the substance injected they would only be useful in studying the precise mixture used in the study) there is no clear understanding of any long-term effects of the procedure. No one knows precisely where the dissolved fats go within the body or how quickly or effectively they are 'eliminated', so there are additional health concerns. Fats absorbed into blood vessels, for example, can contribute to heart disease, and fats filtered through the liver can lead to liver damage.
Lipodissolve has been banned in Brazil and Canada, and several states are considering banning the procedure. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery does not recommend lipodissolve, nor does the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
In September, 2008, a study was commissioned by the US National Institutes of Health to study the effect of Lipodissolve treatments, however the study will not be completed until the end of 2009, and as of yet no results have been posted Best plastic surgeons in Houston to the study website.
With all the potential problems and not a lot of proponents able to show consistent results, before considering Lipodissolve, we urge you to look into it for yourself. Or contact Dr. Rassoli and he would be happy to provide additional information.