Does the patient always come first?

Why you should choose a board certified physician.

We’ve all heard the expression “The patient always comes first.”  There is a lot that goes into choosing a doctor, but one of the first things to consider is their experience and proven record of success and safety.  One sure fire way to be confident about these factors is to choose a board certified surgeon, or a double board certified surgeon like myself.

Why choose a board certified surgeon?  Many patients do not know, that in most states, a licensed physician may perform plastic surgery without being board-certified in plastic surgery.

Many physicians (and sometimes even non-physicians) call themselves “plastic surgeons”. American Board of Plastic Surgery is one of the 24 specialty boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). It is the only ABMS Board which certifies in the full spectrum of the entire specialty of plastic surgery.

By choosing a plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc., you can be assured that the doctor has graduated from an accredited medical school and has completed at least five years of additional training as a resident surgeon. To become certified, the doctor then must successfully complete comprehensive written and oral exams. Board Certification is a voluntary process.

To become a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the world’s premier organization representing plastic surgery, the surgeon has to be board certified, practice for a certain period of time (candidate period), regularly attend medical education courses, and adhere to a strict code of ethics. Membership in the ASPS is symbolized by the “circle of excellence”:

Recently, I had a 71 year old patient who was in for surgery.  Everything that morning began as expected .  The patient was checked in, the scrub nurse was ready to assist and the anesthesiologist was ready anesthetize the patient.  As we were going to proceed with the surgery, the patient’s blood pressure sky rocketed.   After careful consideration, I made the decision the surgery would just not be safe for my patient.   I put her first.  We woke her up, and more than likely saved her life.   Now I ask you, would your doctor put you first?

Get your body ready for the summer!

The scoop of breast augmentation.

Women who are considering breast surgery generally want their new shape to be ready for summer. Understandably, they look forward to taking full advantage of all the clothing and fashion they've been unable (or hesitant) to enjoy in the past.

In order to allow for plenty of healing time, breast augmentation candidates should plan to have their procedure completed in the winter or early spring months. With people's busy holiday schedules behind them, and colder weather keeping everyone indoors, these months are an ideal time to rest up and to recover from breast augmentation surgery.

Breast augmentation is not only sought out by individuals dissatisfied with their breast size. Other patients look to breast augmentation to help correct asymmetrical breasts, or to restore volume that was lost because of breastfeeding, childbirth, or weight loss.

Thanks to modern techniques and materials, breast augmentation has become safer and more accessible than ever, making it an ideal solution for women who have always felt the need to hide their figure due to asymmetry or insufficient size. Consulting with a skilled, board-certified breast surgeon can help you determine a treatment plan that will give you a naturalistic, evenly-proportioned look that you can take confidence in.

One reason you want to allow for plenty of recovery time between your breast augmentation surgery and the summer fashion season is because you may be swollen for up to three or four months after surgery. While drinking water and engaging in light exercise can help reduce this swelling, you want to give your body the downtime it needs for proper healing to take place.

During recovery, it is important to keep your incision dry. Do not use lotions or creams on the incision, as they can cause inflammation. Complete the course of antibiotics your breast surgeon has prescribed to avoid infection.

Pain medication can help during this time, although it should not contain aspirin or ibuprofen until your surgeon says otherwise; early on, these medications can cause excessive bleeding.

If you had a breast lift combined with your breast augmentation surgery, this will lengthen your overall recovery time.

For the first few days and weeks following your surgery, your breasts may be firmer than you're used to, sitting higher up on your chest. Over time, they will soften and drop into a more natural position. Don't worry if your breasts seem a bit "off" at first in either position or shape; they will normalize over the next few weeks and months.

If you are considering breast augmentation, please visit the website of double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jonathan Berman  for more information.