Email a Friend
Print Article
Fake Doctors and Real Doctors - Who is Injecting You?
Marie Claire Magazine Reports On Fake Doctors Taking Advantage of Patients
A recent special report in Marie Claire, a magazine that covers beauty and fashion quite nicely, reported several incidents of patients having injections and even surgical procedures by lay people - not licensed MD's. There have been reports of this in the past. The most common offenses tend to be patients having injections by these "pseudo-doctors" of non-medical grade silicone to pump up butts, breasts and other areas. It is hard to believe that people would submit to these treatments without understanding the background and qualifications of the person holding the syringe and needle, but it happens. The complications that were described were really quite bothersome and somehow it is hard for law enforcement to keep up with many of these self-styled practitioners who enter the United States, make a quick bundle of money and then leave a trail of unhappy, maimed and disfigured patients behind.
The "take away lesson" from this article is that one needs to do their homework. Here are some points that are worth remembering.
First, if a "doctor" doesn't have an office and sees you in your home or a friend's home, be suspicious that the "doctor" isn't. These bogus doctors are clever scam artists. Often they will even set up shop in a neighborhood or store front clinic but typically they are not allowed to practice in a bonafide medical facility such as a hospital or surgery center.
The best way to protect yourself is to ask for the doctor's resume, see what hospital and surgi-center staff he is on, and where he was educated and trained. It never hurts to check with the state medical board to see if indeed the person's name appears on the roster of licensed physicians.
In my book, The Essential Cosmetic Surgery Companion - Don't Consult a Cosmetic Surgeon without This Book!, I list the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States website and phone number whereby you can make contact with the Medical Board in your state to verify credentials.
Finally, if the price seems too cheap, it probably is. Typically, these fakes attract patients not by qualification, experience or talent, but strictly because there are cheap. Caveat emptor! Buyer beware.
- Robert Kotler, MD, FACS
Related Topics:
A recent special report in Marie Claire, a magazine that covers beauty and fashion quite nicely, reported several incidents of patients having injections and even surgical procedures by lay people - not licensed MD's. There have been reports of this in the past. The most common offenses tend to be patients having injections by these "pseudo-doctors" of non-medical grade silicone to pump up butts, breasts and other areas. It is hard to believe that people would submit to these treatments without understanding the background and qualifications of the person holding the syringe and needle, but it happens. The complications that were described were really quite bothersome and somehow it is hard for law enforcement to keep up with many of these self-styled practitioners who enter the United States, make a quick bundle of money and then leave a trail of unhappy, maimed and disfigured patients behind.
The "take away lesson" from this article is that one needs to do their homework. Here are some points that are worth remembering.
First, if a "doctor" doesn't have an office and sees you in your home or a friend's home, be suspicious that the "doctor" isn't. These bogus doctors are clever scam artists. Often they will even set up shop in a neighborhood or store front clinic but typically they are not allowed to practice in a bonafide medical facility such as a hospital or surgery center.
The best way to protect yourself is to ask for the doctor's resume, see what hospital and surgi-center staff he is on, and where he was educated and trained. It never hurts to check with the state medical board to see if indeed the person's name appears on the roster of licensed physicians.
In my book, The Essential Cosmetic Surgery Companion - Don't Consult a Cosmetic Surgeon without This Book!, I list the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States website and phone number whereby you can make contact with the Medical Board in your state to verify credentials.
Finally, if the price seems too cheap, it probably is. Typically, these fakes attract patients not by qualification, experience or talent, but strictly because there are cheap. Caveat emptor! Buyer beware.
- Robert Kotler, MD, FACS
Related Topics:
- WebMD Video: Choosing Your Surgeon
- WebMD Video: The High Price of Low-Bidding Cosmetic Surgeons
- Skin & Beauty Newsletter - Tips to look good, feel great
Labels: cosmetic surgery
1 Comments:
All comments must meet our Terms and Conditions. This includes not "posting advertisements or solicitations of business." Posts that do not meet our terms and conditions will be removed.
Post a Comment