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Lipo: Dermatologist Vs. Plastic Surgeon

asked 2 years ago by Myrtle1975 in Anaheim hills
Latest answer by Robert L. Kraft, MD
Question viewed 976 times
Tags: comparison

I had a botched vaser lipo plus an unsuccessful corrective with a bleeping family dr. with a fancy laser center. Now what do I do? Someone suggested Dr. Jeff Klein (inventor of the tumescent lipo), but he is a dermatologist. Do I go to a board certified plastic surgeon or a dermatologist for attempted correction? Thanks. Any suggestions appriciated.

15 answers to Lipo: Dermatologist Vs. Plastic Surgeon

Both Dermatologic Surgeons and Plastic Surgeons Can Give Great Results In Liposuction If Experienced.

All specialties do liposuction nowadays but you want to go to someone who you trust, feel comfortable with and has a lot of experience in liposuction. Dermatologists tend to do most cases under local anesthesia with the micro canulas for the finesse work of sculpting the areas. Plastic surgeons tend to do most cases under general anesthesia with larger canulas for the debulking work but can also do finesse work as well with the smaller canulas. It is true that a dermatologist invented... more

David Hansen, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

www.DrDavidHansen.com

A Plastic Surgeon or something else...again

Most us see people like you in our office commonly. The price was better elsewhere. The office and staff were glitzier even the bigger, multiple color diplomas from a non ABMS bogus "plastic surgery" board were more persuasive than the well trained plastic surgeon(s) you saw. And here we are. Hard if not impossible to fix complications. With one apparent mistake behind you - WHO would you see NOW for your plastic surgery? A ABPS certified member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Gosh, one gets the impression that it is dangerous to have liposuction by a dermatologist!

If only this impression suggested by the surgeons responding to you question were true. There is absolutely no data to say that one speciality does better liposuction surgery than another speciality. In the USA, the specialities of dermatology and plastic surgery account for the vast majority of liposuction performed. What is undisputed is that general plastic surgeons account for a disproprotionate number of operative deaths related to liposuction. General plastic surgeons are much more... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Correction of botched liposuction

Correction of botched liposuction involves many possible procedures, including for example a tummy tuck with revisional liposuction for the unevenness and thin semi burned and discolored skin so often seen with laser procedures. I could not imagine having such corrective surgery by anybody but a board certified plastic surgeon.

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Surgery should be performed by a surgeon

Liposuction is a surgical procedure. It is performed under sedation anesthesia, at minimum and, in NY, non-surgeons do not have privileges to perform such procedures in licensed facilities. Similarly, surgeons are trained to handle complications of surgery. I take exception to the notion that plastic surgeons are responsible for more deaths as an indictment of our skills. We handle major surgeries as opposed to more minimal procedures. Additionally, the anesthesiologist performs the... more

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Correcting a bad result.

There are many thing that could constitute a bad result following liposuction. The solution may be more liposuction, fat transfer, or dermatolipectomies. The point is to make the most of a bad situation. Spend time with various doctors. Understand the options. A complete solution may be neither quick nor cheap. Remember the axiom "when all you have is a hammer, all the world looks like a nail"

Peter D. Geldner, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Correcting poor outcomes from plastic surgery performed by a non-plastic surgeon

Hi there- I'm sorry you have learned the hard way what I try so very hard to educate my own community about... Regardless of the fancy machine they use, the cute name their spa has, or the marketing dollars they spend, there is simply no way that an eye doctor, gynecologist, ER doctor, or family doctor could offer you the safe and effective plastic surgical care that someone who actually spent years training in the discipline could. In Orlando, there are several of these types more

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

Vaser lipo revision

I don't know what botched means in this instance. If you have photos that would be helpful. Common complications from VASER are burns from end hit on the inside up against the dermis. Typical contour abnormalities created by staying in one area to long are fixed through scar release and fat grafting. I perform fat grafting cases routinely and this is not complicated to fix. I would certainly be happy to give you a better idea if you wish.

Robert Whitfield, MD
Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon

Liposcution doctor

There really is no one best doctor to perform lipsuction. You want to go to at least a well qualified dermatologist or plastic surgeon to perform the procedure.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

How to pick a liposuction surgeon.

Hi. 1) In order for an office operating room to be accredited for liposuction, the doctor must have privileges at a local hospital to perform liposuction. At least in New York State, hospitals do not allow dermatologists to do liposuction. 2) Dermatologists are not trained or board certified as plastic surgeons, and as you know from your own complications, liposuction is real surgery.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Dermatologist versus plastic surgeon

It goes without saying that from your surgeon you want brilliance, understanding, resourcefulness, great training, the best hands and eyes in the business, and a calming manner. But you also need him or her to have professional qualifications. No matter whom you pick, your doctor should have the proper certification and experience necessary to perform liposuction. You should expect your doctor to be more than just aware of, but positively fluent in, such recent and dramatic advances. Above... more

Michelle Copeland, MD, DMD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Which specialist should do revisional liposuction

Tumescent liposuction was in fact invented by Dr. Jeffrey Klein, a dermatologist. This was a significant advance in improving the safety of liposuction. In all likelihood, extremely experienced dermatologic surgeons have performed revisional liposuction on patients that have been operated on by plastic surgeons, and vice-versa. Complications do occur to patients undergoing surgery by doctors with the best reputation, regardless of specialty. Surgery on the skin and subcutaneous tissue... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Liposuction by dermatologists or plastic surgeons

This is a tough one for plastic surgeons to be objective about. I was involved in the first presentation of liposuction in the US by a french doctor who wasn't a plastic surgeon by the US definition. I was also involved with early tumescent injection for liposuction by Jeffrey Klein and other dermatologists and was the first plastic surgeon to develop experience with it and present on it to other plastic surgeons. My opinions did not sit well with either Klein who sued me over them or the... more

Scott L. Replogle, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Plastic surgeon vs dermatologist for liposuction

I completely agree with Drs. Moelleken and Yuan. Please understand that while many dermatologists perform liposuction and many times their patients are happy, a dermatologist has no formal residency training in surgery or in plastic surgery. They are not as well trained in the avoidance of complications and especially not as trained in the treatment of complications. There are some risks with liposuction that can be life threatening, so in whose hands would you rather place your safety? more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Dermatologist or plastic surgeon

Without hesitation, I would say go to an experienced surgeon over an experienced dermatologist although it is more important which specific doctor you choose. One thing I look at is not who can do a good job but who can prevent and treat complications since they can occur in the best of hands. Plastic surgeon have more knowledge and experience regarding surgical complications and risks than do equally trained dermatologist in my opinion.