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Who is more qualified to do my liposuction: dermatologic surgeon or plastic surgeon?

asked 2 years ago by 8094anon in Tumwater
Latest answer by Ronald Shelton, MD
Question viewed 195 times
Tags: dermatologist, doctor, plastic surgeon, qualifications

I had a consult with a plastic surgeon and a dermotologist and they both claim to be liposuction specialists.The dermotologist said when they perform the procedure its safer and they pioneered the procedure?The plastic surgeon said only plastic surgeons are qualified. Whose right and what gives?

13 answers to Who is more qualified to do my liposuction: dermatologic surgeon or plastic surgeon?

Both Dermatologic Surgeons and Plastic Surgeons are Qualified to perform Liposuction.

Both Dermatologic Surgeons and plastic surgeons are qualified to do liposuction procedures and both can do a good job but who will do a better job for you needs other factors to be considered. Anyone who spends the major part of their practice on liposuctions will as a general rule have more experience and expertise in the latest techniques that give the best results. It is true that Dermatologic Surgeons invented the Tumescent Technique of Liposuction and uses the Micro Canulas to give the... more

David Hansen, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

www.DrDavidHansen.com

The results are what matter

Why bother if both can give you the results you want. I think you need to focus on what you want rather than on a history question. There is no doubt that dermatologist contributed to liposuction procedure. There qualified dermatologist just as much there qualified plastic surgeons. I say go with whoever you feel comfortable with.

Moneer Jaibaji, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Dermatologist vs plastic surgeon

My patients appreciate our ability to tell them when liposuction is best, and when lifts are best (i.e. tummy tucks). Since we perform many of each, we have no stake in which procedure is performed other than what is best for the patient. Patients should always have the confidence when talking to their doctor that he is properly counseling them on the correct options of the procedures, not pushing one procedure or another.

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction by plastic surgeons and dermatologic surgeons

Both specialties have liposuction as a procedure that is in the curriculum for training in residency. There are many physicians of both specialties that have performed this procedure safely and with great results. You need to see an experienced physician with whom you have a good rapport and who has a good reputation in your community.

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Plastic Surgeon vs. Dermatologist for liposuction

While I would be the first to admit my opinion is biased because I'm a board certified plastic surgeon and have done thousands of lipo cases, and recognizing that some dermatologists and some ENT specialists and some oculoplastic surgeons have also had some lipo experience, it is my opinion that as a general rule the American Board of Plastic Surgery board certified surgeon is your best choice.

Deason Dunagan, MD
Huntsville Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction

The unique advantage that a plastic surgeon has is that they can perform all body contouring procedures and thereof can offer all of the options that a patient could need. If you can only perform liposuction then a dermatologist may try to get all patients to have that procedure when many might be best served by and abdominoplasy

David L. Abramson, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Who is more qualified to do my liposuction: dermatologic surgeon or plastic surgeon?

As you see each specialists thinks they are the more qualified from reading the previous responses. I look at this simply, which specialists can decide and preform the "correct" surgical option for you? Whether it is only liposuction or an excisional procedure (like a mini tummy tuck), or both! You guess it -- the boarded PLASTIC SURGEON. Just saw a 2 year post liposuction of the abdomen done by a non surgeon. The problem, hanging wrinkled lower abdominal skin. She was never a... more

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction is surgery

There is a lot of misinformation out there about liposuction but the important thing to keep in mind is that it is surgery. Even though the skin incisions are tiny, the volume of tissue affected can be large, just like any other surgical procedure. When people emphasize the safety of tumescent technique, which is popular among dermatologists, they compare to old data about general anesthesia. However, most procedures are probably done with monitored intravenous sedation and some version of... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Plastic Surgery is a 3-Dimensional Specialty

You have asked a loaded question and from your experience, you can see that there are "turf" battles in medicine and surgery. There is no doubt that your board certified plastic surgeon is more qualified to perform your liposuction. Why? Because we know how to operate on the entire human body, from the skeleton, muscle, fat, skin, and just about everything in between. Plastic surgeons can treat the human body as a 3-dimensional structure and... more

Charles K. Lee, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Dermatologist compared to plastic surgeon in liposuction

As a fully trained plastic surgeon I am obviously biased, but I happened to be involved in the original presentation of liposuction in the US in 1983 by a French surgeon (not a plastic surgeon by US standards but not a dermatologist either). I also saw the first uses of tumescent injection (actually anesthesia) technique which was developed by dermatologists for reasons I got in trouble for mentioning when I presented my first 100 cases of liposuction done under local anesthesia to plastic... more

Scott L. Replogle, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Dermatologists, plastic surgeons and qualifications for liposuctions

Although there are dermatologists who are trained in liposuction, only plastic surgeons perform liposuction and other body contouring surgerysuch as abdominoplasty, arm lifts, thigh lifts, etc. To determine which procedure would give you the best result, I as a board certified plastic surgeon, who routinely performs all of these procedures, I would suggest you consult with and have your procedure performed by a board certified plastic surgeon.

Vincent D. Lepore, MD
San Jose Plastic Surgeon

Interesting question

As a plastic surgeon who trained in General Surgery for 5 years and then Plastic Surgery for another 2 years I met many specialists and surgical subspecialists who were part of the Department of Surgery. ENT, Colorectal, Neurosurgery, even Ob-Gyn. Funny that I never met a dermatologic surgeon. Dermatology is a branch of medicine not surgery. If you want a dermatologist to do your plastic surgery that's fine. Would you want your cardiologist to do your... more

Steven Schuster, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Plastic Surgeon vs Dermatologist

Dermatologists are not Plastic Surgeons. There is nowhere in Dermatology residency where liposuction is properly taught. Plastic Surgeons are trained surgeons with extensive experience in Plastic Surgery including liposuction. Perhaps my opinion is biased given that I am a Plastic Surgeon, but I do not think Dermatologists should be performing surgery (including liposuction). Performing any surgical procedure requires years of training to allow your surgeon to be... more