Liposuction Q&A
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Who is Qualified to Do Liposuction?
asked 3 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
Question viewed 1,778 times
Tags: doctor, qualifications, training
Can any doctor do liposuction, or would I need to see a specialist of some kind? Thank you.
40 answers to Who is Qualified to Do Liposuction?
+3
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Unfortunately, many doctors call themselves liposuction specialist when they are not even a plastic surgeon. A doctor might be able to learn how to do simple liposuciton with short training, outside a qualified residency program, but they would not certianly have the debth of training and knowledge to handle problems and questions adequately.
You would'nt take your car to any mechanic! you might want to also be deligent about how is going to perform surgery on you. Liposuction is a...
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+4
Go to a plastic surgeon
While many people do liposuction, many of those people should not be doing liposuction. Plastic surgeons are specifically trained to do liposuction as part of their surgical education. Many other specialities (just look through the ads in a newspaper on any given day) advertise that they do liposuction as well. However, it is unclear to me where they get their training. My best advice would be to go to a few consultations to plastic surgeons who have performed liposuction on people you...
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+3
Liposuction is surgery so see a specialist
Bear in mind that liposuction is surgery: Incisions are made (even if tiny), instruments are inserted into the body, and tissue is removed, some times in large amounts. There is a lot of marketing hype these days minimizing the surgical aspect of the procedure, but it should be done in a surgical facility. A board certified plastic surgeon (American Board of Plastic Surgery) will only work in properly licensed facilities so choosing an ABPS surgeon is a good place to start.....
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+3
Who can do liposuction?
Body liposuction should be done by a plastic surgeon. There is so much more to liposuction than meets the public eye. The incisions are teeny, tiny but the wound is very, very large. Nice results require a high degree of three dimensional thinking and a safe procedure requires a surgeon with good, prudent judgement. Also, if a given doctor is not familiar with other body contouring procedures, that doctor may recommend liposuction for all contour issues even if...
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+3
Who can perform Liposuction?
Liposuction be performed by any licensed physician. However, not all licensed physicians are qualified to perform liposuction. Just being "board certified" does not grant one qualified to perform liposuction. Recently, a patient ask me if her Gynecologist can perform liposuction? In answering the question, I asked her if she would let a plastic surgeon deliver her baby?
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that requires training and techinical expetise. It should be performed by...
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+2
Board Certified + Experience + Before After Photos = Qualified Plastic Surgeon
Generally the most qualified people are Board Certified Plastic surgeons who actually learned
how to do this technique in residency and do a large amount of this in practice.
In the state of CA where I practiced, any surgeon can do any surgery, so you can have a gynecologist do a Liposuction as long as they are a MD in that state, but really you want to go to someone who has more experience with this procedure. Plastic Surgeon not only has more experience...
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+2
"Qualified " to preform Liposuction.
I would recommend that a patient go to only a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon or one who is in the certifying process. Any MD or DO can do liposuction based on there state Medical Practice Act. Generally the non-Plastic Surgeon cannot perform the liposuction in a Surgery center or hospital but only in there office.
Walter D. Gracia, MD
Arlington Plastic Surgeon
Arlington Plastic Surgeon
+2
Who does liposuction?
Liposuction should be performed by a Board certified plastic Surgeon. In our practice we have designated doctor's that handle just body plastics. I would recommend having liposuction by a qualified body plastic surgeon in a safe setting such as a surgical center.
+2
Liposuction-A Dermatologist invented the safe modification
An experienced Dermasurgeon is a good choice for liposuction. Liposuction was not really a safe procedure, before dermatologist J. Klein invented tumescent liposuction. Go to the doctor you feel comfortable with.
Robert Kasten, MD
Mainz Dermatologic Surgeon
Mainz Dermatologic Surgeon
+2
Liposuction Specialists
I would recommend getting a Liposuction procedure only by a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Check the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) or American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) for board certified plastic surgeons in your area. This ensures your physician has proper training, experience, and technical skills required for a safe and effective outcome. Unfortunately, there are many practitioners performing liposuction without proper credentials. Do your homework...
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Hayley Brown MD
Henderson Plastic Surgeon
Henderson Plastic Surgeon
+2
Liposuction should only be performed by specially trained, Board Certified Plastic Surgeons!
Unfortunately, in this day and age, almost anyone can call them self a "cosmetic surgeon" or "cosmetic doctor", without any real training in surgery. This is terrifying!
Plastic Surgeons perform all types of Plastic Surgery, including reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. In actuality, there is no discipline of "Cosmetic Surgery". Cosmetic procedures refer to operations that are not covered by insurance, and that are designed to improve the...
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+2
Who is qualified to do a liposuction
Any licensed doctor is legally able t o perform a liposuction. That does not mean that they are skilled or experienced. Doctors from many specialties will take a weekend course and claim they are qualified to do the procedure. Find a board certified plastic surgeon. Buyer beware.
Howard T. Bellin, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+2
Liposuction qualifications
Any doctor can legally do liposuction, but you should seek an experienced board certified plastic surgeon for safety and the best result. Although liposuction appears "simple", there are serious potential risks and a bit of artistry required.
Randy J. Buckspan, MD
Austin Plastic Surgeon
Austin Plastic Surgeon
+2
Who can perform Liposuction?
Without any doubt the best doctor to perform liposuction is a plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery had had a minimum of five years, but usually six to eight years, of training after medical school during which they learn liposuction techniques on all areas of the body. To find a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, visit the ABPS website and...
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+2
Experienced plastic surgeons can perform great liposuction
An experienced facial plastic surgeon or general plastic surgeon can perform liposuction for you. The choice depends upon the area that you want to be treated (face vs. body) and the frequency with which your surgeon treats this area. Ask your potential plastic surgeon about their level of experience with liposuction of the body area of interest. Choose a surgeon with significant experience and a good bedside manner.
+2
Qualified surgeons for liposuction
The best way to choose a surgeon to perform liposuction is to find one who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has been trained in the procedure. Plastic surgeons are usually some of the most qualified, beware non surgical "specialists".
Olivia Hutchinson, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
New York Plastic Surgeon
+2
Who do you want to do YOUR liposuction?
By law any physician can perform medical treatments in their office and state licensing agencies have almost no control over what the physician does. There are many physicians today that are discovering cosmetic medicine to be very appealing because of decreasing insurance payments. Therefore there are a lot of non-plastic surgeons performing cosmetic procedures. They are all going to list a bunch of credentials that sound good, but unless they have been certified by the...
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+2
What type of doctor is best qlualified to do liposuction
It is easy to be fooled into thinking any doctor can do your liposuction, and the situation is worse now that there are people stating they are "board certified" when they are not. I have seen advertisements by gynecologists, family practicioners, radiologists, dermatologists, and other non-qualified surgeons offering low prices, no anesthesia, and "the latest technology". This takes unfair advantage of patients who do not know any better. I have colleagues in these...
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Anita Patel, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+2
Who should do lipo?
Everyone and their brother is doing liposuction. People who never have had a day of surgical training in their lives are taking a weekend course and using low prices, sleek marketing ads, and fancy offices to lure patients. I am particularly dismayed by the "no anesthesia! no downtime! no bruising!" claims.
1. Find someone who COULD do a tummy tuck if you need one. I have seen people with horrible liposuction results because they needed a tummy...
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Lauren Greenberg, MD
Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon
Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon
+2
How to Choose a Liposuction Surgeon
What many people don't know is that anyone who is an MD (even a gynecologist) can perform liposuction after just a short training course. This is why it is so important to do your research when looking for a surgeon to perform your liposuction surgery. To achieve good results you need to find someone who is experienced and trained in that particular procedure, which really goes for any type of procedure - cosmetic or not. A good place to start is plasticsurgery.org. Here you can find...
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Tarick K. Smaili, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+2
Only see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Technically, any M.D. physician can (under state licensing laws) perform anything they want in their office, but the better question is would you want to have just anyone doing surgery on you, especially when anyone other than a plastic surgeon has not had the extensive surgical training to handle not only the procedure but any complication that could arise. I could deliver a baby (by law) as I did many years ago in medical school, but I obviously don't or would not do that because I am not...
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+2
Who is qualified to do liposuction?
Hi there-
The law says anybody with an MD can do any procedure...
So why don't family doctors do heart surgery? Well, first of all, hopefully because they don't want to hurt anyone doing surgery they aren't trained to do- but also because even if you did have a family doctor who wanted to try doing heart surgery they would never be able to because almost every hospital in the US has strict policies about who can do what in the OR- they make sure that before you do heart surgery, that you...
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+2
Doctor qualified to perform liposuction
Think about it. LIPOSUCTION is a major surgical procedure, which requires infusion of large volume of fluids and liposuction of fat and fluid. Therefore, the person performing liposuction should be familiar with trauma and fluid resuscitation.
Therefore, only a surgeon trained in cosmetic surgery with background in trauma and resuscitation should do liposuction. They should have hospital privillages to perform surgery.
Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+2
Who CAN vs who SHOULD you go to for YOUR Liposuction
In the US, ANYONE holding a medical license (99% of MD's) REGARDLESS of their real training or skills can PRACTICE any branch of Medicine they want or feel like.
To answer your questions: "Can any doctor do liposuction"? The law says they can. (Remember - laws were made by lawyers - FOR lawyers. Think about it.) So, ER doctors, Pediatricians, Gynecologists, general surgeons - EVERY MD who wants to, CAN perform liposuction.
The real questions should be:
- would you go to a...
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+2
Plastic surgeon vs cosmetic surgeon to do liposuction
Your surgeon should be Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the only Board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties. This matters because the training has to meet stringent criteria all throughout the residency program, and after you finish you have to pass TWO sets of exams (oral and written). Finally, to keep your Board Certification you have to fulfill continuing education requirements and ethical guidelines.
Board Certified, American Board of Plastic...
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+2
Liposuction Qualifications
Any physician can perform any procedure. But you need to find a board certified plastic surgeon if you want someone who is qualified and trained in performing liposuction.
Dont be fooled by the gimmicks that are out there, search for the surgeon who should be performing these types of surgeries.
Good luck.
Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon
Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+2
Qualifications to perform Liposuction
Any doctor can perform liposuction, but it is a skilled technique that comes with time and experience to be adept at this artform.
Usually you should look for a Board certified palstic surgeon who is a member of ASPS and ASAPS. I have met non plastic surgeons and some dermatologists thru out my travels that were very skilled, but they had a huge experince base over many years
whoever you are seeing, ask about their qualifications, their expereince and their complications if they will tell...
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Barry E. DiBernardo, MD
Montclair Plastic Surgeon
Montclair Plastic Surgeon
+2
Liposuction
I think a doctor that has had extensive training in liposuction and not just a few weekend courses are qualified to perform liposuction. However, that be said, the majority of doctors performing this procedure are not board certified plastic surgeons. The problem arises when there are complications from the treatment. Who is going to be referred the patient to treat the complication? Most likely the plastic surgeon. I suggest you go to someone that is well qualified and that you know...
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+2
Go to a Plastic Surgeon - not a Dermatologist
There are vast differences in the training of doctors who perform liposuction. Because it is viewed as an "easy" procedure to learn, many non-plastic surgeons perform this operation.
Make no mistake about this - liposuction is an OPERATION, not just a PROCEDURE. As such it should be done by someone who has full Board Certified training (5 to 8 years after medical school) in the practice of surgery and specifically in Plastic Surgery. Only in this way can you be truly cared for in the...
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+2
A Plastic Surgeon
Although many specialties say that they perform liposuction safely, I believe that a plastic surgeon is the best qualified to perform liposuction. During plastic surgery training, residents are instructed and taught how to do liposuction safely. No other specialty teaches this procedure in training, and then these other specialties need to do courses or a fellowship to have any training at all.
Kari L. Colen, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
New York Plastic Surgeon
+1
Qualified to Do Liposuction
The question differs from who is permitted to do liposuction, and who is trained to do liposuction properly. Consult with board certified plastic surgeons for the best possible guidance and result.
+1
Who should be performing your liposuction.
Laws tend to vary from state. In most states, any medical doctor with a license can perform liposuction. However, it is vital that one remembers liposuction is a surgical procedure requiring special training, expertise, and experience. Just because any licensed doctor can perform the procedure, does not mean this is the right choice for a given patient. I recommend that patients consult with a board certified plastic surgeon with experience performing...
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+1
Any licensed doctor can legally do liposuction so watch out.
In Georgia, after internship and passage of the boards, doctors are permitted to perfom legally "medicine and surgery". So although it is legal, it is not necessarily good or even ethical. I would recommend a board certified plastic surgeon (after all, liposuction is surgery) who performs it regularly.
+1
Top Liposuction Expert - Checking credentials of your surgeon
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that requires expertise and meticulous attention to detail. The long term consequences of poorly performed liposuction can be life-altering. Thus, it is always wise to check out your surgeon's credentials and make sure they are a diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1
Who should perform liposuction
Liposuction should be performed by a board certified plastic surgeon. Preferably a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) or the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). These surgeons typically have the most training and experience necessary to perform the procedure with best results and fewest complications.
Although non-plastic surgeons can legally perform liposuction, that may not be their specialty and they may have only taken minimal...
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+1
Its simple-Receive your plastic surgery from a board-certified plastic surgeon
Liposuction is a popular and effective way to contour the body. Although there are many practitioners that are offering liposuction, only plastic surgeons have received the proper education and training in these procedures during their residency. A board-certified plastic surgeon is a specialist with 3 to 6 years of experience in training in just plastic surgery. They have also taken written and oral exams and their practices have been reviewed and evaluated by the American Board of Plastic...
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B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon
Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1
Board certified? In what?
Any doctor can take a weekend course and buy the equipment to start performing liposuction. However, this doesn't make them qualified to perform liposuction safely on you. Even claims of "board certified" can be deceiving. You should ask, board certified in what?
Your doctor may be board certified in family practice, OBGYN, emergency medicine or any of a dozen other specialties. Look for a doctor certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery to...
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Adam Hamawy, MD
Westchester Plastic Surgeon
Westchester Plastic Surgeon
+1
Any doctor can legally do liposuction. But most probably should not.
Liposuction is a relatively straight-forward surgical procedure. However, a brief review of recent adverse medical events in your community will show that there are some poorly trained liposuction providers out there that are hurting patients.
These physicians have circumvented the usual route of residency and fellowship training in plastic surgery and have started doing liposuction without bothering to learn techniques that might be better alternatives (tummy tucks, arm lifts etc...
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+1
Liposuction should be performed by a plastic surgeon. Its NOT so easy that a caveman can do it.
Liposuction is a very popular procedure and is advertised and performed by non-plastic surgeons including family practitioners, internists, gynecologists and ENT doctors. To confuse matters there are multiple less invasive technologies that these physicians have been utilizing to market themselves, including laser lipo. Liposuction is relatively less invasive than most other procedures and therefore is enticing for the non-trained physician, however there are very real complications...
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+1
Liposuction can legally be perfomed by almost any physician - Amazing but true
Liposuction, as you may have heard in the popular media, is the most commonly performed surgical procedure each year in the United States. Here's a statistic that you may not have heard: the majority of physicians performing liposuction in the United States are not plastic surgeons; in fact, many do not have any formal surgical training whatsoever. It seems hard to believe, but many physicians performing liposuction have had no more training in liposuction than a 'weekend course'. One way to...
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