Question about teaching hospitals in NYC for cosmetic procedure, am I taking a gamble with my life?

To be an excellent plastic surgeon you need two thing, talent and good training. If you get a talented resident you should have a good results. if you are knowledgeable about the procedure you can ask questions and depending on the answers make a determination. You can ask: 1) Is there going to be an attending surgeon with you the entire time. 2) Am I going to meet him before the procedure and before I go to sleep? 3) How many tummy tuck have done so far? 4) Could you describe the procedure for me. 5) What are the risk of complications and what are those complications? 6) What are you planning to do to avoid complication. This will give you a good idea.

Thank you for sharing your excellent question.  It definitely helps you to research tummy tuck procedures prior to your consultation so that you can be sure to ask all the questions that you need in order to feel comfortable moving forward with the procedure.  In teaching hospitals the residents HAVE to be monitored by a board certified plastic surgeon so you are being well supervised.  If you are an otherwise healthy individual the risk of dying is very small.  Hope this helps.

What is most important here is that the resident in training has an excellent and attentive Mentor supervising the case.  Some of these cases the "attending"  simply disappears and leaves the residents to do the case by him or herself.  This is dangerous more so for your result, less so for your  your overall safety.  Talked to the resident who will be doing your case and make certain that B supervising physician has an excellent limitation, and will be there for the entire case offering advice and guidance.  If this is the case, things should go absolutely fine.Best of luck!
Dr. SubbioBoard-Certified Plastic SurgeonNewtown Square/Philadelphia, PA

Hello and thank you for your question.   Surgery can be performed safely at a teaching hospital.  I always advise patients to think carefully and consider all your options prior to selecting a surgeon.  It is very
important that you thoroughly research your surgeon before committing to
surgery. It is a good idea to research your surgeon's educational background,
online reviews, before & after pictures, and speak with anyone who you may
know who has had surgery with that surgeon. During your consultation, make sure
that you don't feel rushed and make sure that you have adequate time with your
surgeon and not just their patient coordinator or nurses. If the majority of
your consultation is spent with someone other than the surgeon, this is usually
not a good sign. The most important aspect is to find a surgeon you are
comfortable with. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified
board-certified expert surgeon who can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Thank you for your question.  Plastic surgery clinics and plastic surgery procedures performed at teaching hospitals are performed by plastic surgery residents or fellows often under the supervision of attending plastic surgeons.  With that said and depending upon the procedure, it is possible that there would be no supervision by an attending plastic surgeon.  I understand that some patients would choose to go this route for the financial incentive and often steeply discounted price, but I would just make sure that patients understand that their procedure will not be performed by a board certified plastic surgeon.  If you are interested in an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck procedure I would encourage you to schedule a consultation not only with a local teaching hospital or plastic surgery clinic but also with a board certified plastic surgeon who is well experienced with these procedures.  In doing so, you can best determine your candidacy for a tummy tuck, get an idea as to what you can expect result wise, ask any and all questions, and also see a price breakdown for each surgeon.  I hope that you find this helpful and I wish you all of the best.

Ms perky 101.   Cosmetic surgery performed at a teaching hospital with a certified plastic surgery residency or fellowship program  is an option.  Your surgery would be performed by a plastic surgeon in training, but it may be cheaper. Be sure to ask if a board certified plastic surgery attending will be in the room assisting. However, Shop around, because competition in NYC has driven prices down somewhat, and fees may be comparable. Be sure to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Good luck!

Choose a board certified plastic surgeon who has done a ton of tummy tuck and has privileges to do this surgery at a local university hospital. This says his credentials have been checked out by fellow Drs. All surgeries carry risk, talk to your plastic surgeon.
Many surgeons, including myself, offer online virtual consultations where you send us your photos to be examined.  Please be mindful that the in person physical exam is the most important and could potentially alter your treatment plan.