The Critical Importance of Board Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery 

Our health and well-being are the most important things we can have.  Many people exercise, eat healthy, and try to maintain a balanced lifestyle in order to preserve and prolong our most precious commodity, our body.  Despite our best intentions, we often cannot remain free of all ailments forever, and when we sometimes fall ill or get injured, we seek the help and expertise of a medical specialist.  These physicians and medical professionals have gone through many years of study and education in order to be fully-trained to manage and treat the wide variety of ailments that can afflict the body, as well as the serious complications that can occasionally occur from them.  Thus, it is natural for people to seek the help of doctors specialized in the area that they are concerned with.  When someone catches a bad cold, they go to see their primary care physician for help.  If someone breaks their leg from a traumatic incident, they typically seek the help of an orthopedic surgeon to fix it.  If someone develops a brain cancer, they go to see a neurosurgeon who is adept in handling and treating these types of tumors.  Therefore, if someone is seeking plastic surgery, would it not make sense to see a plastic surgeon?  All too often, shockingly, that answer is no.
In our fast-paced society where we are constantly bombarded with television and print advertising, as well as the ever-increasing popularity of reality shows that sensationalize cosmetic surgery, often in an unethical fashion, it is no wonder that the public is often confused as to the safety and realistic expectations of these surgical procedures, as well as the actual qualifications of the physicians performing them.  Just because a doctor has a fancy website or their own reality show, do not assume that they are qualified to be performing your procedure!  Unfortunately there are currently no governmental regulations that restrict how doctors can advertise themselves or limit the scope of their practice based on their actual training background.  As a result, with the significantly depressed status of our economy and the upcoming institution of ‘Obamacare’, coupled with the sad reality of dwindling insurance reimbursement for physician services in the setting of ever-increasing office overhead expenses and malpractice insurance, it is no wonder that many discouraged physicians are flocking towards cosmetic surgery as an easy way to make money and bypass the headaches of dealing with insurance claim denials and Medicare reimbursements that have not kept up with the rate of inflation or the astronomical costs of running a medical practice.
Consequently, the cosmetic surgery market has gradually become oversaturated by doctors from every specialty and background claiming to be the world’s expert on a variety of surgical rejuvenation procedures of your choice.  This is especially true in certain geographic locations that are considered plastic surgery meccas, with one of the largest markets being the southern California region.  In particular, Beverly Hills and Newport Beach are major hubs of plastic surgery with the largest concentration of cosmetic physicians in the nation, if not the world.  Unfortunately, many of these doctors are not true plastic surgeons and can be shady, unethical physicians with no medical training or background in cosmetic surgery at all.  Many of the horror stories people hear are often from unqualified doctors performing the surgeries that lead to horrible complications or even death.  Some of the scary practices I have witnessed personally are family practitioners performing facelifts, ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctors performing breast augmentations and tummy tucks, and dermatologists or gynecologists performing a variety of facial and body cosmetic surgeries with little to no background training.  Many of these doctors take a weekend course or just observe another physician performing these procedures and begin doing these in their practices.  Surprisingly, there is no recourse by state or national regulations against these practices, and consequently the rise of cosmetic surgery practices has grown astronomically.  The lack of regulation also allows them to advertise anything they want, and frequently to further entice the public, they engage in ‘price-wars’ to give significantly reduced rates for cosmetic procedures in this depressed economy where everyone is trying to conserve their money.
Many of these self-proclaimed cosmetic doctors hide behind a variety of bogus certifications and cosmetic society memberships designed to confuse the unsuspecting public as to their validity and trustworthiness.  With the lack of regulations, many times it is up to the patient to do their homework and find a legitimate plastic surgeon who is fully-trained and specialized to perform their surgeries in a safe and ethical manner and provide exceptional results.  The American Board of Medical Specialties, which is the main authoritative organization that provides what is considered the ‘gold standard’ in physician certifications, oversees 24 specialty boards in order to maintain the highest standards of ethics and medical care for its members.  The rigorous board certification process requires extensive education and training, including a minimum of attaining a four-year university degree, an accredited medical school degree, and successful completion of at least three years of prerequisite surgical residency training, followed by three more years of a specialized Plastic and Reconstruction Surgery residency training.  Some physicians, including myself, complete a full five-year general surgery residency and do additional years of surgical fellowship training to further fine-tune their skills.  After completion of this training, candidates must additionally go through grueling written and oral board examinations in order to prove their knowledge, as well as submit cases for peer review by the board members and fellow practicing surgeons.  It is only after successful completion of all of these requirements that a physician can earn the distinction of board certification.
There are 24 exclusive and respected medical boards covered under the umbrella of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which runs the gamut of the different medical disciplines, including the American Board of Internal Medicine, American Board of Emergency Medicine, and American Board of Neurological Surgery, just to name a few.  The ONLY board recognized by the ABMS in the discipline of plastic and reconstructive surgery is the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).  This is a critical fact to know since many cosmetic doctors claim membership and ‘board certification’ in random organizations with impressive names designed to deliberately confuse and mislead the public in order to try to add credibility to their questionable qualifications.  Some of these organizations that are NOT approved for membership into the ABMS include the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.  Although some of the other surgical specialty training programs may provide limited exposure to the field of plastic surgery during their rotations, none approach the breadth of exposure and complexity of cases offered in a formal plastic and reconstructive surgery residency.
So what does all this mean for you?  If you are not careful, you may find yourself being operated upon by a physician with no formal training in plastic surgery and has not met any requirements to prove their knowledge base or competence in performing your surgery, or dealing with the potential disastrous complications that can occur.  Don’t be misled by dubious certifications or by significantly discounted procedure rates.  If you are interested in undergoing plastic surgery, it is incumbent for you to do your homework and find a qualified plastic surgeon to help you reach your goals.  You can review a doctor’s credentials on their website, research them on the internet, or even ask them if they are board-certified, and if so, by which board?  If you find that they are board-certified by any other organization than the American Board of Plastic Surgery, chances are they may not be qualified to perform your surgery.  You should review where they trained and in what disciplines.  You should also check which hospitals they hold active privileges at, and which medical societies they are members of, such as the Orange County Society of Plastic Surgeons.  It is also helpful to check that they are an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), which is the national plastic surgical society dedicated to promoting higher standards for patient safety, ethical medical practice, and on-going learning through continuing medical education courses and meetings, and whose members are all board-certified by the ABPS.
Not all doctors are created equal.  Although every physician at some point in their career can have a complication, the chances of that happening is significantly reduced when you choose a legitimate plastic surgeon who has accomplished stringent training and examination requirements, undergone a strict peer-review process, and has achieved board-certification by the only board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties- The American Board of Plastic Surgery.  Your body is your most precious commodity, so why not maximize your chances for a beautiful aesthetic result and a safe recovery with a Board-certified Plastic Surgeon!

Parviz Hiroshi Goshtasby, M.D., F.A.C.S., a.k.a. “Dr.92660”
Diplomate, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Diplomate, American Board of Surgery
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
Newport Plastic Surgery, Inc.
361 Hospital Road, Suite 527
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 500-5440
Facsimile: 949 548-9664
www.newportplasticsurgery.com

Eyelid Rejuvenation and Asian Eyelid Surgery

Have you ever been told that you look tired, even though you may feel fine?  Often the first area of our bodies people look at to communicate and ascertain our moods is our eyes, and when the usual sequelae of aging occurs, this can be misconstrued as a sign of tiredness and fatigue.  Common aging changes of our eyelids include laxity and hooding of the skin, herniation of the fat pads around our eyes, and weakening of the cartilaginous tarsal sling that supports the eyelid structure and tone.  Sun damage can also lead to many fine lines and wrinkles with contour irregularities around the eyes, as well as lead to pigmentation changes that can further add to a worn-out and exhausted look.  

Thankfully, there are procedures available that can dramatically rejuvenate your eyelids and give you that fresh appearance you had when you were younger!  These procedures range from simple, minimally-invasive office procedures to surgical techniques that address more advanced aging changes.  Everyone’s eyelids are different and each procedure can be tailored to treat unique aspects and concerns for each individual.  Hyperactive orbicularis oculi muscles that lead to the ‘crow’s feet’ appearance upon facial animation can be nicely relaxed using the commonly available neurotoxins, such as Botox or Dysport.  Mild hollowing of the under-eye tear trough region can be augmented in the office using a hyaluronic acid filler product, such as Restylane or Juvederm.  The more static wrinkles and creases that occur from long-term exposure to the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun can respond well to skin resurfacing procedures, such as microdermabrasion, chemical peels, or lasers.  Although the more aggressive resurfacing procedures can require a few days of downtime, the results can be significant.  Finally, for more advanced eyelid changes, the blepharoplasty/ eyelid lift procedure can dramatically restore the aesthetic contours and tone of your youth.  This office procedure can remove loose skin, excise herniated fat pads, and tighten the weakened tarsal support structure to better define your eyelids.  

Occasionally, the eyelid lift procedure can be used to create a more Westernized look by creating a double-crease of the upper eyelid, which is considered aesthetic in many Asian cultures.  The so-called Asian blepharoplasty addresses the unique anatomy of the Asian upper eyelid which usually has more fullness, as well as a lower insertion point of the orbital septum, leading to the classic ‘oriental’ look.  The creation of the double-crease has become extremely popular in countries such as China, Japan, and Korea.  Being half-Japanese myself and having visited Japan many times, I have seen a significant rise in interest in these cosmetic procedures.  A thorough knowledge of the anatomy and surgical techniques are critical in achieving an excellent result.

If you have concerns over the appearance of your eyelids and want to learn more about what can be done to help rejuvenate them, then I can help you achieve your goals!  Being a double Board-certified Plastic Surgeon who is an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), and who has had extensive experience performing these procedures, I will be able to conduct a thorough examination and discussion in order to recommend a treatment plan that meets your objectives and maximizes your aesthetic results.  You deserve to have bright and revitalized eyes, so what are you waiting for, give my office a call today!

Parviz Hiroshi Goshtasby, M.D., F.A.C.S., a.k.a. “Dr.92660”
Diplomate, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Diplomate, American Board of Surgery
Fellow, American College of Surgeons

Newport Plastic Surgery, Inc.
361 Hospital Road, Suite 527
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 500-5440
Facsimile: 949 548-9664
www.newportplasticsurgery.com