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Defeating the Negative Stereotypes of Plastic Surgery

2010; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 126; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/prs.0b013e3181de1a04

1529-4242

Anup Patel,

Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies

Sir: The recent death of Michael Jackson, a household name for music and cosmetic surgery, has catapulted plastic surgery into the forefront of the world.1 Nevertheless, the media's coverage did nothing to better inform the public about the diversity of the specialty, neglecting to discuss how plastic surgeons routinely replant digits, extirpate skin cancer, and reconstruct craniofacial anomalies.2 Instead, the news and headlines portrayed plastic surgeons as doctors who perform only cosmetic surgery, and that too poorly compared with their colleagues in other medical specialties. When Jackson's dermatologist was asked on CNN's Larry King Live if he was overextending himself in reconstructing Jackson's nose despite not being a plastic surgeon, he stated he could because he had "invented injectable esthetics" although "if you ask a plastic surgeon, he'll say he invented everything, including the wheel."1 Such coverage and comments only fuel America's perception that all plastic surgeons are "Dr. 90210s" performing only nip and tucks and lend credence to the belief that any physician can perform technically complex, aesthetic procedures such as male rhinoplasty.3 Admittedly, a vast demand for cosmetic surgery exists, as it improves an individual's psyche, but that should not mean those not proficient, much less board-certified, in its techniques be permitted to perform them.4 Furthermore, it should be noted that many plastic surgeons use profits from their aesthetic surgery practice to provide care for the indigent, uninsured populations both domestically and internationally.5 Despite all of these points being omitted during the media frenzy over Jackson's death, it is the duty of the plastic surgery community to continue to address these negative stereotypes labeled against them by implementing some of the following measures. First, plastic surgeons should keep an up-to-date log of the type and number of cosmetic cases performed to demonstrate the high volume of cases, particularly outside of injectables, that are necessary to become a skilled and proficient aesthetic surgeon. Second, plastic surgeons should document the percentage of the types of operations performed in their respective practices to highlight that cosmetic surgery is not the only type of surgery plastic surgeons perform. Third, plastic surgeons should note how many times they volunteer their services on humanitarian surgical missions, including those for reconstructing wounds of soldiers, countering the notion that the specialty attracts only financially greedy individuals. This information should be captured and included in media feeds at national plastic surgery conferences and biannually in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Such actions will enable the plastic surgery community to clarify what the specialty really does publicly and ensure that patients seeking aesthetic surgery receive optimal care by making the inadequately trained cosmetic surgeons "just beat it." Anup Patel, M.D., M.B.A. Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Yale University School of Medicine 109 Church Street New Haven, Conn. 06510