Plastic Surgery Safety and You

There has never been a better time to consider plastic surgery than today; With better techniques in plastic surgery and new implant technologies, it is becoming safer than ever before to improve your appearance. Today there are many choices for cosmetic surgery, both surgical and non-surgical, and in most cases there is little or no hospital down time! The best way to ensure your peace of mind and minimize risk is to do some homework BEFORE you make a choice of doctor or facilities. 

Here are a few things to watch for when considering plastic surgery and choosing a surgeon:

• Find out the qualifications of the surgeon, is she or he Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
  
• Take a tour of the facilities, check the layout, make sure you feel comfortable with the size, age and condition of the building, are they an accredited facility, is the building clean?
  
• Does the facility have adequate and up to date equipment?
  
• Find out if the facility has proper recovery rooms and service
  
• Check out the staff, they should have a registered nurse in the recovery and operating rooms
  
• Is there a limit to how long you can stay in recovery, will they end up moving you to another facility you haven’t researched?
  
• Find out the qualifications of the person administering the anesthesia, is she or he board certified? Ask to see their credentials
  
• Check the surgeon’s FL State medical license; has it been suspended, any other issues? You can check for the license here: https://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP

To sum it up, if you aren’t comfortable with your doctor or the facilities, DON’T get your surgery there.

Here are some things to consider before surgery day:

• Make sure you know your risk of surgery, do you have any pre-existing conditions such as a heart or lung condition, as some illnesses may increase your risk dramatically
  
• You should not smoke or drink alcohol
  
• You should keep a good nutrition, keep very hydrated, drink plenty of liquids, no starvation diets prior to surgery
  
• Don’t take any aspirins, ibuprofen, or any blood thinning products prior to surgery unless directed by your surgeon
  
• Discuss with your surgeon all medications, or any over the counter and herbal products you are taking
  
• Start taking a multivitamin each day and Vitamin C (1000 to 1500 mg) a day and continue taking through your recovery. The healthier you are, the quicker your recovery will be, but NO megadoses of Vitamin E
  
• Be extra careful about hygiene and make a habit of washing your hands frequently, and make sure you report signs of cold, infections or any other problems 

Above all, be prepared for surgery, both mentally and physically, this will make everything go much smoother. The goal of your surgeon is to help making your operation as less stressful as possible. Your surgeon should check your medical history and current health before deciding if it is safe for you to go on with surgery. It’s important that you share any important medical information so your surgeon can better determine the risks involved.



About Anire Okpaku, MD, FACS:

Doctor Anire Okpaku is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon and the Medical Director of Ocean View Plastic Surgery, serving the needs of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and South Florida. He specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery.

He is an active member of the Bayside Medical Center at Mercy Hospital where he performs most of his surgeries. He also holds privileges in several other South Florida Hospitals.

Dr. Okpaku graduated from the prestigious Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, relocating later to Miami to where he completed his general surgical residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital University of Miami. He went on to complete a Plastic Surgery Fellowship at the University of Texas Health and Science Center, in San Antonio.



Main Offices at:
1900 Brickell Avenue
Miami, FL 33129
Phone : (305) 856-9566
Site : www.DroBodies.com