Sheyla Hershey after final breast augmentation

Instead of regarding highly publicized breast implant disasters with the blasé disinterest common today, a surprising article in the Orange County Register offered some interesting insight into botched boob jobs, suggesting that recent incidences of “plastic surgery gone wrong” serve as cautionary tales for prospective breast augmentation patients.

According to the article, the mistakes of breast augmentation patients Kenyatta Brown, Sheyla Hershey and Nicola Stratton offer three valuable lessons that women should consider as they begin their search for a cosmetic breast surgeon.

Lesson One: Buyer beware

In February 2010, mother-of-four Kenyatta Brown went to an Atlanta eye doctor for discount breast augmentation surgery and nearly bled to death on the operating table during this relatively routine procedure.

Brown’s near fatal experience serves as a strong reminder that state medical boards do not limit a licensed physician’s scope of practice based on training or credentials, so physicians with little or no experience performing breast augmentation are allowed to take up the practice at will simply to make a quick buck in the lucrative, cash-only cosmetic surgery business.

Additionally, this story reminds that when it comes to cosmetic surgery, you typically get what you pay for, so breast augmentation cost should be the last consideration when you are choosing a surgeon.

Lesson Two: Bigger isn’t always better

It was unsurprising that Sheyla Hershey, owner of the world’s largest breast implants, experienced post-operative complications after traveling to Brazil for the breast enhancement procedure that finally allowed her to achieve the 38KKK bustline she desired.

Silicone breast implants of the size Hershey demanded are illegal in the U.S., so she traveled abroad for the procedure that Texas plastic surgeons had warned her was extremely high risk.  Hershey developed a near-fatal staph infection after the surgery, and the gigantic implants had to be removed.  She may also lose all or part of her natural breasts as well.

Hershey’s story highlights the importance of trusting the advice of the surgeons whose opinions you seek, as well as the importance of setting realistic breast augmentation goals that can be safely achieved for the best aesthetic outcome.

Lesson Three: There’s no place like home

At the time that British Extreme Makeover star Nicola Stratton flew from the UK to Los Angeles to undergo 30 hours of cosmetic surgery, she probably had no idea that traveling abroad for her procedures could prove problematic.

However, after Stratton began experiencing breast augmentation complications, including saline breast implant deflation and capsular contracture, she became painfully aware how problematic the distance between her and her surgeon was since she didn’t have the means to return to LA for revision surgery.

In addition to considering your breast augmentation surgeon’s training, credentials, experience and ethical standards, it is also important to consider proximity so that you are able to see your surgeon for follow up appointments and revision surgery should the need arise.

Dr. Gerald Edds has earned certification from three different medical boards, including the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, and has more than 25 years of experience performing cosmetic breast surgery.  This makes him uniquely qualified to help prospective Owensboro breast augmentation patients achieve beautiful, natural-looking results.

1. Investigate the procedure of interest.

Though your cosmetic surgeon should be a trustworthy, knowledgeable authority, you still need to seek out more than one resource for information. Research will help you protect yourself and help you decide if cosmetic surgery is truly in line with your personal values.

2. Ask your surgeon about board certification.

Find out what board has certified your surgeon and what standards must be met to receive that certification.

3. Inquire about the safety of the facility.

If the surgery is done in an outpatient clinic, ask about accreditation of the facility. As Oklahoma cosmetic surgeon Dr. Angelo Cuzalina recommends, go “to a clinic that’s been accredited by a group such as the Joint Commission or the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.”

4. Find out if your surgeon has a prevention plan for DVT.

Deep vein thrombosis is a possible complication. Your plastic surgeon should take steps to minimize the risk and be prepared to see early signs of its occurrence.

5. Ask if your surgeon has hospital privileges.

Even if you’re not going to be in a hospital, knowing that your plastic surgeon is privileged means he or she has demonstrated a certain level of skill and experience.

6. Ask about your surgeon’s experience with the procedure.

A good surgeon will be straightforward about his or her experience.  In most cases, your surgeon will have a before and after gallery of past results that you can view.

7. Do not seek out unapproved medical procedures.

According to sources for CNN, Solange Magnano may have requested silicone injections for a buttock augmentation, a procedure that is not approved here in the U.S. or in Argentina. In most cases, you should assume that such procedures are restricted for a reason.

8. Don’t take the process lightly.

When you walk into a cosmetic surgeon’s office, it may not “feel” like a hospital, but it’s definitely not a spa. Real surgeries are performed in your plastic surgeon’s suite, with real risks.

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