Boob Job Disasters
“Boob job”, also known as Breast Augmentation or Breast Enlargement, is one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures. It usually involves placing an implant (a silicone breast implant or a saline breast implant) under the breast tissue (under the breast gland above the muscle, or below the muscle). In some cases breast enlargement can also be achieved through a tissue transplant, which uses your own tissue. Like any ‘transplant’ procedure, this is a very delicate, complicated, and potentially dangerous procedure. Another option is to transfer fat, fat graft/fat injection, into the breast. This procedure is much simpler and much less dangerous than a ‘transplant’, however it is a much more limited procedure, as there is only so much fat that can be safely transferred (thus the increase in size is only moderate) and you may require more than one treatment. If you are very skinny to start with, then you may not have enough fat elsewhere to be used for breast enlargement.
The typical breast enlargement is performed with implants. Implants correspond for >99% of breast augmentations. There are many different ways to get a “Boob Job” done and you should do at least some research before agreeing to undergo this procedure. Ironically, most people spend more time researching microwaves before they make a purchase, than they do educating themselves about breast implants and breast surgery prior to undergoing surgery.
As a consumer of breast implants and breast surgery, you need to ensure that you have answers the following questions:
Are you getting a qualified surgeon?
- What experience in breast augmentation does this surgeon have?
- What certification does your surgeon have?
- Are they certified in Plastic Surgery by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada? It is the only certification you can trust, no matter what the doctor may claim.
- Does this surgeon have hospital privileges?
- Is it being done in a qualified surgical facility where all people working have proper qualifications?
- Are the implants being used made in the US or are they made in China?
- What manufacturer makes your implants?
- How reliable are the implants?
- Who will actually be doing the surgery?
- Where will you recover?
- And most importantly, if something doesn’t go according to the plan, who will take care of that?
Did the surgeon answer the above questions to your satisfaction? Do make sure that the answers are understandable and unmistakably clear. A “… no, but” explanations raise red flags. One of the most common issues is that involving certification. Many doctors who are not plastic surgeons perform breast augmentation. When asked if they are plastic surgeons, they may avoid the answer or tell you that no, they are not, but that they have proper training and are members of various “Cosmetic Breast Surgery ….”, “Aesthetic Surgery….” and other impressive sounding societies. The simple truth is that there is only one certification that you can trust absolutely. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons is the only body in Canada that has the right to certify someone as a specialist. To qualify, the surgeon must have finished a rigorous surgical training program, undergone numerous surgical examinations throughout his or her training, and at the end of the training period, he or she must have passed the “Royal College” examination which certifies the individual as someone who has completed his/her training in good standing, is competent and skilled to perform his or her specialty, and has the common sense to be a safe and responsible plastic surgeon.
Reliable sources of Certification in Canada
- The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (requires the surgeon to pass a rigorous training program and a final exam)
- The Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons (requires the applicant to have trained in an accredited Plastic Surgery Training Program)
- The Canadian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (requires the applicant to fulfill all the requirement for the above qualifications, in addition to documented history of four years in practice in good standing).
Unreliable Sources of Certification
(Membership here does NOT represent any qualification or training. Click on the links below to see their membership criteria for yourself)
- American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (No surgical examination/ qualification required. Membership fee of $350 annually buys a ‘certification’)
- American Society of Cosmetic Breast Surgery (No surgical examination / qualification required. Membership fee of $300 annually buys a ‘certification’))
- Canadian Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (No surgical examination/ qualification required. Membership fee of $300 annually buys a ‘certification’))
- American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Inc. (No surgical examination / qualification required. Membership fee of $200 annually buys a ‘certification’))
- American Academy of Liposuction Surgery (this Academy has no known website and we were not able to verify their existence and their requirements for certification))
Many other American and International “Academies” and “Societies” that are created to sell fancy looking titles and diplomas to members who simply pay membership fees.
As you can see from the above unreliable certification sites, all you need to join is to go to their “Join” section, fill out the application form and send them a cheque. There. Now you a Certified “Surgeon”. Done. Congratulation! Now all you need is to build your own clinic and you’re all set.