12th October 2004
MCA

When it comes to scouting for cosmetic surgery, it is “buyer beware”.

Or in this case, patients-to-be must find out the credentials of the person who is offering the services and the treatment sought, whether it is a 15-minute Botox injection or a six-hour liposuction.

Clinics and beauty salons may boldly advertise their services, claims may be made on television and radio and in print media, but those seeking treatments should not depend on these sources alone before making a decision.

By law, only medically-qualified personnel are allowed to give injections; be it for Vitamin C, collagen, botox or any other injection for cosmetic purposes.

Plastic surgeon Dr Jalil Jidon says: "Ask around, check out with past patients, find out from the authorities, and check with MMA (Malaysia Medical Association) to make sure the surgeon is qualified to perform plastic surgery and the place is accredited with the MMA.

"Cosmetic surgery should not be taken lightly. Patients should carefully screen their plastic surgeons, and take note of their credentials. Consulting a doctor who offers such services does not mean that you are in good hands. Although it is not illegal for any doctor, regardless of speciality, to perform plastic surgery, it is considered unethical. And vice-versa.

"I may be able to operate on someone's broken arm but I am not an expert in orthopaedics, therefore I would not be able to give my best to the patient when compared with an orthopaedics surgeon, especially if complications should arise," he adds.

Trained at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Dr Jalil has been a plastic surgeon since 1987 and is a member of the Malaysian Association of Plastic, Aesthetic and Cranio Maxillo Facial Surgeons.

Dr Jalil says a good place to start with the search for a qualified plastic surgeon is at the association, which has 33 members who are certified by the Government to perform both cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. To qualify, a plastic surgeon needs to study and train for a minimum 13 years.

Committee members vet new applications, from local and foreign surgeons, to practise in Malaysia. Dr Jalil says, from time to time, the association receives reports on botched up jobs, and it will refer these reports to the Health Ministry for further action.

"But in most cases, not much can be done unless the victims themselves make a formal complain. If the patient does not complain, nothing can be done. Sadly, most of the patients do not want to take action to avoid embarrassment.

"So what we at the association have been pushing for lately is educating the public on plastic surgery through public talks and publicity programmes in the media. Our message is, do not be gullible." In his years of practice, Dr Jalil says he has treated a few, "not that many", botched jobs. Among them are an one eye which was smaller than the other, an eye which couldn't close properly; and a badly infected nose after a rhinoplasty.

"Most are done at beauty salons or carried out by unqualified medical practitioners here and abroad. Salons sometimes fly in foreign plastic surgeons using social passes to perform these procedures. "The victims go to these places under the impression that it is cheaper than a certified clinic, but this is not necessarily so. For example, a rhinoplasty carried out by a certified plastic surgeon cost RM3,000, which is what some salons are charging for a nose job. "The irony is that some of them end up having to pay much more because they may end up having the badly performed illegal nose job corrected by a qualified surgeon. Besides the monetary cost, the patient may also suffer from mental trauma caused by such an unpleasant experience." A qualified surgeon may charge more because he/she takes the necessary precautions. For example, all surgeries should be done in a sterilised operating theatre at 18º Celsius because if it gets any warmer, bacteria will grow and infect the wounds. The air from the air-conditioner should also flow out to keep the air clean and not circulate back and forth such as in a normal room.

Dr Jalil says based on his own experience, more Malaysians are undergoing cosmetic plastic surgery because the subject is no longer taboo. Media exposure had also helped the public to be more aware of such services. The background of his clients are also varied. Apart from those who could afford a costly breast augmentation and liposuction at the same time, he has also had a blue-collared worker saving up for a year for a RM5,000 surgery. The 18-year-old girl wanted her breasts enlarged. The majority of the patients are women, the 20 per cent or so male patients usually asked for facelifts and liposuctions. And the final word on cosmetic plastic surgery is, the procedure should enhance and improve on what you already have, not change your looks into someone else's. A plain Jane turned into an attractive Jane, not a Siti Nurhaliza clone.

"An ethical plastic surgeon will not grant you everything you asked for, only what he/she thinks is adequate for you," says Dr Jalil.

l A 1997 survey by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons based on 400,000 operations in accredited facilities found that the rate of serious complications was less than half of one per cent and the risk of death was low – one in 57,000 cases. You are at higher risk of developing complications if you: p have a personal or family history of blood clotting; p are overweight; p have had a recent injury p have heart or lung disease or a history of cancer; and p are taking oral contraceptives or are undergoing hormone replacement therapy.

(Source: Local plastic surgeons and websites)

-MALAY MAIL-

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