As July 4^th approaches, many people are stocking up on fireworks to celebrate Independence Day with a bang. In Washington DC, however, there is little support for firecrackers. Twenty-one health and safety advocacy organizations recently came together in an effort to urge consumers not to use fireworks or sparklers this July 4^th. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons was an influential voice at the meeting.

Every year thousands of people, often children and teens, are injured, maimed, and disfigured by fireworks. As the largest plastic surgery organization in the world, The American Board of Plastic Surgery has all too much experience with these disfiguring results. Scars are treatable with plastic surgery procedures but they are not curable. Unfortunately, the appearance of scars can only be reduced, not eliminated. Surgeons like Joseph F. Serota, M.D., FACS offer microdermabrasion and scar revision to lessen the appearance of scars. But, because they are incurable, I would recommend extreme caution when celebrating this Forth of July. No one wants permanently disfiguring scars!!

When someone makes the decision to have cosmetic surgery, the main focus is looking younger and more attractive without paying a fortune. While inexpensive surgery is a reasonable request, some patients put their very lives in danger searching for the cheapest surgery. Horror stories of patients that have extensive surgical procedures completed in unlicensed, unsanitary conditions have become all too common. The story of Lisa, recently published on MSNBC News, highlights the problems with cheap surgery.

Lisa, a cosmetic surgery patient, crossed the border into Mexico for her surgery at an unlicensed clinic. She ended up in an emergency room with severe infections. Instead of looking younger and more attractive, she was left with over eight feet of scars. Her story sheds light on the importance of getting a licensed, experienced surgeon, even if it means paying a little more for the procedure.

There are countless highly regarded cosmetic surgeons that could have prevented what happened to Lisa. Any surgeon that is certified by a reputable society, such as the American College of Surgeons, could have safely performed the surgery on Lisa, giving her the attractive body she wanted without the unnecessary risks and, in this case, disaster, that resulted. If you are considering cosmetic surgery, do yourself a favor and find a plastic surgeon that is certified so you get the results that you want. If you want to find a qualified, reputable surgeon near you, visit the Cosmetic Surgery Directory.