The Cosmetic Surgery Blog

After the high-profile death of musician Kanye West's mother, Donda West, as a result of underlying health problems following cosmetic surgery, a number of new laws are on the docket in California. The reasoning is that with these rules, patients will be safer and further protected from dangers involved with their cosmetic surgery. Because many cosmetic surgeries are done in a clinical rather than a hospital setting, many believe that cosmetic surgeons do not face the same rigorous reviews that other surgeons must face yearly. And there is concern that attempts to further cosmetic surgery clinic surveillance is failing, especially in the wake of the fast growth of this industry. Also, budget cuts in California forced the Medical Board to disband its team that uncovered unlicensed doctors about five years ago.

Regulatory bills in California put forth include:

• Requiring outpatient surgery centers to be inspected at least one time every three years
  
• Mandating that patients undergo a physical exam before being allowed to get cosmetic surgery
  
• Banning ads or photos that create expectations that are not realistic
  

Other places have also tightened laws in the field of cosmetic surgery. These include certifying doctors as plastic surgeons by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in British Columbia if they want to practice cosmetic surgery. Florida tightened oversight of "non-hospital surgeries" after the deaths of at least twelve people in 1998. Florida still reports problems with patients who are too sick being operated on by doctors. This, of course, was prior to the very public death of a graduating high school student who died as a result of an allergic reaction to the anesthesia given during her breast augmentation.

If you are interested in finding out if you are a good candidate for cosmetic surgery, please contact an experienced cosmetic surgeon in your area.