Advise about questioning doctors

surreal · Jun 19, 2005

always follow your gut instincts and remember that you are your best advocate, so dont feel bad about worrying or asking questions, because you are the one that is affected by this surgery. deffinitely bring up any concerns you have about this doctor, and if you dont feel comfortable asking him perhaps you can bring it up with your regular plastic surgeon.

since this is an elective surgery you should not feel rushed into making a decision, this does not sound like you need emergency surgery, so make sure you feel comfortable with who will be your surgeon before you do anything. but also remember that with any surgery there will be some degree of anxiety and worrying and this is normal . if your new surgeon makes you feel bad about asking him about his certification than dont feel like you need to remain his patient.

furthermore, please look into this website i found for you. http://www.implantforum.com/doc-research.html here is an example of what they say about plastic surgery and board certification:

when considering a body contouring procedure, such as lipo, tummy tuck or breast surgery, you want a plastic surgeon that is certified by the american board of plastic surgery (abps).

if you are contemplating facial plastic surgery only, you can consider a abps board certified plastic surgeon or a otolaryngologist (also known as ent, ear nose & throat specialist) certified by the american board of otolaryngology as they are qualified to perform cosmetic procedures of the face. please do not allow an ent or any non-abps certified doctor to perform any procedure below the neck!

do not let a surgeon's office tell you the doctor just moved from another state and they waiting for transfer of their certification. certification is a federal exam and is good in any state. "

i may be having reconstructive surgury for a plexiform neurofibroma on my right orbit. i have had four surgeries before and the plastic surgeon that i have been a patient of wants a new doctor to take me on as a patient. the only problem i have with this is, the new doctor is not board certified in plastics. he did, however, do his fellowship in plastics under my surgeon. i do trust my surgeon, however, my worry is it is my face and i don't want it screwed up. i have an appointment with him on tuesday. i am not sure whether to say something about him not being board certified, ask him about it, or what. also, if i do bring it up i don't know how i should do it. i need advise please.
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i am not a nurse. i am a highschool student, now senior, who hopes to be a nurse someday.

Katnip, RN · Jun 19, 2005

I agree with surreal. It's your face and you will have to live with the results.

Don't worry about hurting their feelings. No surgeon should ever mind if you ask questions. If they get into a huff, or just blow off your questions, then run the other way.

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Jun 19, 2005

how exactly should I bring it up to him, should I just come out and ask him, "why arn't you board certified in plastics?" or should I ease into it some how and if I should ease into it how should I do that (I am not very tactful so I need advise of how to ask tackfully).

Altra, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2005

You can simply ask, "How many ____ (insert name of procedure here) ___ have you done? Were there complications?" This can lead into a discussion of board certification or lack thereof. Asking this question is absolutely fair game of any physician doing any procedure.

Best of luck to you. You're showing some impressive intellectual curiosity and maturity for a high school senior. Please keep us updated on how you're doing. :)

surreal · Jun 19, 2005

check out the link I posted in the previous posting. it will allow you to look up a plastic surgeon to see if he is certified or not. if he is not certified than my advice is to get a second opinion and a second doctor. there are many doctors out there, this is not the only person that can help you. that website specifically says that you should not have someone do plastic surgery on you that is not board certified. and make sure they are certified in plastic surgery, not just surgery. not just any person can do this type of surgery, even if they watched it a thousand times, its not the same.

if you know this person is not certified i dont personally see any reason why you need to go see him and question him about it. if hes not certified who cares what his excuse is. you are more important then risking this type of surgery with someone who is not even certified to do it. please seek advice from a different doctor. perhaps start by looking up surgeons who ARE certified first. please dont feel worried about being tactful to this person. you should feel no remorse over not letting him perform surgery on your face. i have had some doctors in the past try to make you feel guilty or pressure you into surgery. etc. as if they are car sales men. if they are that good of a surgeon they shouldnt have to pressure you into coming back , etc.

please think this through and dont feel like you owe that person anything. you dont even owe him an excuse, if you want to cancel with him you dont need to call, if you want to call- all you need to say is "im calling to cancel my appt, thankyou, goodbye" if they pressure you to say more, tell them it is a personal issue and you dont think its any of their business. that should get the point across. these people are so into pressuring young people your age, makes me mad.

good luck

how exactly should I bring it up to him, should I just come out and ask him, "why arn't you board certified in plastics?" or should I ease into it some how and if I should ease into it how should I do that (I am not very tactful so I need advise of how to ask tackfully).

z's playa · Jun 19, 2005

I may be having reconstructive surgury for a plexiform neurofibroma on my right orbit. I have had four surgeries before and the plastic surgeon that I have been a patient of wants a new doctor to take me on as a patient. The only problem I have with this is, the new doctor is not board certified in plastics. He did, however, do his fellowship in plastics under my surgeon. I do trust my surgeon, however, my worry is it is my face and I don't want it screwed up. I have an appointment with him on tuesday. I am not sure whether to say something about him not being board certified, ask him about it, or what. Also, if I do bring it up I don't know how I should do it. I need advise please.
____________________________________
I am not a nurse. I am a highschool student, now senior, who hopes to be a nurse someday.

I don't know but I personally wouldn't have plastic surgery by someone without board certification. Just as I wouldn't have eye surgery from an OB doc. I'm with Surreal on this one.

Z

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Jun 20, 2005

O.K. I have decided that I will go to the appointment to meet the doctor tommorrow. These are the questions I have decided to ask him:

Have you done this reconstructive surgery before? How many times? Were there any serious complications?
How did you get into doing this type of surgery if you are only certified in orthopedic surgery?
Do you have any before and after photo's I can see of reconstructive surgeries you have done?

The only thing is is that last one. If he does show me photo's is that a violation of HIPPA? Are there any other questions I should ask him?

I will keep you updated.

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Jun 21, 2005

So is there nothing else I should ask him?

ceecel.dee, MSN, RN · Jun 21, 2005

Say to him, "I was told to look for board certification in my surgeon. What difference does the certification make, in your opinion?" Weigh his answer carefully.

Good Luck!

pricklypear · Jun 21, 2005

O.K. I have decided that I will go to the appointment to meet the doctor tommorrow. These are the questions I have decided to ask him:
Have you done this reconstructive surgery before? How many times? Were there any serious complications?
How did you get into doing this type of surgery if you are only certified in orthopedic surgery?
Do you have any before and after photo's I can see of reconstructive surgeries you have done?
The only thing is is that last one. If he does show me photo's is that a violation of HIPPA? Are there any other questions I should ask him?
I will keep you updated.

Did your original doctor tell you WHY he wanted you to see this other doctor now? I wouldn't get anything done by a non-board certified surgeon, either. Could it be for the new surgeon's practice? Since he studied under your surgeon? Some things can't be fixed after they've been messed up. I have read horror stories of doctors in other specialties doing plastic stuff "on the side" for extra money.

No, if he shows you photos, it's not a HIPAA violation unless he tells you the pts name. And I think all of the people you see in those before and after photos have consented to have their photo used for that purpose.

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Jun 21, 2005

Well, I had my appointment. Number one pricklypear you asked why my surgeon wants me to go to this MD, he says he is to busy with all his other patients. He had said he wanted me to look good for my senior year of highschool and he would not be able to fit me in. Number two, he got board certified in orthopedics and did a residency in that. He said that he then went on and did a resedency in plastics. He then did a fellowship in hand surgery then did a fellowship under my surgeon in plastics. He said that he still does a little of the other things, for instance he was on call for hand emergancies today, but he does mostly plastics. He said he has done many reconstructions and in my case it may be helpful to have an orthopedic surgeon because i am deficient in the zigoma and the arch. part of the zigoma, the part right under the eye, is totally missing. He wants to replace that so that the tendons will have something to grip so that my eye doesn't look so baggy and take something out on the nose so that the eyeball can go back a few millimeters because if is protruding from the socket. I may be haveing this surgery as early as next month.