Thousands of his seven million social media followers agree. Dr. Anthony Youn bears an utterly uncanny resemblance to Squid Game’s Player 456.
So much so, that it’s Player 456’s pre-game mug shot that is now the doc’s profile pic on all platforms. (At least we think it is.)
But Dr. Youn isn’t just one of social media’s most beloved gold collar workers, he’s a highly-credentialled and board-certified plastic surgeon.
And he’s concerned about safety. Your safety.
Dr. Youn thus took to social media to share several tips he considers “super important” on how to stay safe in plastic surgery.
1. Choose a board-certified plastic surgeon
“If you are considering plastic surgery, make sure to seek a real plastic surgeon. You wouldn’t want a gastroenterologist to perform your hysterectomy, would you? Or would you let a pediatrician perform your hip replacement surgery? Of course not! Then why do people allow non-plastic surgeons to perform their plastic surgery? PLEASE pick a REAL plastic surgeon.”
The examples given above might come off as comical, but it’s extremely important for plastic surgery patients to understand that: Any doctor with a medical license to practice in any field can legally perform plastic surgery.
So what is a ‘real plastic surgeon’? Patients may want to consider the following:
- Is your surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery? • Click here.
- Is your surgeon a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons? • Click here.
- Is your surgeon a member of The Aesthetic Society? • Click here.
2. Beware of advertising hype
“Don’t believe the hype. Some of the worst doctors have the biggest, fanciest ads. Some of the best plastic surgeons don’t advertise at all!”
“Use the following criteria to pick the best doctor for you,” says Dr. Youn:
- “Reputation
- “Word-of-mouth
- “Credentials (member of American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (@theaestheticsoc)
- “Before-and-after photos.”
3. Limit length and number of procedures per surgical session
“Don’t do too much at one time. The era of the “Extreme Makeover” is over. I try to limit the duration of my surgeries to 5-6 hours, tops. Having a ten-hour surgery could put you at higher risk of major complications, including blood clots and death. Split it up into two surgeries and lower your risk of not being able to enjoy your results.”
4. Verify surgical facility’s accreditation
“Make sure that you have your surgery performed in a fully accredited center. I like to take the extra step and perform all of my surgeries in one of the top hospitals in my area.”
Non-Hospital Facilities (Ambulatory Centers, Surgical Suites, and Offices):
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, an accredited facility is one that meets “strict national standards for equipment, operating room safety, personnel and surgeon credentials.”
Several accrediting organizations exist, though the AAAASF (“Quad-ASF”) is the most common.
A facility would need to be accredited by just one of these organizations (not each of them).
- “Quad-ASF” logos will usually appear prominently in or near the footer of a surgeon’s website, though the association says the best way to know if a facility’s accreditation is current is to contact them directly. • You can do so here.
- The AAAHC (Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care) is another valid accrediting organization according to ASPS. • You can search for an AAAHC-accredited facility here.
- Accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.
In practical terms, you would likely want to pick a plastic surgeon (or several) whose results you are pleased with, and then look into where they perform their surgeries.
Note, too, that a provider may tell you accreditation isn’t required as your procedure requires only local anesthesia, and while this is technically accurate, it may be wise to get a second opinion in such cases, or to more cautiously approach the remainder of your due diligence or homework on that provider.
Hospitals:
Plastic surgery procedures performed in major area hospitals would automatically meet this requirement.
5. Do your homework
“If you’re considering any type of cosmetic procedure, please do your homework.”
Dr. Anthony Youn’s 20-page informative quick read, “10 Things Every Plastic Surgery Patient Must Know,” is available as a free download on his website.