San Diego Plastic Surgeon Cautions Patients About Seeking Cosmetic Enhancement Abroad

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - Jul 3, 2013) - Dr. Scott R. Miller, a board-certified plastic surgeon in San Diego, employs a 4-step approach at his private practice to ensure that the services he provides are always patient-centric. This approach, which he calls "Passion 4 Performance," combines quality, integrity, safety, and service to meet the cosmetic goals of his patients. Focusing on the safety aspect of this approach, Dr. Miller advises prospective patients to think carefully if they happen to be considering traveling out of the country to achieve their cosmetic and surgical needs.

Dr. Miller says people considering plastic surgery should stay in the United States for cosmetic enhancement in order to benefit from the extensive training surgeons practicing in the U.S. must undergo. According to Dr. Miller, there are also strict safety standards U.S.-trained plastic surgeons must adhere to when performing facelift, breast enhancement, body contouring, and most other treatments. Dr. Miller says -- depending upon the specific geographic location -- when patients travel outside of the country for cosmetic enhancement and plastic surgery procedures, these assurances may no longer be guaranteed. Dr. Miller notes that while there are certainly good doctors in other countries, not all countries have enforced safety standards that are continually monitored and maintained. "Patients need to consider how surgical complications are handled and what would happen if they needed to be admitted to a hospital where no one speaks English."

Dr. Miller notes that California in particular has committed to an extraordinarily high level of safety standards for patients to receive cosmetic enhancement and plastic surgery procedures. For instance, he says: in California, anesthesia cannot be administered without a certified facility that has been guaranteed to meet set standards. These facilities are also checked on an annual basis to ensure that they remain up to code and are subject to random visits by the certifying authorities.

When seeking a plastic surgeon, Dr. Miller says board certification is also an important qualification to look for. "Board certification implies a level of interest, education, and commitment to a specific field." He also recommends that patients seek out surgeons who are certified by boards approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties, such as the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In Dr. Miller's opinion, a surgeon's training, bedside manner, educational background, evidence of technical capabilities, and ability to achieve results that match the patient's aesthetic vision are also important things to consider.

Ultimately, Dr. Miller says that patients who have cosmetic surgery procedures performed locally also have the additional, practical advantages of being close by for follow-up visits as well as the availability of family and friends to assist in the recovery process. However, in cases where patients have made up their minds to undergo their procedure outside of the U.S., Dr. Miller advises them to "do your homework, 'get all your ducks in a row,' make sure you have a contingency plan just in case a problem should arise there or when you return home."

About Scott R. Miller, MD, FACS

Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Scott R. Miller earned his medical degree from the University of California, Irvine. He then completed his residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of California, San Diego, followed by fellowship training in aesthetic cosmetic surgery. Dr. Miller offers a comprehensive range of cosmetic enhancement procedures at his practice, including facial plastic surgery, breast augmentation, liposuction, CoolSculpting®, and other treatments. Dr. Miller is available for interview upon request.