Would-be medical tourists warned on uncertified practitioners

The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) issued a warning this week to all individuals seeking less expensive cosmetic surgical procedures, particularly outside their home country, and especially in the hands of unlicensed practitioners operating without board certification.

In light of two recent deaths of UK citizens who traveled to other countries to have cosmetic procedures performed by uncertified practitioners, ISAPS is also calling for global changes in legislation to address these unnecessary and tragic deaths in an effort to ensure a higher level of patient safety.

“Cosmetic surgery abroad can be incredibly risky because the standards vary from one country to the next. It is essential that patients find board-certified plastic surgeons, regardless of where they have a procedure performed,” noted Susumu Takayanagi, MD, President of ISAPS. “Patient safety is our highest priority. ISAPS membership is exclusive to board-certified plastic surgeons who must be current members of their national plastic surgery society.”

Source: ISAPS