Cosmetic Surgery MobileConveniently located to serve Fairhope and Mobile, Alabama
Introduction to Cosmetic Surgery
Choosing a Plastic Surgeon
Ideally, the stranger to whom one plans to trust his or her plastic surgery and well-being will be wise, competent, well-educated, and confident. This can be difficult to determine and is often times based on minimal information, particularly regarding the surgeon’s ability to perform the specific surgical procedures planned. Compounding the dilemma is the knowledge that there are doctors who call themselves plastic surgeons who actually have minimal training and are gaining experience by working on you. Both Dr. Park and Dr. Rebowe completed a six year integrated residency in a highly competitive program focused entirely on cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.
Adding to the confusion, restraint of trade laws in the United States allow any physician to do anything he or she chooses once they have a license to practice medicine. It is the responsibility of the patient to understand to whom they trust their future cosmetic success and what organizations are available to provide quality control over that surgeon. Evaluation for certification by a board sanctioned by the American Board of Medical Specialties, such as the American Board of Plastic Surgery, is an important criterion in evaluating a doctor’s background, as it verifies completion of a multi-year training period and passing of both written and oral examinations. Dr. Park is board certified and was in the 98th percentile on the oral board exam, a rigorous process that evaluates a surgeons training, safety, skills, expertise, and decision making.
Membership in state and local medical societies also suggests attention to safety and efficacy in surgery. Dr. Park and Dr. Rebowe are members of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama and the Medical Society of Mobile County.
In order to have privileges in an accredited hospital, a doctor must have undergone an analysis of his or her training and clinical abilities by the specific hospital granting them privileges. One way to know if a surgeon has training in a particular procedure is to confirm that the surgeon has or has had privileges to do the same procedure in a hospital. A physician that works and operates out of his office may not have any oversight. There is nothing wrong with having surgery in an office but our physicians believe that all surgeons should have hospital privileges for any procedure that they perform in their office. This is a simple way for a patient to know that a surgeon has demonstrated adequate training and competency to perform the procedure to a knowledgeable regulatory board. Dr. Park and Dr. Rebowe have hospital privileges at the Mobile Infirmary, Providence Hospital, Springhill Medical Center, and the University of South Alabama Hospitals.
www.springhillmedicalcenter.com
Both Dr. Park and Dr. Rebowe completed residency training at Wake Forest University, learning from esteemed physicians in the field of plastic surgery. Dr. Park also served as faculty at Wake Forest following his residency, continuing the tradition of excellence in surgical technique, clinical prowess, and resident education.
The Consult
Dr. Park, Dr. Rebowe and the staff of MPRSD and Park & Rebowe Clinic for Plastic Surgery want you to feel comfortable communicating your motivations and goals in seeking cosmetic enhancement and your privacy and safety are our priorities. Our doctors will answer your questions and explain their recommendations. Pre- and post-operative photographs may help to demonstrate procedures, as examples of experiences that other patients are willing to share with you. Dr. Park and Dr. Rebowe devote special time and attention to each patient so please plan to spend at least an hour with us. It helps to fill out your intake forms at home.
Cosmetic Surgery Statistics
There has been a significant increase in cosmetic surgery procedures in the United States over the past two decades. The most common surgical procedure is breast augmentation, followed by rhinoplasty, liposuction, eyelid surgery, and abdominoplasty. The most common presenting complaint, however, is facial aging. Minimally invasive procedures such as fillers, Botox®, Retin-A®, chemical peels, and laser skin resurfacing are the most common procedures in the management of facial wrinkling and are becoming very popular. Males now account for 9% of all individuals seeking cosmetic surgery. There has also been an increase in younger people seeking cosmetic surgery operations and the majority of patients are between 40 and 54 years old (45%).
Cosmetic surgery procedures are rarely covered by insurance companies and usually must be paid in full ahead of time. The costs of an operation include the surgeon’s fee, the operating room costs, anesthesia, if required, the cost of implants or products.
Anesthesia
Many medspa and minor surgical procedures can be done with topical or local anesthesia. Topical anesthesia requires a delay after application and is rarely completely anesthetic (without feeling). Local anesthesia is infiltrated by injection either along the path of a major nerve (nerve block) or locally around the planned site of address. If true sedation is required, a physician (anesthesiologist) or a nurse anesthetist (CRNA) may be necessary but will increase the cost of a procedure.