07/27/2007

Self Improvement Do's and Don'ts

It's not hard to find examples of how far people will go in the name of looking good.

You've probably heard stories of how some will even fly to far off countries to save money on plastic surgery. But some local doctors say they know what it means to try and fix the problems after elective surgery goes wrong. Two local doctors tell KSFY their work helping people improve their bodies using surgery and laser treatments is very rewarding. But there are several things they want you to know before rushing into any procedure.

Dr. Vance Thompson is known around the region and the nation as an expert in laser vision correction. He tells KSFY, as eye procedures become more popular, a significant portion of his practice is repairing work that wasn't done properly. "Probably somewhere between 5-10% of what I do is taking care of people who are wanting me to fix an issue that they had done elsewhere."

Dr. Thompson says not all of the work he has to repair is done in other countries. His advise to patients is simple. Before you let anyone operate on you, do your homework.

If you're thinking of elective surgery, he says check out the doctor. There are several resources you can use.

Each state's medical board can tell you if the physician is properly licensed. You may also want to check out www.docinfo.org. There you can look at a physician's education, a history of where they've been licensed, and if they have any discipline reports.

Dr. Richard Howard is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. He says the handful of plastic surgeons in Sioux Falls don't see many horror stories of having to repair botched procedures. But he sees a trend he calls the "mommy makeover." It's typically women in their late 30's and 40's who've had several children, and despite working out and eating well, can't get back to their former figures. "They're coming in and saying, 'this isn't my fault. I need to get this fixed."

Dr. Howard says if you're considering plastic surgery, it's important to be realistic about what you hope to accomplish with the procedure. If the surgery can't possibly fulfill your expectations, it might be best to think of another option.

More information - www.docinfo.org

To watch the KSFY News video, click here

Robert Wilson, KSFY