Plastic surgery: Where to go

Having plastic surgery is a big, personal decision. If you’re thinking of having one, make sure you do your research about the three Ws. What kind of plastic surgery do you want? Who will do it? Where should you go for the procedure?

Do you want body contouring surgery? A tummy tuck or a liposuction? Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty refers to surgery to remove excess fat and skin with tightening of the muscles while liposuction is the removal of fat using special cannulas. Or do you want a breast augmentation or a breast lift? You may ask an expert which procedure is best for you.

The next important question is who will do it?

“Nowadays there are so many beauty centers mushrooming all over the metro. It is highly advisable that you find a board-certified doctor you can trust because plastic surgery may result in more complications if done unprofessionally,” says Dr. Lourdes Josephine Angliongto-Ramos, chief of Section of Plastic Surgery, The Medical City Center for Wellness and Aesthetics (TMC-CWA).

To know if your doctor is board-certified, you can check the website of the Philippine Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons or PAPRAS or call the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS) for the list of plastic surgeons with good standing. PAPRAS is recognized by both the Philippine Medical Association and the PCS as the only specialty society for plastic surgery in the country.

Your plastic surgeon should explain the surgery and possible complications to you during consultation. It is best that you research and make a list of all the questions you have in mind.

A board-certified plastic surgeon usually belongs to a reputable health institution like The Medical City.

The Medical City advantage

“The Medical City has strict qualifications in accepting doctors. All our doctors have to undergo formal training in their respective fields. They have to submit the requirements needed for Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation and the board certification from their respective specialties,” says Dr. Ramos. JCI is the world’s most prestigious accrediting body for health care organizations.

“We have an Aesthetic Surgery Suite (Operating Room) located in the Wellness Center complex which accepts only plastic surgery and varicose vein cases. This means the patient doesn’t mingle with those undergoing appendectomy or cholecystectomy or patients with infected cases,” adds Dr. Ramos.

The Wellness Center offers a relaxing waiting area separate from the main hospital. It is supplied with laminar airflow reducing risk for airborne contamination and has a separate set of elevators from the Main and Clinic buildings ensuring better privacy.

Since it is hospital based, the patient has the full support of all specialists in the medical field.

“This makes our clients more secure and relaxed, knowing that we are hospital based and we can easily deal with any unexpected complications or difficulties,” explains Dr. Ramos.

“At The Medical City, patient safety is foremost in mind. In freestanding outpatient surgery clinics, patients have to check if the center is accredited, verify if the doctors are board-certified and inquire about emergency plans in case something goes awry,” adds Dr. Stanley U. Kho, plastic surgeon at TMC-CWA.

Services offered at The Medical City Center for Wellness and Aesthetics include scar revision, dermabrasion, blepharoplasty, brow lift, rhinoplasty (surgery to reshape the nose), otoplasty (surgery to improve the shape or position of the ear), mentoplasty (surgery to augment or reduce the chin), facelift / necklift, arm lift, breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast lift, tummy tuck, buttock augmentation and body contouring surgery.

For inquiries, you may call the TMC-CWA Aesthetic Unit at 988-1000 or 988-7000 ext. 6588 or 6592.