Pittwater Life October 2018 Issue

Health & Wellbeing
Health & Wellbeing
Cosmetic surgery: don’t
fall into the ‘holiday’ trap
Increasing numbers of Australians
are travelling overseas for
surgery. Websites target younger
people and suggest combining
surgery with a holiday.
Patients recount how they
meet their allocated surgeon on
the morning of surgery. They
may also be part of a group.
There is no chance to select
the surgeon, the hospital or
type of device used. Australian
standards suggest a minimum
of two consultations before
cosmetic surgery. Usually only
one post-operative appointment
is schedule before flying home.
This does not ensure good continuity
of care. Post-operative
recovery may be hotel-based
and not in a hospital. Nursing
staff may not be available.
A recent study of 103 patients
showed 1 in 6 experienced
complications. Nine per cent
required subsequent corrective
or reconstructive surgery. Two
deaths and one life-threatening
complication were reported.
A British women died during
corrective surgery four days
after her procedure. Her “surgeon”
has been accused of not
having a licence and operating
at night. A Perth women was
scheduled to have implant
surgery and liposuction to her
thighs and waist. She was woken
after seven hours of surgery
without the implant surgery
being performed. She required
two blood transfusions. She remained
in hospital for a further
four days and required four
more blood transfusions. The
hospital then tried to encourage
her to have the implant surgery
performed. At home she then
developed potentially lifethreatening
blood clots. In total
11 litres of liposuction was performed.
The Australian recommended
maximum is five litres.
Blood for transfusions is often
obtained from paid donors. The
screening process may not be
to Australian standards.
There are no official figures
of complication or adverse
outcomes. There is often very
limited recourse for malpractice
and especially in a foreign
country and foreign legal
system. There is often not even
administrative bodies for health
care complaints. Importantly
neither the hospital nor surgeon
may accept liability.
There is no standard to the
accreditation of the facility,
the competence / qualification
/ training or experience
of the surgeon, anaesthetist
or allied medical staff. Medical
standards, infection control,
implant regulations and control
of equipment may not be to
adequate standards.
This is also complicated by
there being no advice on who
corrects the adverse results,
health insurance issues, repatriation
and repatriation costs.
Almost every Plastic Surgeon
in Australia has been involved
in corrective surgery for these
adverse outcomes. I personally
have had difficulty in obtaining
details, medical records, operative
details, procedure specifics
have all been “lost”. Doctors
have subsequently “left” the
hospital. It has been impossible
with Dr John Kippen
to contact doctors or other staff
at the hospitals. My worst experience
was a patient who has required
22 operations to correct
facial deformities and recurrent
facial infections and granuloma.
These were all performed at her
cost and huge expense to the
Australian Medicare System.
Consider carefully whenchoosing
surgery. Check the
surgeon’s qualification and
ongoing education. Quality
control, medical standards, acceptance
of liability, insurance,
back-up and after-care should
all be considered. This is real
surgery... with real risks.
Our columnist Dr John
Kippen is a qualified, fully
certified consultant specialist
in Cosmetic, Plastic and
Reconstructive surgery.
Australian trained, he also
has additional Australian and
International Fellowships.
Dr Kippen works from custom-built
premises in Mona
Vale. He welcomes enquiries
and questions. Please
contact him via johnkippen.
com.au or by email: doctor@
johnkippen.com.au
46 OCTOBER 2018
The Local Voice Since 1991