The death of a former Miss Argentina after buttocks injections has been portrayed as another “Plastic Surgery” gone wrong. However American Board Certified Plastic Surgeons, certified with the American Board of Plastic Surgery, are getting a bad wrap because of the many under qualified MD’s and clinics that are not properly trained to perform cosmetic & plastic surgery procedures. Not to mention the slew of people who are heading to foreign countries, which are held to completely different standards of health and safety. Also let it be known that buttocks injections are not the same as gluteoplasty.

Solange Magnano was crowned Miss Argentina in 1994.  As reported she was rushed to hospital last week shortly after a series of buttock injections. She died on Sunday of a pulmonary embolism after three days in intensive care.

Robert Piazza says, “Solange was a girl who had everything,” he said. “She lived the life of a goddess, she was the envy of everybody. Now she is dead because she wanted a slightly firmer behind. She died because of her obsession with beauty.”

An investigation into the clinic responsible for the operation is being called. Solange is one of many women who make the mistake of trusting TV and magazine adverts instead of doing thorough research and investigation before undergoing cosmetic procedures. Also many patients are choosing doctors who are not board certified Plastic Surgeons.

How can one avoid botched or deadly surgery?

Here are some helpful tips:

Tips on Choosing a Plastic Surgeon:

1. Check certification, not any certification will do. American Board of Plastic Surgery
2. Check if there is any disciplinary action history with the California Medical Board.
3. Always ask to see many before and after photos.
4. Never price shop over the phone.
5. Check out the office environment and the staff.
6. Be sure you feel safe and that all of your questions are addressed.
7. Know the ins and outs of your procedure; recovery time, surgeon’s technique, etc.

We recommend you do not travel abroad for cosmetic procedures. In the United States, there are accrediting agencies that certify medical facilities and medical providers. U.S. hospitals have peer review boards to further evaluate the doctor’s surgical skill in given procedures. Doctors must obtain hospital privileges to perform a specific procedure at hospitals in America. Surgery abroad is not necessarily as standardized.

The training of doctors in other countries may be dramatically different than in the United States. After becoming a doctor, the extra training to become a plastic surgeon varies widely as well. Also facilities abroad are privately owned and operated and may not be subjected to a rigorous or any certification process at all. Uncertainty of where credentials may come from should also be a red flag for uncertainty of results.

Another great resource you can use to research your doctor is:

Medical Board of California – 916-263-2466

The Medical Board lists doctors who may have disciplinary actions filed against them.  The Medical Board of California provides two principal types of services to consumers: public-record information about California-licensed physicians, and investigation of complaints against physicians.  To inquire about a physician, consumers can call the Board to find out if the doctor’s license is current and renewed, and also whether there have been any administrative-related actions against the doctor.

Step-by-step guide:

Got to: www.medbd.ca.gov/lookup.html

1. scroll down to ‘continue search’ & click

2. type in your doctor’s name & click ‘find’

3. click on the name of the doctor

4. scroll down to ‘public disclosure’

5. click 2nd ‘here’ & click

6. click ‘continue’

7. type in the doctor’s name

8. click ‘search’

9. click on date