A recent San Francisco story in the news has underscored why it is so important to be careful who you choose to complete your liposuction surgery.
A woman paid $3000 to Carlos Guzmangarza for a liposuction procedure. Guzmangarza, who posed as a physicians assistant, running a fake clinic, completed the procedure allegedly while smoking a cigar and having the patient herself holding her IV bag. After becoming infected, the patient went to a real physician and was treated and received corrective surgery. She then filed charged against Guzmangarza, who is being held for practicing medicine without a license, assault with force most likely to cause great bodily harm, battery causing serious bodily harm, false impersonation, identity theft and grand theft.
While it is heartening that this man was caught and is being prosecuted for his crimes, it is important to note that the patient should have taken her time, checked Guzmangarza’s credentials and ensured that he was a licensed and board certified liposuction doctor.
Cosmetic surgery is expensive, and it is tempting to find great prices so that you can afford a procedure and feel better about yourself and your body. But in this case, it’s not worth the risk. As anyone investigates cosmetic surgery, they should be wary of bargains, extremely low cost procedures and of physicians assistants conducting procedures without a physician present. If you are going to undergo any medical procedure, you should always:
By being a well prepared patient, you are far more likely to get the results that you want, the first time. You may have to wait for an appointment, and you may pay a higher cost initially, but the results, your health and well being and personal safety, are by far the most important factors in choosing a cosmetic surgeon.
Liposuction, while being one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures can also be dangerous in the hands of an untrained or unlicensed physician, and especially a physicians assistant or anyone who is not a doctor. If you choose a licensed liposuction surgeon, you are ensuring your safety and you are far more likely to come away with the contoured, smooth and fantastic results you deserve.
Originally Published Jan 15, 2012