The key guidelines for plastic surgery travelers, Techniques and Risks

What is the surgeon's training?

Plastic surgery training is a long one. 3-4 years of general surgery, followed by 2-3 years of Plastic Surgery, and topped with 1-2 years of specialized fellowship in a specific field. In other words, it take 5-7 years of training AFTER the general medicine degree to be called PLASTIC SURGEON. You have to learn to perform Cosmetic or Aesthetic procedures, AND handle the complications as a Reconstructive Surgeon .

What is YOUR surgeon's training?

A gynecologist performing a breast augmentation or a dermatologist doing a face lift are not an appropriate choices. An internist who did "training" for a week or month "somewhere" is not going to perform a good liposuction and certainly will not be able to handle any complication.

What about aftercare?

Patients should stay in the area where the surgery was performed for at least five days, depending on the procedure. A facility can be arranged through local travel agents nearby the clinic or the surgical facility, making it easy to travel back and forth for wound care and follow up

Is the surgeon a member of recognized national and international societies?

Lebanon has its own society of plastic surgery called : Lebanese Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery LSPRAS, and Dr Saad is currently the PRESIDENT of the society

Dr Saad is an active member of ISAPS and held the position of national secretary for 8 years, and board member for 2 years (ISAPS membership is by invitation only and is granted only after extensive screening.)

Have you checked for references?

Ask for names and contact information of patients who have recently had a similar procedure and contact them about their experience with the surgeon, their staff, aftercare facilities and post-operative follow up.