Consumer investments are left unprotected
Complications & Contraindications that may arise arise from/after surgery, that without ongoing quality care from informed providers leaves consumer investments unprotected. (Note: these complications course of actions aren’t taught healthcare professionals within the already existing scopes of practice and thus the educational regulatory bodies governing CEUs for these classes aren’t liable or competent to properly accredit courses to teach professionals on corrective action)
Necrosis
Unaccredited courses may not cover crucial safety protocols, leading to increased risks of infection, complications, and injuries for clients.
MSRA
This has become the leading causative pathogen in surgical-site, skin, and soft tissue infections after plastic surgery. It is also more virulent, costs approximately $3,700 more to treat, and has three times the mortality rate of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus. Hygiene education among professionals could drastically lower these numbers.4
Rejecting Stitches
While dissolving stitches are common, patients without proper education and guidance on postOp care often experience stitches dissolving prematurely due to too much moisture being retained in the area-- encouraging wounds to reopen along an incisional line.
High BMI
There is a 43% increase of high BMI patients getting plastic surgery, using it for forms of weightloss. These clients have higher chances of healing complications. 5-6
IMPACTS
- Direct Costs: Corrective procedures to address complications studies estimate at $10,000 – $50,000+ significantly burden patients who may have already invested heavily in the initial surgery.
- Indirect Costs: Lost wages due to extended recovery times or additional surgeries add to the financial strain. Emotional distress and potential scarring can further impact quality of life.
- Increased Readmissions: Complications lead to repeat hospitalizations, straining healthcare resources and driving up costs.
- Malpractice Lawsuits: Uninformed care leading to complications exposes providers to legal action, resulting in expensive settlements and rising insurance premiums.
- Public Healthcare Burden: Unforeseen complications often lead to reliance on public healthcare systems for further treatment, impacting budgets.
- Reduced Tax Revenue: Individuals burdened by medical debt struggle to meet tax obligations.
References:
3. Winocour J, Gupta V, Ramirez JR, Shack RB, Grotting JC, Higdon KK. Abdominoplasty: Risk Factors, Complication Rates, and Safety of Combined Procedures. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Nov;136(5):597e-606e. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000001700. PMID: 26505716. 4. Zoumalan RA, Rosenberg DB “Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus-positive surgical site infections” Arch Facial Plast Surg 2008; 10: 116 – 123. 5. Kuczynski, Alex. Beauty junkies: Inside our $15 billion obsession with cosmetic surgery. Harmony, 2006. 6. High bmi and complications: Bigarella, Lucas Goldmann, et al. “The impact of obesity on plastic surgery outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Aesthetic Surgery Journal 42.7 (2022): 795-807. 7. Chino F, Peppercorn JM, Rushing C, Kamal AH, Altomare I, Samsa G, Zafar SY. Out-of-Pocket Costs, Financial Distress, and Underinsurance in Cancer Care. JAMA Oncol. 2017 Nov 1;3(11):1582-1584. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2017.2148. PMID: 28796862; PMCID: PMC5824215. 8. Upadhyay S, Stephenson AL, Smith DG. Readmission Rates and Their Impact on Hospital Financial Performance: A Study of Washington Hospitals. Inquiry. 2019 Jan-Dec;56:46958019860386. doi: 10.1177/0046958019860386. PMID: 31282282; PMCID: PMC6614936. 9. Tulchinsky TH, Varavikova EA. Expanding the Concept of Public Health. The New Public Health. 2014:43–90. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-415766-8.00002-1. Epub 2014 Oct 10. PMCID: PMC7170196.