America Bound

By: Dr Jeffrey Spiegel
Created on 09th November 2009

Why are so many British flying to the USA for plastic surgery? Dr Jeffrey Spiegel, a leading facial plastic surgeon in Boston, explains why he has seen a surge in patients from the UK

When it comes to plastic surgery, talented physicians offer nips, tucks, and updates in every corner of the UK and around the world, from Thailand to Brazil. Of course, the United States has always been the pinnacle of cosmetic procedures with celebrities and socialites from New York to Hollywood, and everywhere in between, flaunting their flawless faces.

I have recently seen a surge in patients from all over the world. It's not just the well heeled in the States who come to see me. I have patients from as far away as Tokyo, Dubai, Paris, and, of course, London and across the United Kingdom.

Advances in technology have also made it much easier to have plastic surgery abroad. We've been able to develop a very comfortable experience for our many international guests. I request that they forward photographs of themselves which I review and then we follow this up with a consultation via live online video. I find this level of individualised attention helps bridge the initial geographical distance between doctor and patient.

Once in Boston, we have a lengthy consultation a few days prior to surgery to review your goals and desires. As I operate at one of the top-ranked hospitals in the United States, our procedures go very smoothly, and we can use advanced technologies to ease the recovery period.

I believe that the reason to travel so far is that if you have the ability to go anywhere you should seek out the best. Obviously we also have the advantages that it is relatively short flight to the East Coast in America from the UK and we all speak perfect English so communication is never a problem.

What to look for when choosing an American facial plastic surgeon?

• Make surethe surgeon is board certified in facial plastic surgery - in the UK there is the General Medical Council but the equivalent board in the USA is the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Do not assume all board certified surgeonshave the same training
• Plastic surgeon has performedover 600 surgical procedures
• Surgeon has a fellowship in facial plastic surgery
• Surgeon has been performing plastic surgery for at least four years
• Surgeon is affiliated with one or more hospitals

Useful website

• The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (www.AAFPRS.org)

The key guidelines for plastic surgery travellers from the International Society of Aesthetics Plastic Surgery (www.isaps.org)

• What is the surgeon's training?
• Is the plastic surgeon certified by the medical board in their respective country?
• Does your personal health insurance cover you outside your country?
• What about aftercare?
• What about complications?
• Do the key personnel at the surgeon's office speak your language fluently?
• Are you communicating directly with the surgeon who will perform the procedure?
• Is the surgeon a member of recognized national and international societies?
• Have you checked for references?

The role of America in the development of cosmetic surgery

The history of plastic surgery began more than 4,000 years ago in India where skin grafts were used for reconstructive work as early as 800 BC but it wasn't until the late nineteenth century that the American medical community embraced reconstructive surgery and the history of plastic surgery in the United States began.

War played a huge role in the history of plastic surgery. World War I presented physicians with scores of severe facial wounds and burns, changing the history of plastic surgery. Modern weapons caused types and severity of injuries that were unprecedented in the history of plastic surgery. Some of the greatest medical talents on both sides of the Atlantic devoted themselves fully to creating new techniques to treat men maimed by the war.

We think plastic surgery is a very modern obsession but almost immediately after the great advances that took place in the theatre of war, Hollywood turned its attention to plastic surgery and the benefits it could bring.

Plastic surgery in Hollywood dates back as far as the 1920s. However, some of the earlier operations proved disastrous, leaving patients permanently disfigured. Mary Pickford - the silent film star known as 'America's sweetheart' - was left looking almost mummified by an unsophisticated facelift in the early 1930s.

The modern history of plastic surgery really started to take shape in the 1960s and 1970s with many significant scientific developments, including the use of silicone in implants that changed the face of plastic surgery.

America is the home of innovation and here is a round-up of latest procedures from across the pond:

Voice lift: This procedure lifts the vocal cords to give a clearer, younger-sounding voice.

Toe tuck: In a quest to be top-to-toe beautiful, many of Hollywood's nip-and-tuck brigade are opting for cosmetic foot surgery as the latest must-have procedure.

Belly button surgery: Navel surgery, also known as umbilicoplasty, is a procedure to change the size, shape or position of the belly button to make it more 'aesthetically pleasing'.

Face shaping: A specialty of Dr Spiegel, involves altering the face on a deeper level to make you more attractive and youthful in a lasting natural way.
CS&AM