Whilst lockdown restrictions may be keeping us close to home, staying put is not all that bad – especially when it comes to body, skin and general health. For those seeking facial and body procedures – cosmetic, reconstructive or plastic surgery – turning to registered surgeons and nurses on Kiwi shores has positives beyond measure. Why? Because wellness, peace-of-mind and future certainty depend on it.
Those ‘cheap’ overseas surgery holidays may have sounded the ticket – but the price tag for many comes at a greater cost.
“I have seen some terrible complications from surgery overseas, ranging from severe infections to deformities,” says cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon Adam Bialostocki. “In those cases, poor patient selection and/or poor hospital conditions/environment have played major roles.”
Complications arising from overseas surgery has been on the rise this past decade – a recent study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital of 78 patients receiving overseas plastic surgery, revealed in their findings that 17 required immediate surgical intervention and eight required removal of damaged tissue or foreign objects.
Without universal cosmetic and plastic surgery regulations in place, the risk factors of overseas surgery remain i.e. it’s harder to check the safety of an overseas hospital/clinic, the qualifications of their surgeons, insurance policies etc.
On New Zealand shores, those seeking plastic or cosmetic surgery can be assured of quantified services. Down Under, it takes eight to ten years of specialist training to become a Specialist Plastic Surgeon and have your training recognised by The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) – the only professional body accredited to train Specialist Surgeons in New Zealand and Australia.
The RACS also requires and monitors ongoing medical education, ensuring specialists continue to provide the highest standards of professional care. Only fully trained and registered specialist plastic surgeons who are fellow RACS – like Bay Plastic Surgery’s cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon, Adam Bialostocki – can join the Australasian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the ASAPS.
“Many renowned surgeons here in New Zealand, will also choose to undertake additional post-fellowship training. For example, I travelled to Paris where I sought speciality training in breast surgery and abdominoplasty,” explains Adam. “Alongside sound specialist experience and qualifications, feeling comfortable in your surrounds is essential for any procedure. Having that reassurance that you are in the right hands from initial consultation right through to after-care procedures, is a must – it shouldn’t be a nice to have.”
