Choosing A Qualified Surgeon
The single most important factor
in the success of aesthetic plastic surgery
is the surgeon you select. Do
not take this responsibility lightly. Conduct
your own research to verify the surgeon's
training and experience; then weigh
your decision carefully.
There are a number of ways to evaluate which
surgeon is right for you:
Check for certification by the American Board
of Plastic Surgery. American Board of Plastic
Surgery (ABPS) certification means that the surgeon has completed undergraduate
college, medical school, and a minimum of
five years of surgical
training including a plastic surgery residency
program. Board certification then is obtained only after the candidate has
passed rigorous written and oral examinations
administered by experienced plastic surgeons.
Don't be confused by other official—sounding boards
and certifications the American Board of
Plastic Surgery is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties
(ABMs) to certify surgeons in plastic surgery
including cosmetic reconstructive surgery. There is no separate, ABMS—recognized
certifying board for cosmetic surgery.
Remember—in most states, it is legal for any physician
who holds a medical license, with or without
surgical training, to advertise as a plastic surgeon or cosmetic surgeon. That's
why understanding board certification is
so important for
the prospective patient.
If there is confusion about a surgeon's board
certification, you may consult The Official
ABMs Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists available at most
libraries.
Check for membership in the American Society
of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (ASPRS)
or the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). Members of
these professional societies are certified
by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. ASPRS represents the full scope
of plastic surgery (reconstructive and cosmetic).
Members of ASAPS also are fully trained in plastic and reconstructive
surgery but have a special interest in cosmetic
procedures.
Check the surgeon's hospital affiliation
Qualified hospitals have been accredited
by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
An
appointment to a surgical staff of an accredited
hospital indicates that a surgeon's capabilities and performance have
been reviewed and judged acceptable by
medical colleagues. Ask whether your surgeon has hospital
privileges to perform
the specific
surgical procedure in which you are interested,
even if you plan to have your surgery performed
in an outpatient center or office—based surgical facility.
Talk candidly with the surgeon
After you
have checked out the credentials of
a plastic surgeon, you are ready to make an appointment for
an initial consultation.
During this consultation, the surgeon
will examine you, explain his or her recommended
approach
to your surgery and may
give
you literature describing preoperative
considerations and postoperative care.
You should feel comfortable discussing
your personal goals and expectations.
A qualified and reputable plastic surgeon
will be happy to answer any questions you
may have to inform you of the possible
risks and side effects associated with
surgery.
Dr. Worland has been practicing plastic
reconstructive surgery in the Rogue
Valley since 1977. He is certified by
the American Board of Surgery, the
American Board of Plastic Surgery,
and has certification for added qualifications for
Surgery of the Hand. He graduated
with honors from Williams College in Williamstown,
Massachusetts, in 1966, and is a
graduate of the University of Rochester
Medical School in Rochester,
New York. He completed his general
surgery training at UCLA Medical School in
Los
Angeles, then his plastic surgery
training at the University of Rochester in
New York, with a six month fellowship
in head and neck cancer training at Roswell
Park, in Buffalo, New York. Military
Service: Major, Air National Guard,
New York and California.
Dr. Worland's primary
interests include Cosmetic Surgery, Hand Surgery (with particular
interest in nerve reconstructive surgery), and Cosmetic and Reconstructive
Breast Surgery.
Dr. Worland has medical staff appointments
at Rogue Valley Medical Center
and Providence Medford Medical Center,
as well as Ashland Community Hospital.
He is a member of the American College of Surgeons,
the American Society
of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons,
the American Association for Surgery of the Hand, the American Society
for
Aesthetic Surgery, the International Society of Aesthetic
Surgery,
Northwest Society of Plastic Surgeons,
and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is also past chief
of surgery at both Rogue Valley
Medical Center and
Providence Medford
Medical Center. He has
presented more than 30 educational
papers over the past 20 years for national
and international plastic surgery
conferences.
Dr.
Worland has extensive experience in performing the aesthetic procedures
explained here
and is happy to answer all of your questions. If you should decide on
surgery, you
can be assured that our entire
office staff will provide you with the highest
quality of medical care. Our promise
is that your needs will always
be our most important concern.
