Patient Safety Should Be Priority for Plastic Surgeons, Doctor Says

FEDERAL WAY, WA, August 18, 2012 (Press-News.org) No matter what the procedure, patient safety should be at the forefront of every decision a surgeon makes, says Dr. Braden C. Stridde, medical director of Puget Sound Plastic Surgery, a practice that specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery near Seattle.

"If it's not safe or it may impose a risk to the patient's health, I won't do it, no matter how much the patient wants the procedure," he says.

As an example, Dr. Stridde cites the recent British ban on an injectable filler called Macrolane that was being used in the U.K. for non-surgical breast enhancement. Macrolane is not used in the United States, but in Britain the injectable breast enhancement procedure had come to be known as a "lunchtime boob job."

Although Macrolane can still be used in Britain to contour other parts of the body, the British Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) banned use of the filler for breast enhancement after it was determined that Macrolane could interfere with mammogram readings and make diagnosis more difficult.

Dr. Stridde recommends more traditional breast enhancement procedures using breast implants for Seattle area patients who are interested in breast augmentation.

"Implants have been studied extensively for their safety, and they have FDA approval," he says. "When it comes to safety, there are no shortcuts. Your body is nothing to take chances with."

Dr. Stridde emphasizes that when choosing a plastic surgeon, it is important to research the doctor's training and experience and look for someone who is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).

"Certification is something that can easily be checked online," Dr. Stridde says. "When you choose a doctor who is board certified, you can be assured that he or she graduated from an accredited medical school, has completed an extensive residency program with an emphasis on plastic surgery and has passed stringent ABPS exams.

"This way, you'll know you are in good hands and that you are working with someone who will always make your personal safety a top priority."

In addition to his breast augmentation patients, Dr. Stridde has patients who come from all over Washington to Seattle for liposuction, facial cosmetic surgery and the latest in non-surgical body-sculpting procedures.

At Puget Sound Plastic Surgery, Dr. Braden Stridde performs a wide range of today's most advanced cosmetic and reconstructive surgical procedures. Dr. Stridde is founder and medical director of the practice, which has been helping Seattle-area women and men look their best since 1993. He received his medical degree from Northwestern University in Chicago and continued his surgical training at multiple prestigious institutions from San Francisco to Scotland, including Dartmouth and University of Washington. Dr. Stridde is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Website: http://www.psplasticsurgery.com