Plastic Surgeon Warns Consumers To Do Their Homework Before Going Under the Knife
Plastic surgeon Dr. Joe Gryskiewicz wants to reach out to the more than ten million people who will have cosmetic surgery in 2007 with a consumer-friendly guide that stresses the need to be healthy both physically and mentally before pursuing cosmetic surgery.
   Dr. Gryskiewicz (Gris-Ka’-vitz), fondly called “Dr. Joe” by his patients, has been a surgeon for more than two decades and has seen the industry grow tremendously. His book, Your Body, Your Beauty, Your Safety is designed to educate patients before they step into a cosmetic surgeon’s office.
   The doctor estimates as many as 10 percent of cosmetic surgery patients are not happy with the outcome of their surgery because of unrealistic expectations.
   “Cosmetic surgery is a wonderful option to improve the lives of many people; however often the patient’s psychological reasons for having a procedure aren’t considered or discussed prior to the surgery,” said Dr. Gryskiewicz. “With all of the new procedures and the attention given to the industry by the media, many patients develop unrealistic expectations about the impact that cosmetic surgery will have on their lives and if all elements aren’t adequately considered, the patient won’t be happy with the outcome.”
   As a patient safety advocate and a former spokesperson for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Gryskiewicz counsels his patients on the mental and physical changes of cosmetic surgery. His book provides a checklist that can help a patient determine whether or not they are ready to undergo plastic surgery, as well as reasons to rethink the process:
   Dr. Gryskiewicz’s Reasons Not To Go Under the Knife:
   – To please your spouse or partner.
   – As a reaction to a midlife crisis.
   – As a reaction to a life-changing event, such as death or divorce.
   – If you suffer from ongoing depression.
   – If you have major health problems.
   – To land Mr. or Mrs. Wonderful.
   – To just be happy.
   Dr. Gryskiewicz recommends that patients find a doctor who will spend time talking through each procedure and warns patients that plastic surgery is not a “band-aid to life’s problems,” but rather a long-term lifestyle change.
  Â
July 22nd, 2007 at 10:21 pm
The knife always comes with potential problems that many of the newest non-surgical technologies don’t have. Dr. Gryskiewicz is right in promoting care.