This article was written by Sherly Diaz
 A specialist can perform between 100 and 150 surgeries a year.
To improve your physical appearance, for vanity, style or to obtain a better job, are some of the reasons which motivates dozens of women and men to undergo cosmetic plastic surgery. These are the reasons demanded for cosmetic surgery increase in Panama during the last 10 years.
The Panamanian Association for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery said a decade ago a specialist performed between 40 and 50 plastic surgeries a year, but now a specialist does between 100 and 150. This includes costly surgeries and also minor ones. This has caused the increase in cosmetic plastic surgery not only in surgical invasive procedures use of a scalpel , but also in the use of other non invasive cosmetic procedures like lifting with laser, stretching with radio frequency, peeling with laser, chemicals, botox, or padding of wrinkles, and others.
The most demanded esthetic or cosmetic surgery is for breast enhancement or reduction, but mainly for enhancement. Next are surgeries for body sculpturing tummy tucking, body liposculpture , and other facial cosmetic surgery eyelids, rhinoplasty, and facial rejuvenation .
The concept that only women have plastic surgeries has changed, since the proportion nowadays is 70% female patients and 30% males .
Costs
The Plastic Surgery Association President, Luis Carlos Moreno, commented that it is difficult to establish a price for cosmetic surgery since each patient requires different things. This is why costs are established by type of procedure that needs to be done, and surgery time required. The doctor pointed out that it is because of this factor that the association has refused to establish a “price menu” because of ethical considerations, and also because it could create false expectations on the part of clients concerning cost of the surgeries.
Where to get an operation?
• Plastic Surgery Center El Cangrejo
• CIRPA Center, located in San Fernando specialized center
• National Hospital
• Punta Pacific Hospital
• Punta Paitilla Hospital
• San Fernando Hospital
 However, he explained that the costs are much more reasonable that in South American countries or the United States. Specialists in this field assured that prices in Panama for plastic surgery are much more economic than in other countries with the advantage that clients can enjoys the same level of proficiency as surgeries in the best centers the United States or Europe because plastic surgeons do not do their studies in Panama but in foreign countries.
“To graduate they must attend well known educational centers in this field governed by standards of American and European plastic surgery associations. The surgeons are exposed to studies and training in these specialized centers which provide Panamanian specialists excellent professional qualities, and above all are certified by these associations,” said Moreno.
Foreigners
It is a fact that many foreigners people are coming to this country to undergo surgery. This is especially true of Americans; in U.S. costs is very high. “Also, there are patients from Venezuela, Colombia and Argentina looking for the services of plastic surgeons since cost wise is better than going to the United States,” said Laslo Pelyhe, expert in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Moreno Aguila, indicated most of the local hospitals are not prepared for requirements of cosmetic surgery, since they lack much of the innovating and costly equipment due to the fact their volume of cosmetic surgeries are too low. However, presently there are two large centers for plastic and cosmetic surgery, and some hospitals which are recommended by the doctors.
Precautions
The Panamanian Association for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has the names of 22 plastic surgeons duly certified and there are about six more specialists that have not been endorsed by the association yet. Pelyhe said that they have had some problems with the Technical Council of the Ministry of Health who has granted equal status in this specialty to some colleagues despite the association recommendation not to grant it because they do not yet fulfill all prerequisites.
Likewise, work is being done at the National Assembly level to pass a law establishing sanctions to doctors who come from overseas and start working in beauty parlors or health spas. It is important that before undergoing any plastic surgery, the client make sure the practitioner is fully qualified in his specialty, because presently, there are many opportunists from other specialties who claim to know about cosmetic procedures without having the proper training or qualifications.
Likewise, work is being done at the National Assembly level to pass a law establishing sanctions to doctors who come from overseas and start working in beauty parlors or health spas. It is important that before undergoing any plastic surgery, the client make sure the practitioner is fully qualified in his specialty, because presently, there are many opportunists from other specialties who claim to know about cosmetic procedures without having the proper training or qualifications.
Precautions
The Panamanian Association for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has the names of 22 plastic surgeons duly certified and there are about six more specialists that have not been endorsed by the association yet. Pelyhe said that they have had some problems with the Technical Council of the Ministry of Health who has granted equal status in this specialty to some colleagues despite the association recommendation not to grant it because they do not yet fulfill all prerequisites.
Likewise, work is being done at the National Assembly level to pass a law establishing sanctions to doctors who come from overseas and start working in beauty parlors or health spas. It is important that before undergoing any plastic surgery, the client make sure the practitioner is fully qualified in his specialty, because presently, there are many opportunists from other specialties who claim to know about cosmetic procedures without having the proper training or qualifications.
Likewise, work is being done at the National Assembly level to pass a law establishing sanctions to doctors who come from overseas and start working in beauty parlors or health spas. It is important that before undergoing any plastic surgery, the client make sure the practitioner is fully qualified in his specialty, because presently, there are many opportunists from other specialties who claim to know about cosmetic procedures without having the proper training or qualifications.
To identify qualified surgeons, patients can call the association telephone at 392-1001 to find if the person is fully qualified. Association members recommend you demand to see a title or certificate, because there are many general surgeons, dermatologists, and cosmeticians who are opening clinics and performing procedures without having adequate training.
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