Have an eyelid correction done at the doctor’s office or plastic surgeon’s office?
More and more, you hear about people getting eyelid surgery done at the doctor’s office. Legally, any general practitioner may perform minor procedures such as removing birthmarks or fat bumps and even performing an upper eyelid correction. Although upper eyelid surgery is a relatively minor procedure, there are always risks associated with surgery. Therefore, we would like to explain to you the difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic (family) physician.
Differences in training
Fortunately, there is also “a label” for doctors who perform cosmetic surgery and non-surgical treatments. The title “Plastic Surgeon” is a protected title in Europe. The title “Cosmetic physician” may be held by anyone who has passed a medical degree. To date, there is no law in the Netherlands prohibiting doctors from performing certain procedures such as eyelid surgery without recognized training. However, “cosmetic doctors” do need to acquire their knowledge and skills before becoming competent. It is highly questionable whether a cosmetic doctor has the same knowledge and competence of business as a licensed plastic surgeon, who in his/her 6-year training learns to perform general surgery for 2 years followed by 4 more years of intensive training under supervision in plastic, reconstructive and hand surgery. In this, the plastic surgeon-in-training is examined every six months. It is not for everyone to complete this tough training. Some cosmetic doctors have had no training or very poor training.
Attention to quality
Patients today inquire via the Internet about the patient-friendliness of the attending physician. Very important, but we also advocate that patients also be well informed about the doctor’s ability and thus competence. Want to be sure of a plastic surgeon? If so, ask if he or she is affiliated with the “NVPC” (Dutch Society for Plastic Surgery). In addition, you can also see how many satisfied reviews a plastic surgeon or cosmetic doctor has from other patients.
Thus, it is difficult to determine whether a general practitioner is competent to perform eyelid surgery because there are no certifications in this field here. In any case, our advice is to pay close attention to the quality of your practitioner if you are considering eyelid surgery.
