Liposuction and the Role of Government Authorities

Liposuction and Government Health Authorities in the U.S.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services      (DHHS) [1]:Is      dedicated to safeguarding public health by providing information to the public, setting up guidelines and regulations for the medical activities, and funding other vital human services, within the U.S.A. boundary. For liposuction surgery, the following agencies are involved:

  •  National Institutes of Health (NIH)[3]:Is the medical research agency, working towards general public health. The organization helps improve medical functions, while      also keeping the public updated. Overall, NIH adds vital academic value for liposuction.
  • National Library of Medicine (NLM)[4]: A part of NIH, NLM is the world’s largest  library about the biomedical products. The library is freely accessible  online.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)[5]: Works toward the health preservation of the US  citizens. CDC integrates the resources, such as information, tools, and      skills to generate health awareness, preventing health issues, preparing for any new or uncontrolled health threat, etc.

Liposuction and Role of Government Health Authorities

Liposuction is an elective surgery. The patient is the final decision maker here. Therefore,  government regulation is limited to quality assurance of  medical supplies, foods, & drugs and facilitating information to help people make an informed decision. Some role of government and liposuction regulation include:

  • Quality Check Assurance of  Medical Supplies: Only FDA approved surgical equipment and medical supplies can be used for lipoplasty. Cannulae, the anesthesia      administered, the vacuum meter, pumps, collection containers, ultrasound probe, etc. all require FDA approval before reaching the market.
  • Information Supply: The following are the reliable and updated information  sources of the government for the general health benefit of the US      citizens.
    • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS)[1]:
      • U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)[2]: Regulatory framework, public & medical  guidelines, informative articles, researches, case studies, etc.
      • National Institutes of Health (NIH)[3]: Regulatory framework, public & medical  guidelines, informative articles, researches, case studies, reports of        clinical trials, etc.

National Library of Medicine (NLM)[4]: NIH’s library of medical information

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)[5]: Case studies, guidelines, and reports
  • United States Department of Commerce[6]:
    • Fedworld.gov[7]: Sale of relevant documents on the subject of   your choice

     

Liposuction Aspects Not Under Direct Government Control[8]

  • Surgeons’ and Health Clinics’ Practice Regulation: The government does not regulate the liposuction  surgeons’ medical methods, including consultation & any treatment.      Similarly, it does not control the functioning and management of the hospital facilities and clinics. This is done by Credentialing  Organizations: TJC, CARF and AAAFS
  • Medical Referrals: The government does not recommend any particular  surgeon or medical center. It does not maintain any central database for the details of  liposuction surgeons operating within the US  boundary. The patient needs to research well and to select a surgeon.
  • Merit List: The      government does not have any national merit list for FDA approved health products. It simply okays the ones meeting the minimum required standard.
  • Cost Control: The      government does not offer any fixed price list for any kind of surgery or medical functions. The patient is responsible to find the best possible surgeon and to negotiate payment for the required plastic surgery.

Government Recommendations for Liposuction Candidates[9]

Through FDA, DHHS suggests the following to the patients:

  • Be Wary of Advertisements: Do not let the promotions delude you. Advertising promises often are nothing but hollow boasts. Select the doctor according to his/her credentials. Ideally, a board certified surgeon with a specialization in liposuction should be selected.
  • Communicate with the Doctor:Discuss your surgical expectationswith the doctor. Find out the following:
    • The doctor’s competence & accomplishment
    • Your eligibility to undergo liposuction
    • Set a realistic expectation – liposuction results are never perfect
    • Know the details of the surgical procedure
    • Understand that the results may not be permanent
    • Be clear on the liposuction costs – fees and facility expenses
    • Try out safe and non-invasive alternatives like exercise and diet. As for any surgery, liposuction has its sets of health hazards.
  • Research Extensively: Read, ask, and inquire at length to stay informed  and updated about your liposuction treatment.
  • Do Not Compromise Quality for Money: Competence of the doctor and not cheap  liposuction should be the deciding factor. Understand the overall procedure your doctor conducts, his/her qualifications & reputation, quality of the clinic, success rate, etc. A hasty decision may prove expensive for your appearance.
  • Report[10]: In the case of any discrepancies in a clinic’s functioning, such as violating  health regulations, compromised quality equipment and medications, or any type of malpractice you observe,  report it all through MedWatch – The  FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program[11].      Medical professionals as well as the patients can report under this program.

References:

1 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) – http://www.hhs.gov/

2 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – http://www.fda.gov/

3 National Institutes of Health (NIH) – www.nih.gov/

4 National Library of Medicine (NLM) – www.nlm.nih.gov/

5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – http://www.cdc.gov/

6 United States Department of Commerce – www.commerce.gov/

7 Fedworld.gov – www.fedworld.gov/

8 Regulations – The Skinny on Liposuction, FDA – http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm049314.htm#Regulation

9 More Factors to Consider – The Skinny on Liposuction, FDA – http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm049314.htm#MoreFactorstoConsider

10 Report Problems to FDA – The Skinny on Liposuction, FDA – www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm049314.htm#ReportProblemstoFDA

11 MedWatch – The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program – http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm