Despite the poor economy, cosmetic surgery – specifically breast augmentation – is still popular. A new approach, which enables doctors to operate in their offices instead of hospitals, and for patients to be awake during the procedure, is said to be safer. It’s a boon for cosmetic surgeons who are never keen to market the OR.

Last week’s New York Times article about the “awake option” has spurred debate between cosmetic surgeons and plastic surgeons. Board certified plastic surgeons say it’s a dangerous way to go under the knife.

Cosmetic surgeons are running self-assured Recasts and happy-patient Screens: No one “can dispute the fact that it is indeed a safer procedure with less potential complications than when performed while the patient is asleep with general anesthesia.” Being awake let’s patients “know what’s going on.”

How are the certified surgeons countering? With finger-wagging Pings. Is this smart? Patients crash and when they do they’d hope to be in the OR.

So far, there haven’t been any horror stories. But it makes you think twice when fully-trained surgeons tell us to be careful.

What play(s) are cosmetic surgeons running to promote the awake option? Share your response with us by taking the poll.

Posted by: Alice Hu

Photo Credit: blog.pappastax.com