Decalogue
The best aesthetic surgery specialists are devising ten basic rules to operate safely.
Doctors from Clínica Planas, Quirón, Teknon, Hospital Clínic, Hospital de Sant Pau and Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol from Barcelona, are collaborating in this initiative led by the Jaime Planas Foundation
Barcelona, 27 February 2002. This morning, Official College of Physicians, Barcelona held a presentation on the Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery Decalogue. The Jaime Planas Foundation, together with the main Aesthetic Surgery specialists in Catalonia, have devised a document which gathers together 10 basic rules that must be taken into account when undertaking surgery. The presentation was attended by the General Director of Health Resources from the Catalonian Government, Eugeni Sedano, member of the Governing Board of the Official College of Physicians of Barcelona, Dr. Francesc Ferrer Ruscalleda and Dr. Jaime Planas, President of the Jaime Planas Foundation.
The amount of negative press surrounding Cosmetic Surgery recently has had a direct impact on public opinion. This aspect worries the medical community because it generates distrust and discredits professionals. The Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery medical group agrees that it is needs to make the public aware of the basic requirements that a centre must meet when they decide to operate. This is why this document wants to give patients the basic points they have to meet
when deciding to operate in this speciality. Among the requirements which must be met are the fact the hospital or clinic must have all the necessary physical and human resources needed in an emergency situation and that the patient must pass all preoperative tests before any treatment.
Basic requirements which must be met by a plastic or aesthetic surgery centre in order to operate
1. The treatment must be carried out in a hospital or clinic which has all the physical and human resources needed in an emergency situation. The patient must ensure that the centre is legally recognised by the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
2. Any treatment, whatever its importance or size, must be performed in an operating room that has all the safety measures.
3. The staff working with the plastic surgeon must have the official corresponding degree.
4. A qualified anaesthesiologist must be present during the operation, even if it is a local anaesthetic.
5. Any major surgery treatment will require admission and post-op monitoring.
6. In the initial consultation, the patient has to be seen and examined by the surgeon who will treat them.
7. The patient will have to sign consent documents once they are well informed and have understood the risks related to their treatment.
8. Before any treatment, the surgeon, the anaesthetist and the centre’s medical team will have to have the pre-operative tests on the patient which certifies that there is no medical contraindication to carry out the treatment.
9. In the postoperative period, a very rigorous monitoring and follow-up of the patient\'s progress will be carried out, always by qualified centre staff and under the direct supervision of the responsible surgeon.
10. Upon being discharged, the patient may be given a report detailing the operation performed and advice, if necessary, to follow in the future.
