| Dr. Julio Gallo is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Here the doctor has answered some common questions that Bizymoms visitors have about Reconstructive Surgery.
Q. Is Reconstructive surgery covered by insurance?
A. Certain reconstructive surgeries are covered by insurance, however, the patient is advised to check with their particular policy/plan to make sure that they are. In general, cosmetic/aesthetic procedures are not covered by insurance plans.
Q. What procedures are considered reconstructive surgery?
A. Reconstruction refers to correction of traumatic defects such as facial fractures from accidents, cuts, lacerations, congenital malformations and repair of defects left after cancer surgery (e.g. skin cancer).
Q. Who provides anesthesia and how are the anesthesiologists involved?
A. We have certain anesthesiologists who we have worked with for years who provide excellent safe anesthesia- everything from local anesthesia to general. We perform surgeries on site in two operating rooms certified by AAAHC ( www.aaahc.org ) in order to ensure patient safety and a high level of quality care.
Q. How do I choose a surgeon for Reconstructive Surgery?
A. Select a candidate list- In choosing a plastic surgeon, your first goal is to develop a list of good candidates. Where do you find them? Some sources are better than others. In general friends, doctors, nurses and others who have had similar procedures can offer advise and guidance.
Credentials
Once you’ve compiled a list of several doctors, you should check their credentials. While good credentials cannot guarantee a successful outcome, they can significantly increase the odds. Certain things such as training, medical school attended and completion of an accredited program are important to research. You should ask if the surgeon is board certified by a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties ( www.abms.org ). Lastly, ask the surgeon during your consultation what his/her experience has been with the particular procedure you are comtemplating. How many has he/her performed? What has been the outcome? Is he/her up to date on the latest advancements for that particular procedure?
Consultation
After you have a list of 2-3 surgeons, you can visit each for a consultation in order to compare experience, techniques and comfort with their personalities. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, no matter how trivial or how personal you think they’ll sound. The surgeon should answer all of your questions thoroughly. He/she should be able to offer his/her opinion about what to do and the various alternatives available. He/she should be able to talk about experience, credentials, outcomes, expected risks and limitations as well as complications. At the end of the consultation, you should feel at ease and comfortable with the decision to have your surgery.
Q. How can we contact Dr. Gallo if we have further questions?
A. The MIAMI Institute for Age Management and Intervention
1441 Brickell Avenue
Sky Lobby, Four Seasons Hotel and Tower
Miami, FL 33131
Phone: 305-624-0009 -- Fax: 305-373-1175
jeannine@miami-institute.com
www.MIAMI-Institute.com |
