If you’ve ever been on a cruise ship, you probably experienced all-you-can-eat midnight buffets, tropical steel drum bands and jet-skiing in crystal clear blue waters.
But now you can add another thing to that list: Botox. Yes, that’s right. If you’re worried about sacrificing your beauty routine on vacation, several cruise ships now offer medi-spa treatments while you’re aboard.
While the convenience is attractive, you still need to consider the qualifications of the doctor and the safety of the procedure—especially if you are thousands of miles away from shore.
Plastic surgery is a big part of the culture—2013 marked thefourth consecutive year of growth for cosmetic procedures in the United States—but anyone considering it should take it just as seriously as any other medical procedure. It can be easy for people to fall for advertising gimmicks that overpromise results. If you don’t research plastic surgeons and have realistic expectations for your surgery, you could end up unhappy with the results—or even worse—experience disfigurement or permanent scarring.
If you’re considering a cosmetic procedure, especially one on a cruise ship, here’s an important checklist to review beforehand:
Find a board-certified plastic surgeon
In addition to Botox, some cruise ships also offer Restalyne and Perlane, also known as dermal fillers. These injections soften skin wrinkles or plump your lips.
If you’re interested in undergoing these procedures during your cruise, call the company and ask for information about the spa, the doctors who will perform each procedure and what kinds of products they’ll use (make sure they are FDA-approved).
Once you have this information, consider the surgeon’s overall education, experience and training. When a physician is board-certified, that doctor has taken additional training and undergone comprehensive written and oral examinations in his or her completed specialty field. Plastic surgeons who are certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc. must have graduated from an accredited medical school and completed at least five years of additional training as a resident surgeon in an accredited program.
Even if a surgeon is board-certified, it’s still important to do your homework. The websites of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and theAmerican Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) allow you to research top board-certified plastic surgeons in aesthetic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries around the world.
Do extra research
There are additional resources you can use to find a plastic surgeon. Smart Beauty Guide, for example,empowers consumers with knowledge and resources to make informed and intelligent decisions about plastic surgery. Aesthetic surgeons created this website for their own patients, and it is affiliated with the ASAPS. It provides the latest, most accurate information on everything from breast augmentation to injectables. It also includes testimonials, informative articles, videos and an “Ask a Surgeon” section.
It’s crucial to thoroughly research plastic surgeons, so you make the right choice before you undergo a cosmetic procedure, especially while on vacation. If you’re interested in learning more about plastic surgery, talk to an expert at Aesthetic Enhancements.
Contact us today at 407-218-4550 or online to schedule your personalized consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Armando Soto. Our goal is to help you make an informed decision about plastic surgery and ensure you’re incredibly happy with the results.
