Plastic Surgery News and Events

A word about patient safety from Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS and The Center for Facial Cosmetic Surgery

Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS has always been proactive and vigilant when it comes to ensuring safe standards of care for his patients. Often times the media highlights negative images of surgical procedures and their outcomes. We would like to take this opportunity to inform you of specific measures we have set in place to ensure the comfort and safety for our patients. Here is what you should know.

Here, at The Center for Facial Cosmetic Surgery, Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS has always imparted medical, surgical, and skin care education to his patients in an effort to inform them. Dr. Clevens realizes the importance of an informed patient who can effectively make realistic choices throughout the course of their own health care and surgical decisions.

Plastic Surgery of any kind whether it is for reconstructive or cosmetic purposes is indeed surgery. All surgeries, by nature have inherent risks and benefits that should be addressed with your surgeon. Individuals who choose to have plastic surgery must hold their surgeon to the same standards as they would with any surgery of any kind.

Dr. Ross A. Clevens has consistently insisted upon utilizing the safest standards of care when planning for successful patient outcomes. What does this mean for our patients at The Center for Facial Cosmetic Surgery? It means that Dr. Ross A. Clevens has always held his patients' safety as his main objective and has instituted measures of safety along each phase of his patients' care in the following ways:

• Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS is a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
  
  
• Dr. Clevens utilizes facilities that are AHCA state inspected and hold the coveted distinction of being Medicare certified and JCAHO or AAAHC accredited
  
  
• Dr. Clevens utilizes board certified MD physician anesthesiologists in attendance monitoring you during your surgery
  
  
• Dr. Clevens staffs his private offices with Registered Nurses
  (Read below to find out why these safety standards are important to you)

Why is it important that Dr. Clevens is a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon?

A Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon has training specifically in plastic surgery of the face, head and neck. The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS, www.abfprs.org) is the recognized board that certifies exclusively in the specialty of facial plastic surgery. In addition to board-certification, a surgeon's special interest and experience in facial cosmetic surgery as well as documentation of a plastic facial surgeon's wide experience and training in facial surgery are all important considerations in selecting a qualified surgeon. These requirements indicate extensive knowledge of current facial cosmetic surgical techniques. Equally important is the assurance that your surgeon abides by a strict code of professional conduct, which helps to ensure the highest and safest quality patient care.

Why is it important to have surgery in an Ambulatory Surgery Center instead of in a doctor's office?

To ensure your comfort and safety, Dr. Clevens has chosen to perform surgery only in fully accredited Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC) that exceed the most stringent state and national accreditation standards. Each of his centers is equipped with the most advanced computers, lasers, surgical, endoscopic and monitoring equipment available.

These facilities undergo strict licensing and tough inspections by the State of Florida, Medicare and independent accrediting organizations just like a hospital does.

An office-based operating room does not have to be accredited and usually does not meet the same standards of care. Surprisingly, in most states office based surgery is unregulated. Visit aaahc.org or jcaho.org for more information.

This translates into the highest safety available during your procedure at our ASC.

Why is it important to have an Anesthesiologist perform anesthesia for me? Why not a nurse or medical assistant?

Dr. Clevens utilizes only Medical Doctors of Anesthesia (Anesthesiologists). Your procedure will be performed with a board certified MD physician anesthesiologist in attendance monitoring you during your surgery, rather than a nurse anesthetist.

Anesthesiologists have completed years of rigorous training to meet the highest standards of care. Many other cosmetic surgeons instead use unsupervised nurses to put their patients to sleep.

Why does Dr. Clevens have a staff of Registered Nurses in his offices as opposed to Medical Assistants?

In his private offices, Dr. Ross A. Clevens has maintained a staff of Registered Nurses for preoperative and postoperative care and evaluation of his patients. Registered Nurses (R.N.) have a high degree of medical training and follow meticulous standards of patient care and safety. Registered Nurses have to pass strict State Board licensure requirements, complete continuing education courses, and maintain a code of ethics in order to re apply for their license. Medical Assistants are not held to the same strict standards of care that R.N.'s are held to.

As a patient, how can I actively participate in the safety of my care?

As a patient you should be prepared to discuss and disclose all your pertinent health history to your surgeon. As well as discuss your anticipated surgery with all physicians or Nurse Practitioners that are involved in your ongoing health care. Have a close family member or friend go with you to your office visits with your surgeon, to assist you in recalling and conveying important health issues.

At The Center for Facial Cosmetic Surgery, your safety is our main concern and we hope that this information has been valuable and helpful to you. Should you have any questions or concerns about this topic, please contact us. Even if you are not planning your surgery with us we would like the opportunity to help you become a more informed patient.

TRUST YOUR FACE TO THE SPECIALIST … Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS is board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He completed his undergraduate work at Yale University and earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. Dr. Clevens completed his residency and post-graduate Advanced Fellowship in Facial Plastic Surgery at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

A graduate of Yale, Harvard and Michigan, Dr. Clevens is Brevard's only fellowship-trained and board-certified facial plastic surgery specialist. Dr. Clevens specializes in nasal, facial and eyelid plastic surgery rather than plastic surgery in general to provide his patients the best in specialized care. Your specific concerns are best addressed in detail during your personal consultation with Dr. Clevens who was judged "Best of Brevard" by the readers of Florida Today in 2001-2007.
Please contact our offices in Melbourne and Merritt Island, Florida at 321.727.3223 or 888.438.3223 today to arrange your consultation. 

You may contact us via email at info@drclevens.com or visit us on the web at www.drclevens.com.