Botox, tummy tucks, bariatric surgery… DHA smart clinic discusses safety tips

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) experts discussed on Thursday, during the Authority’s smart clinic, safety tips before undergoing cosmetic surgery procedures.

The smart clinic took place from the Authority’s stand at Gitex 2015 and experts addressed several queries that were received on the authority’s twitter account @DHA_Dubai, Instagram and Periscope. 

Dr Marwan Al Zarouni, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Head of Plastic Surgery at Rashid Hospital and president of the Emirates Plastic Surgery Society, said: “There are two types of plastic surgery procedures. Cosmetic surgery is not necessary and is done because the person wants to achieve a certain vision of beauty. These include tummy tuck, liposuction, etc.  Reconstructive plastic surgery is necessary and is needed to treat congenital conditions, burn cases etc. It is the use of surgery to restore the form and function of the body."

Dr Al Zarouni, said: "In general, cosmetic surgery procedures are becoming more and more popular in the UAE and globally. Among such procedures, botox and fillers are becoming increasingly common. The reason is that such rejuvenation procedures and quick, give the desired results and thus people leading busy lives do not need to take too much time away for these treatments.  However, the key is to ensure that people go to licensed practitioners and use quality products to avoid complications which can sometimes be irreparable. 

"Botox administered incorrectly can cause nerve damage which normally takes four to six months to correct itself.  In terms of filers, people need to exercise extra caution because if silicon is used as a filler, the damage is irreparable. Silicon can never be injected directly in the body, it is very harmful and results in infections etc.  In such cases, doctors prescribe, antibiotics, steroid injections and regularly disinfect the affected area until the infection subsides. However, it generally reappears every few months.  In the UAE, the fillers we use are high quality and very safe.

"However, before deciding on a surgeon, one should do enough research on the credentials and his/her area of skill. For instance, getting a nose surgery by a liposuction expert is definitely avoidable. The patient should go to two doctors for consultation and if both the doctors’ advice the same line of treatment, it’s fine. But if they advise different treatments, then a third option should be taken. And most importantly, you should ensure that the clinic and doctor is licensed by the DHA. "

He said that Dubai has hundreds of licensed facilities that provide dermatology, plastic and aesthetic services so there is really no need to go to unlicensed facilities.

He also stated that when Botox is used for cosmetic purposes, only a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon is allowed to give Botox injections and this should be verified before undergoing the procedure.

He urged people to contact the DHA health regulation department if they are unsure of the licence status of a healthcare professional.

Dr Al Zarouni said that Botox is used to treat certain medical conditions such as migraines, hemorrhoids, muscle spasms and for cosmetic purposes it is used as a wrinkle-reducing/anti-ageing treatment. "Botox is a drug made from a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum called botulinum toxin. It temporarily partially paralyzes muscles and if administered correctly using high quality products will provide desirable results. But if the amount administered is incorrect or if the quality of the Botox is not up to standard, the complications are often irreparable.
 
Botox needs to be repeated every four to six months, whereas fillers needs to be repeated once between eight months to one year. While Botox is used to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, fillers are used to add volume to a particular area in the body and examples of fillers include lip and cheek augmentation procedures.

Dr Al Zarouni also advised that people should discuss the exact kind of results they are looking for before undergoing botox as it can hide facial expressions.

He also warned that repeated treatments that begin with Botox but extend to other cosmetic procedures such as tummy-tuck etc. may be a sign of cosmetic surgery addiction and should be taken very seriously. "In such cases, the doctor may refer the patient to a phycologist to help overcome this addiction. Family members should also be aware of such signs and provide medical and emotional support to such patients to help them overcome the addition and prevent them from undergoing repeated and unnecessary cosmetic procedures."

He also advised people to follow basic beauty routines and lead a healthy lifestyle to avoid developing deep facial lines and wrinkles. "Everyone should follow a daily moisturizing routine. People should moisturize their face at least twice a day and those with dry skin can do this more frequently. Other steps include tobacco cessation, eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, avoiding sun exposure particularly for a long period and exercising regularly.

In terms of other surgeries, he said bariatric surgery is a common procedure but it’s not a cosmetic procedure for patients with morbid obesity. However, post-bariatric surgery or post excessive weight loss, body contouring surgery is a cosmetic procedure.

Dr Al Zarouni, said: "Let’s get one thing straight, bariatric surgery is not the only cure for obesity. Not all obese patients should opt for surgery. Patients who are morbidly obese   those with body mass indexes of 40 or higher- can opt for bariatric surgery, after they have exhausted all other weight-loss options. Patients with a BMI of 30 and above, who have various co-morbidities such as diabetes, etc. may also opt for bariatric surgery but after they have tried non-invasive methods of weight loss."

Dr Al Zarouni said the bariatric surgery clinics at DHA hospitals, first put patients on a six month weight loss program with the clinical nutrition department. They also ensure patients visit a psychologist and specialists such as endocrinologists to tackle their diabetes. "Not every patient is selected for bariatric surgery. Those who have shown improvement through non-surgical methods during the six month period are asked to continue the same plan."

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