On Sunday March 10 2013, the Sun-Herald featured a very relevant article about underqualified doctors who are performing Breast Augmentation procedures under the ever evasive banner of “Cosmetic Surgeon”.
The article goes on to explain that “patients are left confused by a system that allows anyone with a basic medical degree and registered as a doctor able to call themselves a Cosmetic Surgeon”.
Doctors (including dentists and anaesthetists) are also performing liposuction and facelifts as well as treating scarring in burns victims and breast reconstruction in patients following cancer. These botched procedures often leave a patient with permanent physical scarring as well as psychological trauma.
To become a fully qualified Plastic Surgeon, doctors are required to undergo an additional 7 years of training and then go on to become members of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
The spokesperson of ASPS council expressed his concern about unsafe surgery taking place (often in unlicensed premises), and the need for the State and Federal government to act and protect consumers and prevent this from occurring in the future.
Patients of Dr Lim can be reassured that they are in experienced (over 15 years) and qualified hands when they undergo cosmetic surgery. Not only is Dr Lim a member of ASPS, he is also a member of the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) and a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
