NEW YORK--14 Jun--PRNewswire-AsiaNet/InfoQuest The ISAPS guidelines, in development for nearly one year, reflect a growing consumer trend and were created to address the thousands of inquiries ISAPS has received from consumers, medical professionals, the media and governmental organizations. Dr. Joao Carlos Sampaio Goes of Sao Paulo, Brazil, the current President of ISAPS, championed these breakthrough guidelines as well as the new ISAPS website. "Consumers around the world have looked to ISAPS for over 30 years forthe most accurate and reliable information about qualified plastic surgeons and advice about up-to-the-minute procedures. Now, for the first time, there is a worldwide standard for consumers to reference when traveling for aesthetic plastic surgery." The Guidelines were developed under the direction of American plastic surgeon, Dr. Malcolm Paul, Clinical Professor of Surgery, Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery Institute, University of California, Irvine. "These easy-to-understand recommendations are the absolute first stop before anyone should consider traveling from home for plastic surgery," noted Dr. Paul. Here are some of the key guidelines for plastic surgery travelers: 1. What is the surgeon's training? A gynecologist performing a breast augmentation or a dermatologist doing a face lift are not appropriate choices. 2. Is the plastic surgeon certified? The ISAPS website lists the names and addresses of nearly 1,500 certified plastic surgeons in 73 countries. 3. Is who the certifying body is. 4. Does your the surgery center or clinic certified? Ask for certification information and personal health insurance cover you outside your country? Most health insurance providers do not cover individuals for surgery performed outside their own country. Consider obtaining extra coverage. 5. What about aftercare? Patients should stay in the area where the surgery was performed for at least one week, depending on the procedure. Find out in advance where you will stay and if this facility is prepared to care for your post operative needs. 6. What about complications? What doctor will care for you at home if you have complications and, who will pay for secondary or revision procedures? 7. Do the key personnel at the surgeon's office speak your language fluently? If you cannot be understood fully, be prepared for complications. 8. With whom are you communicating? You should be talking directly with the doctor's staff and the doctor. A travel agent should only make travel and accommodations arrangements. 9. Is the surgeon a member of recognized national and international societies? ISAPS membership is by invitation and is granted only after extensive screening. 10. Have you checked for references? Ask for names and contact information of patients who have recently had a similar procedure and contact them about their experience with the surgeon, their staff, aftercare facilities and post-operative follow up. Commenting on the new ISAPS website, ISAPS president-elect Dr. Bryan C. Mendelson of Melbourne Australia, remarked, "Information that was once only available to a few is now readily accessible to consumers in virtually everycountry. The ISAPS guidelines for plastic surgery travelers provide consumers with vital and perhaps even life-saving yardsticks to gage if the doctor they choose for their plastic surgery is appropriately trained and certified for the procedure they are considering." We appreciate your including the ISAPS website as a reference. To obtain complete information: http://www.isaps.org SOURCE: The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) EDITORS' ADVISORY: For media covering this story, contact us to reach an ISAPS spokesperson in your country. Please let us know if you are on deadline. Contact Tony Staffieri at [email protected] The ISAPS Biennial Congress takes place in Rio de Janeiro on August 1-5, 2006. To attend the Congress, media credentials must be issued in advance. To attend, receive updates from the Congress, and/or to be added to the ISAPS permanent media list for regular updates and advisories, kindly contact: Tony Staffieri at [email protected] CONTACT: Tony Staffieri of The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), [email protected] Web site: http://www.isaps.org