I just saw a post from a plastic surgical friend of mine. There was an article on “Celebrities think Quarantine is a great time to get Plastic Surgery.” LINK She was angry. It made me angry too.
- We are currently in shelter in place. There is a ban on all elective surgery, defined as “anything that can be postponed safely for 30 days.”
- Our outpatient facilities may be needed for overflow critical care. When the case number blow up, which they are doing right now in NY, you go from having available beds to overflowing in the span of a few days.
- THEY NEED OUR MASKS, gowns, and other materials. There is a shortage in hospitals. Those on the front lines in the ERs, urgent cares, and ICUs need those supplies. With China delayed, the supply chains are broken.
- Our national societies, the Plastic Surgery ASPS and the Aesthetic Society ASAPS, both sent out statements to all members all over the country in very clear terms: YOU CANNOT DO ANY ELECTIVE SURGERY OR PROCEDURES. This means everything from breast augs to tummy tucks to botox and fillers. Nothing. Nada. You should be closed.
Everyone wishes things could be different. I wish I could be operating- not sitting at home wondering when this will end and how I will be able to add people when we are allowed to operate again. I wish I could have an operation and be recovering- I’m a middle aged woman who has had three kids. For sure there are things that could be lifted or tightened or tucked, and when do I get this much time off? Every business could go through this thought process. Just one more hair coloring (I saw a great joke that we are 3 weeks away from knowing everyone’s true hair color), one more physical therapy treatment, one more dinner out, one more yoga class.
But we must do the right thing.
We must preserve supplies, keep options open for critical care if needed, and maintain social distancing (which means not having the nurses, scrub techs, doctors, patients, their caregivers all going to a surgical center.) And we must all do it. There should not be an exception because you are rich or famous.