NEW FLORIDA LAW PROHIBITS LIPOSUCTION IN UNLICENSED LOCATIONS

Dr. Lewis Obi’s Samuel Wells Surgicenter was the first AHCA (Agency for Health Care Administration) state-licensed comprehensive surgery center in the state of Florida. In order to receive this licensure, the surgery center must maintain a higher level of staffing and physical plant requirements.

Obi Plastic Surgery Center

Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation on Friday May 25, 2012 (that goes into effect on January 3, 2012) that will prohibit liposuction to be performed in any facility other than a hospital or licensed surgery center. The law takes aim at “bargain-priced liposuction” providers that don’t follow the standards and safety procedures that licensed health facilities practice to ensure patient safety. 14 Floridians have died in the past decade due to complications resulting from liposuction being performed in these types of facilities. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) web site, over 300,000 patients received liposuction in 2011 making it the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedure in 2011.

"It's a safety measure to make sure people don't die," the president of the Palm Beach County Society of Plastic Surgeons told the Sun Sentinel. "The people who don't follow the [standards] now are just cutting corners to have a low price." According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) web site, over 300,000 patients received liposuction in 2011 making it the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedure in 2011.

ASAPS also recommends that patients can "ensure their safety during liposuction and other cosmetic procedures by checking that their doctor is licensed and board-certified and that their procedure is done in an accredited hospital, surgical center or office-based surgical facility."

The Samuel Well Surgicenter maintains an exceptional patient healthy and safety record and receives multiple inspections every year. This includes an annual AHCA inspection of the physical plant and administration offices to maintain the licensure. Patient safety is a top-priority among all Obi Plastic Surgery Center personnel. Dr. Lewis Obi strives to provide the safest and most effective plastic surgery procedures available to patients, including the SlimLipo Laser Lipolysis procedure. This alternative to traditional liposuction is performed without general anesthesia and offers the patient skin-tightening results with less downtime.

Read the full story at ASAPS