In a recent study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 1.5 million cosmetic procedures were performed by board certified physicians in 2011, an increase of 2% from the year 2010. The five most common cosmetic procedures during the year 2011 include breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, facelifts, nose reshaping, and liposuction. Of the list of "minimally-invasive" cosmetic procedures, the total number of procedures performed by board certified physicians skyrocketed at over twelve and a quarter million, a 6% increase from the previous year and a 123% increase from 2000. These statistics, however, do not include the many procedures performed by non-certified physicians, such as doctors who specialize in fields other than plastic or cosmetic surgery or are simply not certified to practice medicine.

While many of these procedures are successful in their duty, especially those performed by a qualified surgeon, many other procedures are being botched and causing disfigurement and even death to patients everywhere. As the occurrence of failed cosmetic procedures continues to rise, many suspect that these procedures are those mostly being performed by non-specialists and those who are not certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties and their approved certification programs. How can a person protect themselves from being the victim of botched cosmetic work, though?

Unfortunately, only four states (California, Texas, Florida and Louisiana) require doctors to specify their board certifications when advertising. In every other state, a doctor may simply announce that he or she is board certified. Additionally, there is no United States law that mandates a doctor to practice only within their field of specialty. This could possibly be one of the leading reasons as to why many people are seeing botched tummy tucks performed by otolaryngologists, or ear, nose and throat doctors, and other lucrative procedures by non-specialists.

One example, given by a recent publication in the New York Times, revealed a woman's story who received a tummy tuck and face-lift by a board certified doctor in the Los Angeles area after moving there from New York. What she did not know, however, was that this doctor was board certified in otolaryngology – a specialist of ear, nose and throat medical problems. The outcome of her cosmetic procedures? Scars on her temples and a "wavy" abdomen region, according to the news article. After the fact, she was forced to spend all of her savings on finding a real, board-certified plastic surgeon to fix the mistakes made by the otolaryngologist.

As many can attest, the number of individuals pursuing cosmetic surgical procedures has greatly increased over the years for any particular reason. As a result, many medical malpractice lawyers are claiming that they are seeing an increase in the number of claims being brought against doctors who have performed procedures that have gone awry. Procedures that lead to disfigurement, incapacity, and even wrongful death have been recorded in the past. The worst part about it? Many of these doctors who are performing procedures out of their specialties don't have an oversight authority that they must report to and aren't even required to report complications in these cosmetic procedures. As such, the true number of non-certified physicians performing cosmetic surgical procedures may never be discovered.

Before you decide to undergo any type of cosmetic surgical procedure, be sure to ask lots of questions to the physician. Ensuring that your doctor is board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties or one of their approved certification programs can mean the difference between a successful surgical procedure and a lifetime of financial devastation and additional procedures. Make sure that your physician is certified in the specific area of medicine that will give him or her the ability to successfully complete your procedure. Most importantly, do your research on the procedure you are getting and how it will affect your life.

If you have been a victim of a wrongful act by a doctor, do not wait to involve your local medical malpractice attorney. You have rights if you were victimized by a doctor who was acting negligently or failed to provide an appropriate level of care for you as a patient. When a physician, board certified or not, makes a mistake out of negligence or distraction, they may be held financially accountable for the damages they have caused. It is important for you to learn more about your rights and the options you have in a case such as this and contact your local medical malpractice lawyer right away.