1 – What qualifications does your surgeon have?
He or she should be a qualified Plastic Surgeon! Many Dermatologists, ENT’s, Otolaryngologists, Gynecologists and General surgeons call themselves a cosmetic or a plastic surgeon. Dr. Kirwan completed training in General Surgery and a two-year Residency in Plastic Surgery. His Plastic Surgery Residency was at the University of Missouri, Kansas City with Fredrick McCoy, one of the leading plastic surgeons in the United States and a past President of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Kirwan did additional Fellowship training in Hand Surgery and Microsurgery at the University of Colorado in Denver. Dr. Kirwan is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is an Active Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Aesthetic Society. There are many boards of cosmetic surgery or facial plastic surgery, but these are not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
2 – Is your doctor an expert in his field?
Many doctors, including plastic surgeons, claim to have expertise in cosmetic surgical procedures. Dr. Kirwan has visited and operated with renowned surgeon and liposuction innovator Dr. Marco Gasparotti at his clinic in Rome. His experience in London and the United States has given him a wide exposure to multiple surgical techniques.
3 – How many procedures have they done?
It is important for you to find out whether your plastic surgeon has experience in the procedure she or he is recommending. All of surgical results in the ‘before and after’ galleries on Dr Kirwan’s website are the results of his own procedures.
4 – Has your doctor published medical journal articles in his area of claimed expertise?
Many doctors claim to be experts and yet have never published an article or given a lecture on their area of expertise. Mentions on TV, social media and the press does not imply expertise. Dr. Kirwan has published numerous scientific articles. He has given lectures and courses to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Aesthetic Society. He recently presented a Grand Rounds at Norwalk Hospital on his Body Contouring Surgery techniques for the Massive Weight Loss patient.
5 – Does your doctor teach other doctors how to perform the procedures?
If your doctor is teaching other doctors how to perform the surgery, he is regarded as an expert. Dr. Kirwan has given numerous lectures and courses to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Aesthetic Society. Dr. Kirwan also taught at the Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship Program of the New York Ear & Ear Infirmary in New York from 2006 until 2016.
6 – Does your doctor have a repertoire of techniques?
Dr. Kirwan, because of his extensive experience, international connections and exposure, understands an enormous variety of techniques, which he utilizes to individualize the result for each patient. Dr. Kirwan previously had a practice in England in London’s prestigious Harley Street, from 1996 to 2016, where he operated on an international clientele from Europe, Asia and the Middle East. His foreign patients continue to travel to see him for surgery here in the United States.
7 – Where does your doctor perform his surgery?
Many doctors perform their surgery in a hospital. Dr. Kirwan’s office facility is certified by the American Association of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). This facility in Norwalk, Connecticut is state-of-the-art and is certified for procedures that are performed under local anesthesia with conscious sedation. The nurses and the anesthesia staff are trained specifically in the care of cosmetic surgery patients, unlike a general hospital where a cosmetic surgery case may be an occasional occurrence. For patients who require general anesthesia or have underlying medical problems, Dr. Kirwan operates at Greenwich and Norwalk Hospitals and at their respective ambulatory surgery centers.