Important questions to ask before deciding on your cosmetic surgeon.

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 surgeon, but this is not a recognized qualification. To become a plastic surgeon with special expertise in cosmetic surgery, Dr. Kirwan completed six years of training in General Surgery plus an accredited two-year Residency in Plastic Surgery. His Plastic Surgery Residency was at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Dr. Kirwan’s Director was 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 with Dr. John Boswick at the University of Colorado in Denver. Dr. Kirwan has been awarded Board Certifications in Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery. He is an Active Member of the prestigious American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Aesthetic Society. There are many boards of cosmetic surgery or facial plastic surgery, but these are not official boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties and they do not require a rigorous accredited plastic surgery residency-training program. Unfortunately, many surgeons with unofficial board certifications style themselves as plastic surgeons. Make sure you ‘look under the hood’! 

Is your doctor an expert in his field?

Many doctors, including plastic surgeons, claim to have expertise in cosmetic surgical procedures but how do they justify this expertise? If they have travelled overseas, have they just observed plastic surgery or did an expert in the field teach them? Dr. Kirwan visited renowned surgeon and liposuction innovator Dr. Marco Gasparotti at his clinics in Rome and in Serbia to learn the technique of Three Dimensional Superficial Liposculpture (3D-SLS). Dr. Gasparotti also visited Dr. Kirwan’s office in Norwalk, teaching his techniques personally to Dr. Kirwan, as well as participating in a symposium for other plastic surgeons.

How many procedures have they done?

Are you going to be the patient on whom they are doing their first procedure or one of their first few? Do you really think it is possible to learn how to perform Liposculpture or a facelift  in a one or two week course? Of course not. It is important for you to find out whether your doctor is the expert he or she claims to be.

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. Just because someone appears in the popular press does not mean that their professional peers regard them as an expert. Dr. Kirwan has published articles on Superficial Liposculpture, as well as the SAMBA™ technique of breast lifting and enlargement, in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, the official journal of The Aesthetic Society. He published his breast auto-augmentation procedure, in the Canadian Journal of Plastic Surgery and the Archives of Plastic Surgery. He has given lectures and courses on Three Dimensional Superficial Liposculpture and his SAMBA™ technique to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Aesthetic Society. He presented his SAMBA™ technique to the European Academy of Cosmetic Surgery in London. Dr. Kirwan was invited by Dr. Gasparotti to be a Professor of the International School of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery with Dr. Ivo Pitanguy and other internationally known plastic surgeons.

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 taught 3D-SLS with Dr. Gasparotti at a symposium in his Connecticut office. He has given numerous lectures and courses on Three Dimensional Superficial Liposculpture and his own trademark SAMBA™ technique both to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Aesthetic Society. He presented his SAMBA™ technique to the European Academy of Cosmetic Surgery in London. Dr. Kirwan was invited by Dr. Gasparotti to teach as a Professor of the International School of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Belgrade, Serbia with Dr. Ivo Pitanguy, and other internationally known plastic surgeons. Dr. Kirwan trained other plastic surgeons as part of the Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship Program of the New York Ear & Ear Infirmary in New York from 2006 until 2016.

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. 

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 the Norwalk Surgery Center.