Tulsa Surgical Arts in the Media

The cosmetic surgeons of Tulsa Surgical Arts have been featured in many local and national news stories. The following excerpts are just a few of the recent stories featuring Dr. Angelo Cuzalina and Dr. James Koehler.

2012

Local Blogger Reviews our Vi Medical Peel
Belle Belle Beauty Blog: Vi Medical Peel Review

A beauty blogger shares her positive experience with our Vi Peel. "Jo Dee at Tulsa Surgical Arts performed my peel. She was knowledgeable, sweet and put up with my plethora of questions. She was even available for calls and text messages the whole week with any other questions or concerns. I highly recommend them if you are in the area."

Cosmetic Surgery Times
A Question of Combination: Surgeons Discuss Simultaneous Augmentation Mastopexy Versus a Staged Approach 

"Combining mastopexy and augmentation in a single procedure is one of my most common surgeries. It is routinely performed for many reasons. First and foremost, patients who have breast ptosis and hypoplasia demand the convenience of a single surgery to give them the final result they desire." - Dr. Cuzalina

Plastic Surgery Practice
Isolated Submentoplasty Versus Facelift with Submentoplasty

Dr. Cuzalina discusses the best techniques for improving the contours of the lower face and neck. These advanced techniques can improve the shape of a patient's jawline and minimize the appearance of aging on the neck.

BlogTalkRadio.com
Why is Cosmetic Surgery not the same as Plastic Surgery?

Listen in on this previously recorded show about the significant differences between the specialty of Cosmetic Surgery and Plastic Surgery and learn why not all Plastic Surgeons are Cosmetic Surgeons. The public and the media in Chattanooga, North Georgia and North Alabama are often confused regarding the important differences between these specialties. Host Leonard A. Rubinstein, M.D., is one of the original members of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, a Diplomat of the International Board of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery and a Diplomat of the International Board of Cosmetic Surgery.  He discusses this topic with his colleague and immediate past President of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Angelo Cuzalina.

Listen here.

2011

'Doctor's Notebook'
'Trends in Cosmetic Surgery Education'
Angelo Cuzalina, MD, DDS
2011 President, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery

Education, training and experience are the three hallmarks that define a surgeon's credentials. These components along with 'demonstrated competence' is what the American Medical Association recommends when evaluating new or accomplished surgeons for hospital privileges even above board certification. The AMA takes the stance that these principles appear to be more important than board certification when qualifying a doctor.

AMA Policy H-230.994: supports the principles of open staff privileges for physicians, based on training, experience, demonstrated competence, and adherence.

So what does this mean, what determines the 'best' training and why would board certification not be the gold standard alone? Well, to start, board certification by a reputable board such as the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery does test the surgeon in general knowledge by rigorous written and oral examinations solely in cosmetic surgery. One should be proud to be a member of this elite group. However, no board actually tests the surgeon in 'true competence'. For instance, it is conceivable to have a surgeon who is of high intellect and can pass written and oral board exams but be less than capable with regard to hand skills or simply lacks a keen aesthetic eye for cosmetic surgery. The arguments between surgeons on whose board is better may be irrelevant if the surgeon of any board does not have proper education, training, experience and show competence in their respective field.

The trend in cosmetic surgery training as well as other surgical specialties is moving toward specialized post residency or fellowship training in addition to certificates of proficiency. Competency or proficiency is much more difficult in some ways to measure than standard board exams and potentially places the certifying boards at risk if they mistakenly qualify a surgeon that then has a problem later in their career. Still, it is the ideal way to help the public evaluate a surgeon's credentials more completely. Until this becomes the norm however, the patient must take the whole picture into account.

The average patient must keep in mind that the business of 'cosmetic surgery' can be a very bitter and unfortunate battle between competing specialties. Too often the egos of some surgeons lead to misinformation through scare tactics in hopes of steering patients to a particular doctor or away from a competitor. Regrettably, the public is often given misinformation about many surgeons training through advertising. In general, well trained, busy or successful surgeons rarely go out of their way to denigrate a similar specialty surgeon in the same region as themselves. The vast majority of surgeons have had a preponderance of training and education and rarely represents a major safety risk to the public. Hopefully, if there are those who pose an unusually high risk, they are quickly restricted by the state medical boards when their training, education or experience is suspect. It is patient's right to be confident in their surgeon's abilities and deserve to know the truth regarding specific training in the field of cosmetic surgery.

Patients seeking cosmetic surgery definitely want to know if their surgeon has adequate education, training, experience and competence for any specific cosmetic procedure they are considering. Potential cosmetic surgery patients should know that there is no such thing as a 'surgical residency' in 'cosmetic surgery'. Many surgical residencies have some training in various aspects of cosmetic surgery, such as, Otolaryngology, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery, General Surgery, OBGYN, Dermatology, and Ophthalmology) but NONE of them are devoted to cosmetic surgery. For super-specialized training in strictly cosmetic surgery, a surgeon may elect to extend their training beyond residency by completing an accredited post residency 'fellowship' program.

One trend is unmistakable in cosmetic surgery education in the 21st century and that is the growing need for more cosmetic surgery fellowship training programs to accommodate the rising number of extremely qualified applicants who are already board certified in their original field of surgical training. The surgeons who now devote at least an extra full year of their lives to master the art of cosmetic surgery are the new breed of 'cosmetic surgeons' with the education, training and experience that one looks for in a surgeon.

This is not to say that experienced surgeons do not have the same level of competence, however, it simply took longer to achieve the competence in cosmetic surgery 20 years ago for some due to the lack of super-specialized training and the extended time it took to gain the same experience from shear case volume. Some cosmetic surgery fellowships today have fellows directly involved with over 1000 cosmetic surgery procedures per year as well the initial evaluations and follow up care. Today, it is the gold standard in 'cosmetic surgery' training. The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery prides itself in continuing medical education and patient safety along with accreditation of numerous cosmetic surgery fellowship programs throughout the country. The trend for a continued higher bar for cosmetic surgery education is a welcome trend and one which will likely continue to grow rapidly.

Cosmetic Facial Surgery, a book written by cosmetic surgeon Dr. Joe Niamtu, is now available on Kindle.  Dr. Cuzalina contributed to the book.

The book, which covers a range of cosmetic procedures from the face, to the breasts and body has been tremendously popular among amazon.com customers and its new digital format will surely add to its traction among the cosmetic surgery community.

You can learn more about the expertise in Cosmetic Facial Surgery by reading our blog.

Tulsa World: People Spotlight, Dr. Angelo Cuzalina

After taking the position of President in the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, Tulsa World featured Dr. Cuzalina in their "people spotlight" column.

PR Newswire: Tulsa's Dr. Cuzalina Named President of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery

Dr. Angelo Cuzalina, MD, DDS has been named President of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.  Dr. Cuzalina was officially named President at the AACS' 27th Annual Scientific Meeting in Phoenix.

"It is positively an honor and a privilege to be elected as president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery," Dr. Cuzalina says. "I am taking over a position from a long line of surgeons whom I admire and respect. It's very exciting to follow in their footsteps and continue moving this Academy forward in a positive direction."

2010

Cosmetic Surgery Times: Simultaneous mastopexy, breast augmentation

Dr. Cuzalina was recently featured on Modernmedicine.com discussing the topic of augmentation-mastopexy, a procedure that combines the techniques of breast augmentation and breast lift surgery. This combination of procedures is far from being a simple or elementary cosmetic surgery procedure.

New You Magazine: Editorial Advisory Board

Dr. Angelo Cuzalina has been named to the editorial advisory board of New You magazine, which consists of nine top AACS cosmetic doctors who are collectively responsible for the medical accuracy of the articles published. New You Magazine is the official consumer publication of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

MSNBC: Mom-daughter duos go under knife

Mother and daughter patients of Dr. James Koehler shared their story with MSNBC, May 7, 2010. "Dr. James Koehler, the Tulsa surgeon who operated on Pam and Tami Fry, says he sees about 10 mother-daughter pairs a year. So many, in fact, he's thinking about offering a family discount."

CNN - Top Empowered Patient Tips for 2010

"Getting a second or even third opinion is critical, says Dr. Angelo Cuzalina, president-elect of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS). "The extra effort and additional consultations will undoubtedly educate you further... which is always self-empowering.

2009

Fox23 News - Smart Liposuction

Dr. Koehler and Dr. Cuzalina were interviewed on Fox News regarding laser liposuction with Cynosure SmartLipo, as the first doctors in Tulsa to offer this technology. "Doctors from 42 different states and Canada recently came to Tulsa to learn from Dr. Koehler and Dr. Cuzalina."

2007

Oklahoma Magazine - Best of the Best in Cosmetic Surgery

Tulsa Surgical Arts was voted "Best of the Best" in the category of Cosmetic or Plastic Surgery in the July 2007 issue of Oklahoma Magazine.