Every cosmetic procedure entails some level of surgical risk. Every surgery carries some level of risk, including infection, fluid collections, and even blood clots to name a few. Dr. Sorokin will go over these risks while discussing your specific procedures.

While every effort is made to avoid complications, statistically speaking some patients will have some difficulties postoperatively. Dr. Sorokin takes every step known in 2006 to keep his patients safe, and yet there are still times when problems can arise. On a national average, at least 2% of patients have some level of significant complication during the first month after surgery.

Peace of mind when choosing a plastic surgeon certainly involves making sure they are Board Certified. Dr. Sorokin is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Still, complications can occur to any surgical patient despite training and technical skill. Complications are due to healing factors that vary from patient to patient and often to events beyond both the control of patient and physician.

Many patients do not realize that any physician can perform cosmetic procedures. In the Philadelphia area there are family medicine, internal medicine, dermatology, ob-gyn, dentists and eye doctors among others performing cosmetic procedures. Large medical spas and practices are run by physicians who are clearly not plastic surgeons. Many patients do not even realize they are being treated by someone who has not passed the substantial training required to be a plastic surgeon. It is imperative that a patient reviews a doctor's credentials before having even the smallest procedure performed. Even small procedures can have potentially dangerous complications and a physician performing these procedures should have the training and expertise to handle these situations should they occur. Local hospital privileges need to be considered as a backup safety net. Dr. Sorokin maintains hospital admitting privileges at the Virtua Hospitals and Kennedy Hospitals.

With this in mind, Dr. Sorokin pays (included in price of procedure without additional cost to patient) for specialized medical insurance for every patient undergoing one of the following procedures:

- Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
- Breast Augmentation (implants)
- Breast Lifts
- Breast Reduction
- Browlift
- Chin augmentation
- Cosmetic Eyelid surgery (eye lifts)
- Facelift
- Liposuction
- Lower body lift
- Otoplasty (ear pinning)
- Rhinoplasty (nose reshaping)
- Thigh Lift
- Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia)
- Upper Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)

This insurance is separate from a patient's medical insurance. It is sponsered by a company called Cosmetassure. Unfortunately medical insurance can often deny payment for cosmetic related complications. Stories of hospital bills for tens of thousands of dollars denied coverage by traditional medical insurance are scary because they have actually happened.

Obviously the goal of cosmetic surgery is to avoid complications. Any surgeon and any patient can unfortunately have unexpected complications. It is nice to have peace of mind that should a complication occur, insurance is in place to cover potential unplanned expenses. A patient will not have to worry about large medical bills at a time when this should not be a concern. More information is available at the office. Paperwork detailing inclusions/exclusions is provided in the patient signup packages along with your preoperative and postoperative instructions. Feel free to ask any office staff member for more details.