Schwarzenegger Signs Donda West Plastic Surgery Law

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Donda West plastic surgery law this week. This law requires anyone getting plastic surgery to have medical clearance prior to undergoing the procedure. The law is named after Kanye West's mom, who died after having plastic surgery by a non-board certified plastic surgeon. Some believe that she should never have undergone the surgery in the first place due to pre-existing heart problems.

"Sometimes patients may think they are well enough for cosmetic surgery, but in reality are not," said Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter, one of the leading sponsors of the bill. "This bill will potentially save lives."

Patient safety should be the most important thing in the minds of all plastic surgeons. That's why the American Society of Plastic Surgeons enacted numerous requirements and initiatives revolving around their "Culture of Safety." All patients should remember to only choose a board-certified member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and have your surgery performed in an accredited center.

For more posts on Donda West, click here.
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Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.:

Update on Donda West's Surgeon

It appears that there is one (possible) final postscript to the tragic death of Kanye West's mom, Donda West after having plastic surgery. Her surgeon, Dr. Jan Adams, has just surrendered his medical license for the State of California. He has recently been given a one year jail term for drunk driving.

Sad story all around. Many physicians carry medical licenses in more than one state, so it's possible that he can still practice as a plastic surgeon in another state, like Florida, even though he surrendered his California medical license. Since I have practiced in both California and Michigan, I carry medical licenses in both states.

Unfortunately, I can think of a couple cosmetic surgeons in my area who should maybe have their license revoked too!

Happy Good Friday!

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Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.:

Kanye West's Mother's Plastic Surgeon Jailed

There are reports that Dr. Jan Adams, the plastic surgeon to Kanye West's late mother, has been jailed for one year for drunk driving. You may remember that he was under intense scrutiny after his patient, Donda West, died shortly after undergoing plastic surgery. The autopsy cited heart disease as a possible direct cause of her death.

Hopefully going into the clink for a year will give him time to get his life back together and get off the booze. This is just a sad story all around.

For my previous posts on the death of Donda West, click here.

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Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.:

The Governator vs. Kanye?

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed the so-called Donda West Law (named after Kanye West's late mother who died shortly after having plastic surgery), passed by legislators several months ago. It would have required all patients to undergo a physical exam and get a doctor's clearance before plastic surgery. According to the L.A. Times,

In vetoing the measure, Schwarzenegger said this summer's historic, 85-day delay in passage of a state budget left him with time to enact only the highest-priority legislation for California."This bill does not meet that standard, and I cannot sign it at this time," states the veto message, which he applied to dozens of others Sunday.

There are lots of young, healthy people who undergo plastic surgery who don't need an actual preoperative clearance. I usually clear any patients who have pre-existing medical problems or are over 40 years old. Also, I always use a fully accredited surgical facility with a board-certified anesthesiologist.

Nice implants on that woman next to Arnold, by the way...


For more on the Donda West law, click here.

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Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.:

California Senate Approves "Donda West Law"

The California Senate has approved, by a margin of 37-1 the Donda West law, named after Kanye West's late mother. This law makes it mandatory for anyone undergoing a cosmetic surgery to have a history and physical performed prior to surgery.

Ho hum. Most plastic surgeons already do this. Instead of enacting unnecessary laws, why not limit plastic surgery to those who are actually trained at it? The California legislature has recently approved a bill allowing oral surgeons (DDS dentists) to perform all sorts of facial plastic surgery. How ridiculous! You wouldn't want me performing your root canal, so why have an oral surgeon do your facelift?

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Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.:

The "Donda West Law"

California assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter (D-Rialto) has announced legislation to require preoperative clearance for all patients undergoing cosmetic surgery. This proposal, dubbed the "Donda West Law," is meant to save patients from future harm done by cosmetic surgery, and has been given the blessing by Donda West's son, rapper Kanye West (according to the Daily Bulletin).
This is a very interesting bill, considering less than a year ago the California legislature passed a law permitting oral surgeons (DDS dentists) to perform all forms of facial plastic surgery. Instead of forcing surgeons to make their patients undergo preoperative testing (some young, healthy patients may not need it), maybe they should instead make sure that anyone performing plastic surgery is a real, board-certified plastic surgeon? Unfortunately, the lobbyists won't allow that. Oh, how frustrating...

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Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.: