In researching doctors, I've pretty much narrowed it down to Dr. Bart and Dr. Di Maggio. I've been researching these doctors' credentials, including board certifications. I was happy to find out that Dr. Di Maggio has many board certs, including the international chapter of the International Society of Esthetic Plastic Surgery (ISEPS). But I couldn't find any information regarding board certifications for Dr. Bart Van de Ven? Does anyone know whether or not he is board certified in his country? Di Maggio's office did email me this:

Dear Michelle, 

Hope you read the info regarding MDM board certification...from the      official Argentine Society SACPER, he is Full and Titular member and for the International Society...ISAPS, he is a Full and Titular member. So the answer is YES, MDM is Board Certificate.

Also in our website (mdmsurgery) you can read very clear the info and if you need to cheek this just go to :

www.sacper.org.ar....Buenos Aires.....

http://www.isaps.org/find-a-surgeon/search?name=di+maggio

Please be carefully with the information that you wrote in foros or public places regarding us, because could create confusion.

If you posted any info regarding MDM please, we appreciate that you clarify the information you have posted on forums or other publicweb places.

Thank you.

MDM & Team

But I'm a little worried about having such surgery (Full FFS) in another country. It's not a question about whether the surgeons are good, but rather the standards in terms of cleanliness, disease control, etc. It really does concern me.  I does seem like they "patrol" these message boards, too, which seems like questionable behavior to me.

Dr. DiMaggio's office also emailed me some "Information Before Surgery," and this part regarding the containment of blood concerns me for obvious reasons:

Two other medical conditions that make a patient is not considered suitable for facial feminization surgery with Dr. Di Maggio: HIV and hepatitis C or B (this last article, depending on the viral load). This is because in order to reshape the facial bones used electric saws and drills high speed, and this kind of goodbye instrumental micro particles of bone and blood out of the wound with great force, reaching remote areas and even passing through minimum interstices in other operations would not be penetrated. To the medical team working around the patient, this implies a very high risk of infection.

I bolded the portion that I'm most concerned about (also, the language translation isn't the best, which makes reading some of what they write confusing). I'm trying to reconcile his reputation as a great surgeon with the physical conditions of the surgery itself (standards of cleanliness, sterilization, etc.). This makes any decision difficult. It needs to be carefully weighed.

Does anyone have any clarification on this? Especially regarding the way their medical facilities help to contain disease and infection?

Quote from: Michelle33 on April 23, 2014, 10:51:05 AM
Two other medical conditions that make a patient is not considered suitable for facial feminization surgery with Dr. Di Maggio: HIV and hepatitis C or B (this last article, depending on the viral load). This is because in order to reshape the facial bones used electric saws and drills high speed, and this kind of goodbye instrumental micro particles of bone and blood out of the wound with great force, reaching remote areas and even passing through minimum interstices in other operations would not be penetrated. To the medical team working around the patient, this implies a very high risk of infection.

wait what?
So he's saying they don't protect themselves with surgical masks (with facial shields)?

Quote from: samantha55522 on April 23, 2014, 10:38:07 PM
Well I´m nurse and can tell you, that you could see infections and other diseases worldwide. MDM "internet reputation" regarding problems and postoperative complications look pretty well...but, why dont you ask them about your concern.
Hugs.
S.

Samantha,

Of course there are infections and diseases worldwide. My concern is the precautions made to prevent these infections and diseases, which is what the question is here in regards to Dr. DiMaggio. If you can link me to reports or feedback from other patients regarding this issue that reflects on his "internet reputation," I'd appreciate it it. I haven't found much in regards to this yet. My point in this post is to gather feedback from other people who have had firsthand experience with this issue so that I can compare it to what the doctor tells me.

Quote from: Flan on April 24, 2014, 02:20:16 AM
wait what?
So he's saying they don't protect themselves with surgical masks (with facial shields)?

This is what is unclear to me. I was hoping I could hear from others who have been to him.

You are right Michelle. He does seem to "patrol" these boards. I think the way you word it is very accurate.
Also, have you noticed that his writing style is identical to Samantha55522 who does nothing but praising or promoting Dr. Di Maggio?  So he seems to intervene both ways:  posting what he wants to say and preventing other members to post what he doesn't like.
Too bossy, too meddling. The whole situation makes me feel very uneasy.

Celia,

I have definitely noticed that. It makes it very difficult to trust what people have to say regarding this doctor since one wonders whether or not they are a shill. It makes me uneasy, too.

Quote from: samantha55522 on April 24, 2014, 03:40:45 PM
I don't really understand what the point is.This is a free forum, where everyone can write and comment freely. in this forum like in many others which are not as popular as ffs support there are hundreds of patients and followers of each surgeon who write their opinions either for or against. What makes me suspect is the fact that many people don't seem to be pleased about how well reviewed dr MDM is.

Unfortunately,many people give the wrong information instead of consulting the right sources.

Luckily dr MDM has hundreds of thankful patients who defend his reputation and some people  seem not to like it. They should contact dr mdm directly ...or consider the possibility to see other surgeons.

Have a nice day and try to be happy....

Hugs.

S.

Thank you, Samantha. I'm not really interested in arguing with people on this site, and I am not sure exactly what your point is, but thank you anyway.

Quote from: samantha55522 on April 24, 2014, 03:40:45 PM
What makes me suspect is the fact that many people don't seem to be pleased about how well reviewed dr MDM is.

Samantha, what makes you suspect is something completely different. It's the fact that you aggressively promote Dr. Di Maggio all the time, even when it's uncalled for, with a writing style that proved to be identical to the one he uses in his emails when he asks patients to change what they have posted on forums. And now, in this last email, you changed your writing style completely, like you are suddenly someone else, or like you have taken the fastest English course in the world. That makes you suspect.
Like Michelle wrote, I don't want to argue with people on this site. I just want to read posts as smoothly as possible, and for that I need surgeons to not interfere.

Quote from: samantha55522 on April 24, 2014, 03:40:45 PM
I don't really understand what the point is.This is a free forum, where everyone can write and comment freely. in this forum like in many others which are not as popular as ffs support there are hundreds of patients and followers of each surgeon who write their opinions either for or against. What makes me suspect is the fact that many people don't seem to be pleased about how well reviewed dr MDM is.

Unfortunately,many people give the wrong information instead of consulting the right sources.

Luckily dr MDM has hundreds of thankful patients who defend his reputation and some people  seem not to like it. They should contact dr mdm directly ...or consider the possibility to see other surgeons.

Have a nice day and try to be happy....

Hugs.

S.

I think the point the girls are trying to make and ask about is why Dr Di Maggio's site explicitly tries to rule out patients with infectious diseases that may be under control, as part of a family in which many of my relatives are healthcare professionals and nurses I can say that in the US AND EUROPE those girls who are unfortunate enough to have a chronic illness don't tend to be turned away if their illnesses are controlled because of supossed danger, there are UNIVERSAL standards of care in the US and EUROPE that mean these girls are ok to be operated on without any possible harm to the Dr. or nurses. Unless dr. Di maggio doesn't use adequate universal standards of care.

I think another girl posted something similar about femilife in Peru, apparently Latin American countries are very much in the dark ages when it comes to safe handling of such chronic diseases during surgery , either that OR there is still high discrimination rates towards said vulnerable groups . Either way, it's not good, but apparently it's the norm over there so maybe that's why she doesn't really understand the question.

I am also really put off by how Samantha is so confrontational and mean , it weirds me out to the max, I think she has anger issues lol . Trolling? Lol

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Does anyone know about Dr. Bart's board certifications? I'm trying to find it on his website...