Common pitfalls in plastic surgery from the GP perspective

General practitioners are responsible for the overall management of patients and their expertise is invaluable in this respect. With the ever changing horizons in disease processes and therapeutics, the dedicated family physician has more knowledge in general than many of his specialist colleagues. It is unfair, however, to expect general practitioners to have an in-depth knowledge of all conditions. These notes, I believe, offer family practitioners some beneficial information on possible pitfalls. My plastic surgeon colleagues would agree, I am sure, that further advice on any dilemma is merely a telephone call away.