Don't Believe Everything You See on TV

16. Good adivce TMZ. However, as a person who has been involved in the medical field for over ten years (not a doctor), I can tell you from experience that there is a "Good Ole Boys" network when it comes to doctors. Stuff gets buried all the time. Even if you do a check, there is no guarantee that you are getting the whole story.

Posted at 5:16PM on Nov 15th 2007 by Shayelyn

17. Do check out the surgeon's credentials before making an appointment, but that's not all...after visiting the surgeon, go with your instincts. I wish I had...

The surgeon I chose is board certified in his speciality, but is a dangerous fraud. My instinct told me to go elsewhere, but I did not listen. Stupid me.

Posted at 7:03PM on Nov 15th 2007 by Sushi

18. I doubt anyone believes everything they see on television and hopefully, your readers believe 10% of what they read on TMZ.

Posted at 5:46PM on Nov 15th 2007 by Maddy

19. I have known for quite a while that Dr. Rey, aka Dr. 90210, was not board certified. He never even finished his residency program, therefore is not even eligible to be board certified in anything. The minute I heard about Dr. Jan Adams, I figured Dr. Rey would be shaking in his boots. Ordinarily I would feel sorry for him, but he is just so full of himself. Who would put "Most Improved Resident" award on your resume? Does that mean you were so bad that they had to give you an award when you got better? Anyway, this isn't really about how much I dislike him, it is about deceiving the public and making it sound like you are a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon when you are clearly not a Board Certified Anything. By the way this all can be proven on the ABMS.org (American Board of Medical Specialties) website.

Posted at 6:20PM on Nov 15th 2007 by intheknow

20. All of you people saying things against TMZ, what is wrong with you, you keep coming back to read their stories, yet you say negative things about them, this is a website for news stories people, it is their mission to report all the stuff happening in the news, if you think its dumb, DON'T COME HERE, GO AWAY , DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU IN THE BUM. KUDOS TO HARRY LEVIN, LOVE YOUR STUFF, I HAVE WATCHED YOU SINCE I LIVED IN CALIFORNIA 10 YEARS AGO AND YOU WERE ON ONE OF SOMEONE ELSES NEWS SHOW!!!! KEEP IT COMING!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 5:37PM on Nov 15th 2007 by PUPPYWOPPERS

21. Maddy, are you saying that you don't believe that these doctors aren't board certified? I'm not certain that is what you are saying, but if it is, all the facts can be proven. Look up the ABMS.org website and type in Dr. Rey's name. Nothing comes up at all, and look clearly at his resume on his own website. A plastic surgery residency is 2 years of general surgery plus 3 years of plastics (or pretty close to that; it may have changed a little). He was a moonlighting doctor before that. Working at ER's. Don't know the specifics, and wouldn't want to put something that I am not 100% sure about, but he 100% never finished a residency program.

Posted at 6:21PM on Nov 15th 2007 by intheknow

22. WAIT WAIT WAIT!!!!! That board is NOT I repeat NOT the real board of plastic surgeons.

Ths is the link for the real one http://www.plasticsurgery.org/

The one that TMZ posted is the one that doctors who are certified in other specialties who WANT to do plasic surgery are a member of. Many doctors who are board certified in OTHER specialties will become a member of that board so they can have a credential by their name. BEWARE

Posted at 9:32PM on Nov 15th 2007 by Anon

23. I have been saying this for years. In light of recent events, it is good to state it once again.

Posted at 6:17PM on Nov 15th 2007 by ocbody.com doc

24. I wonder if they are going to "bust" Dr. Rey tonight on their show. E television is owned by Fox which owns Channel 11 which airs TMZ. Shall be interesting to see. Actually, it will be interesting to see if this even makes it in the comment section. Regardless, I do love TMZ!!!

Posted at 6:25PM on Nov 15th 2007 by naangel

25. FYI: From the New York Times 03/16/06 article on Dr Rey:

"To top it off, critics say, Dr. Rey, 44, does not have board certification in plastic surgery, an optional credential that many plastic surgeons consider the gold standard of achievement in their specialty. (Some 5,300 plastic surgeons in the United States are certified, according to the American Board of Plastic Surgery Inc. Dr. Jewell estimated the number of trained plastic surgeons who are not certified to be fewer than 200.) Dr. Rey said he has merely postponed taking the certification exams because he has been too busy."

The important thing to remember is you don't need to be board certified to be a plastic surgeon. Although most plastic surgeons are board certified, but there is a small minority that are not. While board certification is nothing magic or a guarantee, but it does assure patients that their surgeon has passed a rigoress battery of testing regarding their surgical specialty. And most doctors would advise that their patients see a board certified specialist. This probably very wise advice for anyone seeking any type of surgery.

Posted at 6:24PM on Nov 15th 2007 by Dr. James

26. intheknow... Thank you so much for your insight. I have worked in the medical industry for 11 years, and in this specific field for 3 years. It's a world that few truly know the in's and out's of...and it is shocking sometimes. There are so many fantastic surgeons (in and beyond the 90210 zip) who don't throw themselves under the Reality TV bus. And in my opinion, the docs you've never watched on TV are some of the best. (**Stepping off my soap box.**) The board certification isn't the "be all, end all"...but it is a strong statement for a surgeon's qualifications! So kudos to you and to TMZ for public service you have done for potential patients today!

Posted at 6:41PM on Nov 15th 2007 by Gabi

27. Gabi, thanks for the really nice comment. Thought I'd get trashed instead. I used to work in a residency program at a major hospital. I feel sorry for Dr. Rey, but i always thought he shouldn't flaunt his wealth and everything else about himself on t.v. He has done some good things, but mostly the show is a big ego boost for him. Though, I have to admit, I've only watched it 2 or 3 times. :)

Posted at 6:55PM on Nov 15th 2007 by intheknow

28. Wow, I just found a site that has live counselors that does free background checks on any surgeon including malpractice, education & DUI stuff. Check it out, www.MyCosmeticSurgeryAdvisor.org Has anyone tried this? Have they check these so called "celebrity" surgeons???

Posted at 7:00PM on Nov 15th 2007 by Jenn

29. Thanks "Intheknow". Your comment, "He never even finished his residency program, therefore is not even eligible to be board certified in anything" is very interesting...

Posted at 7:15PM on Nov 15th 2007 by Dr. James

30. I truly appreciate this post TMZ. I do disagree with some posts on some celebrities on your site, but I truely truly appreciate your decision on posting this. Not only was I pulled out of my silly ignorance (thinking TV doctors were "the greatest") from your latest updates, you helped me determine which doctor I'd like for my own plastic surgery I've been planning for.

Thank you TMZ staff.

Posted at 7:46PM on Nov 15th 2007 by Jake