Hospitals typically vet their surgeons and allow them to practice only within their field of training and expertise.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Editor's note: Dr. Anthony Youn is a plastic surgeon in metro Detroit. He is the author of "In Stitches," a humorous memoir about growing up Asian-American and becoming a doctor.

(CNN) -- Martha* had decided to undergo a breast augmentation. She researched doctors and found one she thought was well-qualified; ads in magazines touted him as board-certified and a top plastic surgeon in the area.

Martha met with him for a consultation and underwent the procedure in his office several weeks later. But at home that night, she discovered a shocking sight:

Her breast implants were lodged in her armpits.

The next morning, she rushed back to her doctor's office. He inspected her chest and, with a quizzical look on his face, declared, "I have never seen this before."

Martha decided to seek another opinion. A new surgeon explained that the previous physician had botched the procedure. She would need extensive surgery to correct it.

As if this weren't bad enough, he also informed her that her doctor wasn't what he claimed to be. Sure, he was board-certified -- just not in plastic surgery.

Her "plastic surgeon" was actually an eye doctor.

Continued here:

Plastic surgery: 'Wild West' of medicine