How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon | 6 Tips

How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon – Overview

Cosmetic surgery includes operations such as liposuction and facelifts, while mastectomies are generally considered reconstructive surgeries.

All these procedures need to be done by a skilled and knowledgeable professional, or you may end up in a body that you do not like.

A botched surgery procedure can also cause health complications that could be tragic. In that regard, you should do your due diligence before settling on a surgeon.

Here are some tips to help you ensure that you end up with the right one.

1. The Surgeon Should Be Certified

The first thing you should probably look out for when looking for a plastic surgeon is their certification, and it should not be just any kind of certification.

For instance, if you are getting surgery in America, your surgeon should be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery indicates the surgeon has completed years of specialized training in plastic surgery after medical school, not specifically six years of general surgery training and three years of cosmetic surgery training.

After that, they would have passed rigorous written and oral exams.

Cosmetic surgery is essentially a form of art in the medical field and doing your research can make the difference between achieving your desired results or wishing you hadn’t considered getting work done in the first place.

2. Their Practice Should be Accredited

Plastic surgery will be performed in a surgical facility or an ambulatory care center.

Whichever it is, you want to ensure that the facility where your procedure will be performed is accredited, aside from ensuring that the surgeon performing the surgery is certified.

An accredited facility gives you the peace of mind that the proper standards for staffing, surgeon credentials, safety, and proper equipment are met.

You can tell that a facility is accredited by looking it up on websites like the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).

An accredited facility must meet rigorous safety, emergency preparedness, and quality care standards to minimize risks, including mortality and serious complications.

3. Your Surgeon Should Have Questions

Surgeons are essentially doctors whose job is to treat you holistically and as such, they should consider your medical background even if you want a cosmetic procedure.

Therefore, whether you are getting reconstructive or plastic surgery, your surgeon should have a few questions to ask about your health. After that, they should discuss some potential treatment options with you.

If this does not happen, that should be considered a red flag and possibly a reason to continue your search for a plastic surgeon.

4. They Should Not Oversell

Be cautious if a surgeon aggressively suggests additional procedures you did not express interest in, but understand that recommendations for complementary procedures can sometimes enhance overall results.

Granted, some procedures, like nose surgery, may complement a chin augmentation, but your surgeon shouldn’t suggest liposuction if all you want is a nose job.

Ideally, the perfect surgeon should work collaboratively with you to define your goals and provide realistic expectations for your reconstructive or cosmetic surgery.

5. You Should Feel Comfortable Around Them

Perhaps you don’t know this but you should have a connection with your plastic surgeon. That is one of the ways you can tell if they are right for you.

Although complications are rare, you should be confident knowing that the surgeon will handle everything like a pro in case anything wrong happens during your surgery.

Trust your gut feeling and continue searching if you do not trust your surgeon or their character seems off.

6. Read Reviews

A good surgeon should have their practice out there and have patients they have worked on in the past. They should be able to provide you with before and after pictures of surgical procedures for previous patients.

You may also want to look them up online to understand what to expect from them. Be sure to read reviews, as most people usually share their experiences, and you may benefit from that.

Bottom Line

You want to understand your needs and wants when it comes to plastic surgery before starting to look for a plastic surgeon.

After that, you may want to use the tips we have discussed here to ensure that you get your money’s worth when it comes to getting cosmetic surgery.

See Also

Grants for Weight Loss Surgery

What is Breast Augmentation

Cost of Mommy Makeover in California

Does Medicare Cover Weight Loss Surgery

What is Apronectomy

Current Version
April 2, 2024
Updated By
Andleeb Asghar, PharmD
November 2, 2021
Written By
Shubham Grover

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