When considering Plastic Surgery, choosing a
surgeon is one of the most important decisions. There are several factors that
you should consider before selecting the person who will perform your
procedure.
Make Sure
the Surgeon is Board-Certified
Verify that your potential surgeon is currently certified by the American Board of Plastic
Surgery. While the U.S. government requires that plastic surgeons have
certification, they don’t require that a surgeon be specifically trained in all
of the procedures offered in the surgeon’s practice. As an example, the title of cosmetic surgeon
doesn’t automatically mean that they are properly trained in liposuction or
nasal reconstructive surgery. This may be due to the different skills required to master each area of cosmetic surgery.
One key to finding someone with the most experience performing the procedure
you intend to undergo, is to inquire how they were trained and how many
times they have performed the specific procedure.
Check State
Medical Records
Reviewing the medical license record of your
surgeon could be the make or break decision in the selection process. Through
your state’s medical board, you can verify the medical license and have access
to any disciplinary actions against the surgeon. Each state treats obtaining this information
differently, meaning that acquiring these
records could be as easy as going online or requesting the information by mail.
Ask To
See Results of Other Surgeries
The result of your surgery will be one you will
enjoy, or have to live with for a long while. To ensure that your aesthetic
expectations are met, ask your potential surgeon to share testimonials as well
as before and after photos of patients who have had similar surgical procedures. This will give you a sense of what the
outcome will most likely be after the procedure. Ask to talk to other patients
as a point of reference to help you to get a firsthand perspective on any side
effects and what the recovery process may be like. When this isn’t possible due
to patient/doctor confidentiality or privacy, you may access online message
boards for information.
Ask
Questions
Be sure to ask every question you have
about the surgery or procedure. Your surgeon’s ability, or inability to answer will be a
great tool to assist you in making the selection of your surgeon. Here are a few questions that you may consider
asking:
- Am I a good candidate for this procedure? Are there options for other treatments?
- Who will assist in the procedure? What are their qualifications and training?
- What is involved in the procedure? How is it performed?
- What are the risks or complications of this procedure?
- Who will administer sedation? What are their qualifications and training?
- How long will the procedure or surgery last? How long will sedation effects last?
- What are the emergency plans? To which hospital would I be taken?
- What is the recovery period? What kind of post-operative care is involved?
- Will post-operative clothing or medicine be necessary?
- What is the realistic result of this procedure?
In the end, it’s all about having the surgery done
for yourself! Do your research and obtain opinions from several specialists so
that you are not only knowledgeable about the procedure, but have also
developed a strong trust and comfort level with your surgical team.
What other things do you look for when
selecting a plastic surgeon? Leave some
tips in the comments below!
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