We are fortunate to live in an
area with multiple outstanding
providers of plastic and cosmetic
surgery services. However, this is a double-edged
sword, as the wealth of talent can overwhelm an
individual looking to choose a surgeon for the
first time. There are a few simple steps that can
help guide you both as a consumer and more
importantly as a patient, to help you make a
more informed choice.
Verify Their Qualifications • The surgeon’s
training and Board Certification status are two
straightforward ways to begin your search. It
sounds simple, but formal residency training in
plastic surgery, facial plastic surgery, or dermatology
is not a requirement for an individual to present
himself as a cosmetic surgeon. Find out where
your doctor did his training and for how many
years. The key point is that it was a formal, fully
accredited program. Second, verify their Board
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Certification status. Board Certification is a
rigorous process, and it should serve to provide an
extra measure of confidence to the patient. Both
of these pieces of information will usually appear
on the doctor’s website, but they can also be
verified online (The American Board of Medical
Specialties, www.abms.org).
Three Questions to Ask at Your Consultation •
Three simple questions will go a long way
toward giving you a sense of your surgeon’s
abilities and whether he or she will be able to
meet your expectations. First, ask about his/her
experience, both in terms of years in practice as
well as years performing the procedure you are
considering. Second, ask to see before and after
pictures. Finally, ask if it would be possible to
speak to a couple of former patients. This will
give you a firsthand account of how the surgeon
cares for patients before and after surgery.
Two Warning Signs • There are two red flags
that should give you pause during a consultation.
The first is if you feel pressure from your doctor
to have surgery right away. This simply should
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not occur during a routine visit. Not only are
they supposed to serve you on your timeline,
but patients tend to have a much more positive
experience once they feel fully comfortable with
all aspects of their procedure, and this sometimes
takes two or three more visits to the doctor. If
you feel pressure, take a step back and think
things over. The second warning sign is the
doctor who does not think you need a second
opinion. You should feel comfortable seeking
opinions from other surgeons to help you
make a more informed decision. If your doctor
feels that “he is the only one who can perform
this procedure,” take some time to think that
statement over, as it is often not the case.
Go With Your Gut • After the research is over,
your questions answered, and the warning signs
avoided, it comes down to comfort level, and this
is different for everyone. Take your time, review
your options, and pick the surgeon with whom
you feel most comfortable, not only to achieve
the results you desire, but to be there for you
before surgery as well as during your recovery.
In the end, these efforts will pay off.
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