How to Choose the Right Cosmetic Surgeon
Your decision on a cosmetic surgery will affect you for many years, if not your entire life. A successful operation will restore your confidence and make you feel more like yourself for years to come. On the other side, entrusting your surgery to an inexperienced surgeon increases the risk of bad outcomes, which can result in additional expenditures, time, and heartbreak.
Ensure that the cosmetic surgeon is certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.
Many individuals believe that state medical boards will verify that surgeons are qualified to do the treatments they promote, yet the government does not require surgeons to have specialized training in the procedures they advertise. This problem is particularly serious in the field of cosmetic surgery, as many doctors with general surgery or other medical training jump on board in the hopes of making more money.
Confirm the surgeon’s experience with the operations you’re interested in.
Each type of cosmetic surgery necessitates a particular set of skills: operating on a nose with bone, cartilage, and breathing passages is very different from operating on a breast, which is mostly made up of soft tissue. As a result, cosmetic surgeons might specialize within the discipline. Choose a cosmetic surgeon who is board certified and has a lot of experience with the procedure you’re thinking about.
What questions should you ask a surgeon?
How did you prepare for the procedure I’m thinking about?
How long have you been carrying out this procedure?
How many times have you done anything similar before?
Choose a surgeon who has a good aesthetic sensibility.
We’re all aware that what one person deems appealing may be repulsive to another.As a result, you can’t rely simply on a friend’s recommendation or the cosmetic surgeon’s experience. For each surgeon you interview, you should carefully examine the outcomes.
How to tell if a cosmetic surgeon has good aesthetic taste:
Take a look at the before and after images.
Compare the outcomes of each doctor for the surgery you seek.
Which surgeon’s outcomes appeal to you the most?
Pay special attention to patients who share your characteristics (bring a selfie to your consultation for reference):
Patients with a similar face structure, who are around your age, and who have some of the same issues as you, such as a sagging neck or a pronounced hump on the nose, are good candidates for facial operations.
Patients with a comparable torso and breast form might be considered for breast procedures. Patients with those traits in the before photographs, for example, will give you a better understanding of how that surgeon tailors a procedure to patients with your concerns and body shape if you have narrow shoulders and widely-spaced, small, asymmetrical breasts.
Look for patients that have a comparable shape to you when it comes to body operations. See how the doctor helped patients like you if you tend to carry extra weight around your hips or have a drooping belly. Hint: Keep an open mind about other body treatments, as you might discover that a problem you believed could be solved with liposuction is better addressed with abdominoplasty.
Look for a surgeon’s results to be consistent across all patients who have had the treatment you’re considering. Do their after-surgery results resemble how you desire to look?
Pay attention to how you are made to feel by the surgeon and his or her team.
Surgery is a major thing, and the road to your new look can be winding. You must be completely at ease with your cosmetic surgeon and their support staff. Choose a cosmetic surgeon with whom you feel comfortable and who you can entirely entrust your safety and results.
Consider the following questions:
Is it enjoyable for me to spend time with this surgeon?
Do I have faith in this surgeon’s advice as to what is safe and appropriate for me?
Would I be allowed to ask this surgeon any questions I might have throughout the procedure?
Is it safe for me to tell this surgeon anything about my medical history and habits?
(This is very vital for your safety!)
5. Learn about the facility’s operations.
The anesthetist and the operating facility have a big role in your safety during surgery.In the event that something goes wrong, accredited operating rooms have crucial life support systems.
Questions to ask and things to look for include:
Find out where your surgeon does surgery and what level of accreditation that hospital has.
Look for accreditation from the AAAASF, AAAHC, JCAHO, IMQ, or another accrediting body recognized by the state medical board where the surgeon practices.
Inquire about the anesthetist’s credentials.
Your anesthesia should be administered by a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) or a Board Certified Anesthesiologist for your protection.
6. Customer service is also important!
You want to be sure you’re getting good service and treatment. Much of this will become apparent as soon as you walk into the cosmetic surgeon’s clinic.
Questions to ask and things to look for include:
Is the staff pleasant and accommodating?
Do I have access to resources that adequately educate me for the risks and reality of surgery and recovery?
Is it possible to have a list of all fees?
Is the quote comprehensive?
Do I get a timely response when I call the practice?
