Finding a Plastic Surgeon

Finding a Plastic Surgeon

Plastic surgery is a very delicate matter. It’s not just about the technical aspects—the sharpness of the scalpel, the precision of the surgeon—because a great deal of cosmetic surgery is very subjective. In a quest to improve on your natural foundations and tweak your existing features, the eye of the observer is very crucial indeed. So finding a surgeon is twice as important to a potential plastic surgery patient, and the pressure is twice as intense. Where should you start? When should you start? How should you start searching? Let us offer a few tips to smooth the process of finding your plastic surgeon.

Play It Safe with Certification

Better safe than sorry is a fitting slogan for any procedure that brings you under a surgeon’s knife. Luckily, there is a good objective measure of the extent of a surgeon’s training and skill in certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Certification by this association speaks specifically to skill in plastic surgery—membership in and certification by other medical societies may prove that a surgeon is good general practitioner or cardiothoracic surgeon, but cosmetic surgery is another area altogether. Be smart about checking your surgeon’s credentials and do your research. Apart from the ABPS, there are other associations specific to plastic surgeons. Make sure that whoever wields the scalpel above you has the stamp of approval of a trustworthy association!

Location, Location, Location

A good way to narrow you search focus is by location. Take into consideration the hassles of traveling—while you may be willing to fly thousands of miles for an operation under a popular surgeon on the other side of the country, will you be as willing after the operation? The recovery period following many cosmetic surgery procedures is a delicate one: you may be bruised, sensitive to sunlight, or required to don special accessories that make traveling long distances unwise. If you do decide that travel is worth your time and effort, then make plans to ensure that your pre-op and post-op journeys are both smooth ones.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

It can’t be stressed enough that cosmetic surgery is a highly subjective field. Judgment, personal taste, and aesthetic sensibilities play a large part, so don’t be afraid to contact your potential surgeon for photographic evidence. There’s no better way to get a feel for a surgeon’s work than taking a look at before and after photos of previous patients who have undergone procedures similar to those that you are interested in.

Bring in your own photos as well. Most patients go into a surgery with a strong idea of what they want, and sometimes certain outcomes are unfeasible. Discuss what you want with your plastic surgeon, and ask him or her how faithfully your image can be brought to life. This is the most important part of bringing your new and improved face or body from idea to reality, so don’t be afraid to be picky in your choice of a cosmetic surgeon!