The search for a good plastic surgeon can be a long and sometimes
frustrating process. Here are some guidelines and resources you
can use to thoroughly research a plastic surgeon's credentials
and find a top-rated, experienced plastic surgeon that is right
for YOU:
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The doctor you choose should be Board Certified in Plastic
Surgery. Many doctors will say they are Board Certified--
but the question you need to ask is "In what?" Gynecology?
Dermatology? You can check this by calling the American Board
of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) at 1-888-4PLASTIC or visiting them
at their web
site.
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Good Plastic Surgeons are members of the American Society
of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons (ASPRS). Ask your surgeon
if he/she is a member of the ASPRS.
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Another organization that is good to check with is the American
Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). Members of
the ASAPS are Board Certified Plastic Surgeons who have been
in practice for at least 8 years and have been researched
and approved by their peers specializing in aesthetic surgery.
You can check doctors for this membership by visiting www.surgery.org
or calling 1-888-ASAPS-11.
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Check the doctor's licensing status for your state. In California,
you can check this by going to www.docboard.org/ca/df/casearch.htm
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Ask to see pictures of the doctor's work for the procedure
you want done. Make sure your taste in beauty is the same
as the doctor's.
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Don't shop price. Doctors with few credentials or little
experience will frequently cut costs in order to entice more patients.
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Speak to other patients. Evaluate the attitude of the staff.
Surgeons who have confidence in their work will be glad
to let you speak with other patients.
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Never accept a consultation from a consultant or assistant!
You are spending time and money, and deserve to have an unhurried
consultation with the physician you are evaluating!
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Be careful of companies that advertise free consultations
and/or free financing. They frequently work with sub-quality
doctors and charge the maximum allowable interest rate, which
will cost you far more than you bargained for in the long
run.
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If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. A good
plastic surgeon will not promise you perfection. There is
no such thing when you are dealing with the human body. An
exceptional plastic surgeon will work with you to set realistic
expectations, communicating clearly what can and cannot be
done, and then deliver results.
