In today’s society we have so many choices it can be overwhelming! The same goes for choosing your Plastic Surgeon. Here are a few things that I always talk about to patients.
Choose a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Choosing a surgeon who is Board Certified is essential. It’s more than just doing an internet search. It’s more than just looking at before and afters. Doing your homework to make sure you know the surgeon is key! Understand their experience, their training, ask around – word of mouth is often a great way to find out who does a lot of work and does a good job. Make things a little easier on yourself, only search for surgeons who are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, as well as the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. A physician saying they are “Board Certified” does not mean it is in plastic surgery. There are several self –proclaimed cosmetic surgery boards and societies that require very little training or qualifications beyond a license to practice medicine.
Consultation
Nothing is better than meeting someone face to face. Not any different than when choosing a surgeon. Get a feel for how much time the surgeon spends with you. Did you get your questions answered? Did your surgeon listen to you and let you talk? How was the office? How were you treated from the moment you called to make a consultation? All of these thing matter when you are developing a trusting relationship. Doing more than one consultation allows you to get a feel for what feels right for you and allows you to get different perspective on options available to you.
Hospital Privileges
While many surgeons have their own surgical suites it is important to know if your surgeon has hospital privileges to perform your surgery. This assures that their skills have been reviewed and approved by their peers to perform surgery at their facility. If they have privileges in a hospital setting they are not limited on what procedures they can perform.
Experience
We know that experience is essential when choosing your plastic surgeon. Looking for a surgeon with a good reputation, a proven history of good results and happy patients is key. Ask if you can talk to a patient that has had a similar procedure as you are inquiring about and find out how their experience was.
Trust Your Instincts
It comes down to where you feel most comfortable and where you felt the best patient/doctor relationship. When it feels right, your decision will become clear and it will be exciting time move forward!
Abbey Helton BSN, RNC, CANS
Certified Plastic Surgery Nurse
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