A growing number of people are looking for cosmetic surgery. In fact, over 1.8 million people went under the knife in 2018. This was 21,000 more cosmetic surgeries than the year prior. The most popular procedures were breast augmentation and liposuction.
Many people are asking the question, who should perform my cosmetic surgery? Some decline cosmetic enhancements because they fear a botched procedure. However, this is the exception and not the rule.
Read on for a comprehensive guide to finding the best doctor. Explore tips on how to track down a reputable doctor with a successful track record.
Board Certification
One of the most important steps is making sure that your plastic surgeon is board certified. The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) established standards to make sure your doctor is qualified.
The ABPS panel verifies that the doctor has the proper training, education, and certification to perform a specific surgery. You can have 100 percent confidence in your doctor if they are ABPS certified.
One mistake to avoid is relying on state licensure or certification. A state medical board does not have the same stringent requirements as the ABPS. In some cases, the state does not require training specific to the cosmetic procedure.
Experience
The next step is to verify the plastic surgeon’s experience. You want to make sure your doctor has extensive experience performing your procedure.
The internet is a great resource for researching your doctor’s experience. Many doctors have a photo gallery on their website. These photos show before and after photos.
Photos give you confidence that your surgeon has successfully performed the procedure. It is also recommended to ask the doctor how many years they have been performing the procedure for.
Customer Testimonials
Another valuable resource for selecting a plastic surgeon is customer testimonials. Both the internet and social media are great places to look for client input.
Obviously, you want to see a lot of positive feedback from previous clients. However, any negative commentary is also welcome.
It is a red flag if there are a significant number of negative comments. Also, feel free to ask the doctor about negative experiences and see what lessons were learned.
Operating Facility
Learn everything that you can about the surgeon’s operating facility. It is wise to ask the doctor specific questions about the operating facility and the support staff.
First, ask about the operating facility’s accreditation. There are several different accreditation levels like AAAASF or JCAHO. This accreditation is related to the facility’s anesthetist and whether life support systems are in place.
Lastly, you should verify the anesthetist’s qualifications. Ask the doctor if the anesthetist is a CNRA or board certified.
A Recap of Who Should Perform My Cosmetic Surgery
Plastic surgery is an important segment of the medical field. Patients place absolute trust in their doctor to successfully carry out the procedure.
Taking steps like making sure the doctor is board certified and performing online research goes a long way. If you enjoyed this article about who should perform my cosmetic surgery, check out our health and fitness blog for more great content.
