The cosmetic surgeon you decide upon will be a choice that you have to live with for the rest of your life. A procedure is considered successful when you just feel like yourself and you are more confident for the coming years. However, when you make the mistake of choosing a surgeon that lacks experience, this increases the chance of getting poor results that lead to more expenses, time and even heartache.
Finding a cosmetic surgeon certified by the board, who has years of experience in your chosen procedure, is crucial in getting the outcome you long for.
Board Certification
Most people think they can rely on state medical boards to make sure that surgeons are eligible to perform the procedures that are being advertised, but in reality, a surgeon is not required by the government to be particularly trained in the procedures they do. This concern is most serious in the world of cosmetic surgery, since a lot of doctors with general surgery training or related fields hop on the bandwagon of cosmetic surgery to pursue higher profits.
Consumers should have a way of finding out if a particular surgeon has the proper training and experience in cosmetic surgery. For this reason, the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery has formed an exclusive board committed to the education, certification and training of cosmetic surgeons.
Experience in the Desired Procedure
You know why specialization and board certification are important in cosmetic surgery. However, cosmetic surgeons can also have subspecialties within this area. This is since every field of cosmetic surgery requires a variety of skills. You can just imagine how an operation on a nose that has bone cartilage and breathing passages would be very different from a procedure on a breast, which consists mostly of soft, glandular tissues.
Therefore, to locate the right doctor, first, you have to opt for a board certified cosmetic surgeon. Next, make sure that this cosmetic surgeon has enough experience in the particular procedure you like.
Critical questions you should ask your prospective cosmetic surgeon:
- What is your training in the procedure I am interested in?
- How long have you been doing this procedure?
- How many times have you done this procedure?
Emotional Connection
Before and after your surgery, you will be spending some time with your cosmetic surgeon. Moreover, surgery is a major transformation, and you can experience ups and downs along the road to a new you. You should feel at ease with your cosmetic surgeon and his/her support team.
Questions You Should Ask Yourself:
- Am I comfortable with this surgeon?
- Can I trust this surgeon with his advice on the things that are safe for me?
- Would I feel at ease asking any questions I may have all through the process?
- Am I comfortable about revealing my complete medical history and behavior to this surgeon? (crucial to your safety)