There are lots of options in which plastic surgeon a patient selects. Here’s what to look for.
When a cosmetic operation is to be performed,
a patient should select the best plastic surgeon for the job. Just like all professionals, some may be a more appropriate choice than others. What should a person look for when interviewing doctors? Here are some things to think about:
- Training and education: Cosmetic operations are very complex. An ordinary M.D. won’t do for these procedures. Make sure the doctor you’re interviewing is board certified in plastic surgery.
- Reputation: Ask around of friends, family members, your general practitioner, nurse or any hospital personnel that you may know well enough to get a word-of-mouth reference from. Ask your hair stylist, aesthetician or masseuse, as well, as those that work in the beauty industry often know who the most skilled plastic surgeons are.
- Aesthetic eye: Not only must this practitioner have medical expertise, he or she must also have an aesthetic eye and artistic flair. This arena of medicine is an art form. Harmony, scale and attractiveness in results are extremely important. Looking at “before and after” photos is a good way to gauge this. Make certain that the photos are of this surgeon’s actual patients. Look at pictures of patients who have had the same operations you’re interested in, are in the same age bracket and have similar bone structure and skin type. You want to be comparing apples with apples, after all.
- Good communicator: Like all physicians, a doc’s bedside manner and communication ability will make a big difference in the quality of an experience. This doctor needs to be able to listen in order to learn what the patient is looking for and have good speaking skills in order to give understandable answers and insight into the operation.
- Hospital privileges in a convenient facility: Doctors usually have hospital privileges in specific hospitals, rather than every facility in a metropolitan area. Make sure the practitioner you’re considering is able to use the operating suites in the hospital most convenient to you.
- Experience: When a patient decides to have a rhinoplasty performed, they don’t want to be only the third nose job for their doc. Ask the surgeon how many like operations they’ve performed and ask to see photos.
- Specialization: Perhaps a practitioner you’re considering specializes in the tummy tuck but you want a face lift. It’s better to keep looking and find one that specializes in cosmetic facial procedures.
- Welcoming staff: What is the office and nursing staff like in your potential plastic surgeon’s practice? It is important that they are professional, competent and welcoming for a couple of reasons, 1) you will be dealing with them, too, if you choose their boss; and 2) the staff that works there is a reflection of the way the practice is run. If their boss is competent and runs a tight ship, they will most likely be harmonious. If they are cranky, tardy and the place is in disarray, this is a red flag about the captain of their ship.
The best way to know if a plastic surgeon is the right one for you is by interviewing them. Make an appointment for a face-to-face Q&A consultation.
