Deciding to undergo plastic surgery is a fairly major choice in anyone’s life. Whether you’re looking into surgery purely for aesthetic reasons, or to improve your health, you need to be certain that your choice of surgeon is the right one for you.
Most major cities have a lot of choice. Surgery is big business, and the competition between clinics is tough. If you’re located in a large metro area such as New York or Los Angeles then the decision process could prove to be difficult – you really are spoilt for choice!
To help you out, here are a few guidelines to follow when decision which plastic surgeon is ultimately be the one you do business with.
Certification
This is the first thing you should look for – it really is a basic requirement. Watch out though as there are many certification bodies which sound rather official, but don’t actually require much from surgeons to be given the seal of approval. To be safe and ensure you’re dealing with a true surgical expert who has experience and a proven track record, only deal with someone that’s been passed by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The ASPS enforces the highest standards, which really is necessary when choosing any kind of healthcare professional – and especially a surgeon!
Portfolio & Testimonials
Although it is fairly common sense, there really is no reason to work with a surgeon who doesn’t have a portfolio available for you to review. You want to be able to see what kind of results they’ve bee able to deliver for other patients – particularly ones who have had a similar procedure to the one you’re considering. If the surgeon is also able to provide recommendations and/or testimonials from previous patients then that is even better.
On that note, it is also a good idea to look for a surgeon who actually specializes in the particular type of procedure you’re considering. You’ll be able to find specialists in any area of surgery from revision rhinoplasty (nose jobs) to full ‘mommy makeovers’. Why choose someone who generalizes when there is the option of dealing with surgeons that have real expertise in your chosen area? It doesn’t make sense. Here’s an example of a specialist in New York – they focus primarily on post-pregnancy procedures.
The Surgeon Themselves
The last thing to consider is the actual person you’ll be dealing with. It may seem trivial, but the whole experience will be a lot more comfortable for you if you actually like and get on with whoever is going to be performing your surgery. Don’t be hasty and pick someone based purely on track record and recommendations if you don’t actually feel comfortable around them. There are so many high quality professionals out there to choose from that it is certainly worth waiting until you find the perfect fit, before parting with any money.
So that’s it – a short and sweet list that gives you a few things to think about when looking into surgery. Obviously there is much more to the process, and you’ll be able to learn a lot and get more inspiration by searching elsewhere online – especially on specialist websites. In the meantime if there are any questions or queries you have please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team – we’ll happily give you any guidance we can if you’re looking at cosmetic surgery and don’t know where to start.
