Five Must Ask Questions When Selecting A Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon

  Cosmetic plastic surgery here in the U.S. had for decades, been a surgical art reserved for the well to do white American. Fortunately, cosmetic surgery has now come a long way out of the closet of secrecy, exclusivity, and infrequency. Plastic surgery today has very broad appeal and application to all segments of our society, and cosmetic procedures have become common everyday occurrences.   Plastic surgery, however is surgery, and should not be entered into thoughtlessly.

  As you approach a decision to undergo a significant change in your appearance, what are the questions that need to be answered by the plastic surgeon you are interviewing?

Let’s start with the basics, residency training. Before you even enter the doctor’s office, you need to   Ask if he /she has completed a Plastic Surgery residency program accredited by the ABMS (American Board of Medical Specialties), and are they board certified.  You can verify their board status on line or when you get to the doctor’s office ask to see their certificate of board certification by the American board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).  Be wary of the doctor who is “certified” by any other board, yet holds themselves out to be a plastic or cosmetic surgeon. Boards in family practice don’t count if you are looking for a board certified plastic surgeon. If the surgeon was first (ABPS) board certified in 1995 or thereafter, they have to recertify every 10 years. Go on line or ask to see if they have recertified (taken additional exams) as required by the American Board of Plastic surgery. If they have not, then they are no longer certified. For example someone who originally was certified in 1997, should be able to show you a recertification certificate dated 2007…, 2002 means recertification  by 2012, and so on..

You must ask and the doctor prove to your satisfaction that he/she has familiarity with your specific problem, issues and fears surrounding the problem. What is their experience with patients like you? How many different ways can the problem be addressed? What are the pros and cons of each way? Can they show you any pictures, or make free hand sketches? Does the doctor appear patient and willing to hear you and understand your vision? How well have they communicated to you that they do indeed understand your fears and concerns? Was your consultation with the doctor or his representative? Did you have enough time face to face with the doctor?

How often does he have to reoperate on your kind of problem, and what will it cost you? What are the reasons why a second operation may be necessary? Has she/he explained what the pitfalls may be and how they plan to avoid them? What precautions will he/she take given your particular health considerations (if any)? Most people do not have symmetrical bodies. What if any steps does he/she plan to take to compensate for your asymmetries? Does the plan make sense to you?

Does the cost of the procedure seem out of line to you?  Is it negotiable? Do you understand what portions of the fee go for operating room, anesthesia and surgeon? The most expensive surgeon is not necessarily the best. Some surgeons deliberately charge excessively high fees in order to discourage the prospective patient from having a procedure the surgeon is not so good at or uncomfortable about doing. Their ego will not permit them to refer you to another surgeon who is actually good at the procedure. Charging more makes the agony of inexperience and the risk of legal ramifications more tolerable. On the other hand, the least expensive surgeons generally fall into two categories.  Either they are young plastic surgeons trying to get experience with the procedure, (the low price attracts the bargain hunter), or they are not bona fide plastic surgeons, and feel they have to offer low fees to compete with the plastic surgeons.  These plastic surgeon imposters will sometimes take shortcuts, or do strange things either because they do not have access to accredited surgical facilities, or because they simply do not know any better for lack of adequate training. In general, an experienced, capable plastic surgeon will, out of respect for the other plastic surgeons in town,  charge a fee which is somewhere in the middle of the range of fees.

The most important question of all is the one you ask yourself!  Most adults can tell if the truth is being spoken, if the surgeon is confident, and if the surgeon has a specific plan for you. Only you can determine if the surgeon had good eye contact, and was thorough and organized. Were they hesitant about any of your questions? Were they condescending or haughty? Were you satisfied with the time spent and do you feel like you can trust him/her? Are you picking the surgeon because they are single or good looking? Are you satisfied that this is the best surgeon for you? It is probably a good idea to consult with more than one surgeon, and if possible bring someone with you to help listen. Even among board certified plastic surgeons, we are not all the same. We each have different strengths and weaknesses. Do your homework, and in the final analysis, go within and ask yourself who is the best for you.

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