Plastic Surgeons: The Keys to Choosing The Right One

Millions of people across the country have opted for cosmetic enhancement, but choosing among plastic surgeons is one of the most important steps towards joining them. There are risks that come along with the benefits of enhancement, and these risks are only compounded if you go to a doctor who isn't quite qualified — not to mention the possibility of getting a botched job that makes you look worse than when you went in for your appointment. The entire point to getting a procedure is to improve your appearance, so choosing a doctor who can provide this result is the least you can do. Here are some of the keys to choosing the right one.

Background Check

Talk to your state's licensing board before you choose among plastic surgeons. You'll want to have the peace of mind that comes with picking a doctor who hasn't been the subject of multiple complaints, malpractice suits, and professional discipline. If you don't think those doctors are out there, think again. It's very easy to find a doctor with credentials a mile long and a record that sparkles flawlessly. But you have to do a little legwork to make sure you don't get saddled with one of the bad ones. People will spend weeks researching the best high definition TV to buy, but they won't spend five minutes online looking up the background of their doctor. Do yourself a favor, and put your mind at ease.

Experience

Plastic surgeons don't all do the same procedures. Some may specialize in breast augmentation while others may focus on rhinoplasty. While most doctors perform a wide range of operations, it pays to make sure you won't be among the rare tummy tucks that your doctor does. You want someone who does this so routinely that he has figured out every nuance and encountered nearly every eventuality. Even a child knows that practice makes perfect. The more relevant experience your doctor has, the more likely it is that your procedure will be a success.

Ask Questions

A lot of patients clam up when they go in for their consultation. They listen to what the plastic surgeons tell them about the procedure, nod their heads a few times, and they swallow their questions. This is a terrible way to interact with your doctor. If you aren't going to be your own advocate, you can hardly expect anyone else to be. Ask questions and if you don't have any, you haven't done the proper research into the procedure you're getting.