Things to Know Before Selecting Your Surgeon
What to Know & Ask Before Selecting Your Surgeon
There are many ways to find a plastic surgeon. You can begin with the following tools:
- Friends and family who have had successful plastic surgery.
- Ask your family doctor for his or her recommendation.
- Do your research on the physician and the procedure(s) you are interested in. Ask the physician about his or her training, board certification and the facility where your procedure will be performed. Your selected physician should be adequately trained and board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Ensure that the surgical facility uses skilled, licensed personnel to administer and monitor your anesthesia and your recovery immediately following the procedure.
- Schedule consultations with your chosen doctors; ask detailed questions about his or her field, the procedure(s), options and the realistic outcome of the procedure.
What credentials should I look for in a surgeon?
It is important that you find a doctor who is board certified with the American Board of Plastic Surgery. An ABPS certified surgeon has graduated from an accredited medical school and has completed at least five years of additional residency. You can verify the doctor's certification by contacting the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) at 1-888-4-PLASTIC. They will be able to tell you which doctors are legitimate plastic surgeons. You can also visit the ASPS Web site at www.plasticsurgery.org. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the only board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties, which certifies physicians in plastic surgery of the face and all areas of the body.
A licensed physician may perform plastic surgery without being board certified in plastic surgery. "Board certified" does not automatically mean that the doctor is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.