There is nothing more important than picking the right plastic surgeon to take care of you. This guide will walk you through exactly what to look for.
Considering plastic surgery? Once you've decided to move forward with a procedure, the most important task is finding the doctor that's best for you.
We recommend doing your homework. Check out reviews online (and research the procedure!), so you know what to expect.
Once you have a few surgeons in mind, it's best to move forward with consultations. You'll want to bring your mental checklist of questions and have them answered before scheduling an appointment.
Below, we help you formulate your list with these six surgeon must-have traits.
The Surgeon Must Be Board Certified
This may seem obvious, but there are actually a lot of practitioners out there who are not board certified. Did you know that surgeons aren't required to be certified in every procedure they're advertising?
This essentially means that your general family doctor or any general surgeon in a hospital can decide to become a plastic surgeon - without additional training. That's why it's so important to do your research!
The Surgeon Must Be A Professional
Many plastic surgeons have an entire menu of cosmetic services they offer to their clients, and you'll find everything from a simple chemical peel to an advanced rhinoplasty within one office. That's why you'll want to consider the exact procedure you're looking for when making your decision.
For instance, if you're looking into rhinoplasty, it wouldn't do any good to visit an acne scar specialist or an eye lift specialist. These are completely different procedures. Sure, they fall into the same family of cosmetic services, but when it comes to a surgery as delicate and intricate as a rhinoplasty, it’s best to seek out a specialist.
And, once you find your specialist, it’s a good idea to ask how long he or she has been in the field. This will also give you an idea of how experienced the surgeon is and if he or she is qualified to meet your needs.
Some individuals don’t mind being the first clients of a budding plastic surgeon (as they may get perks including discounts and goody bags) but others will want to work with only veterans in the industry.
It’s best to find out where you lie on this spectrum and make an educated decision before moving forward on any procedure.
The Surgeon Must Be Empathetic
Can you think of anything worse than going in for a life-changing surgery feeling that your doctor doesn’t care about you, or the results of the procedure?
Plus, what if there happen to be complications or the need for touch-up surgeries post-operation? You need to feel comfortable and safe with your chosen practitioner.
Things to look out for during your consultation include:
Whether or not your practitioner is a good listener
Whether you feel he or she truly understands your motivations for the procedure
And, of course, you should rely on your general gut-feel
Remember, you are not only choosing your surgeon - your surgeon is choosing you as well. Any reputable doctor will also be determining if you are a good candidate for your desired cosmetic procedure.
Above all else, there needs to be a good connection and understanding to generate the necessary trust.
The Surgeon Must Share Your Vision of Beauty
OK, so you’ve done your homework. You've made your shortlist of the plastic surgeons you’re considering after you’ve met them for consultations.
But, when it comes down to it, how do you make the right choice for you?
Simple. At the end of the day, you need to go with the surgeon whose beauty ideals and vision most aligns with your own. For instance, some cultures find a bump on the bridge of the nose to be attractive and romanesque, but if you’re wanting to shave yours down and create a button-nose, it’s important that your surgeon is on the same page.
If your prospective surgeon doesn’t share your vision and tries to talk you into a completely different direction, this is a good indication that they don’t share your same beauty aesthetic. Sure, there may be some compromises, but they shouldn’t be far off from your "goal look."
Another way to see if your beauty goals align is to request to see before and after pictures from previous patients. Make sure, though, that you review pictures of post-op individuals that are in your same age group and ethnicity so you can best envision your possible results.
The Surgeon Must Provide a Clean and Safe Procedure Environment
A clean office and procedure room is paramount for a positive and successful surgery. You don’t want to have to worry about dirty needles or medication swap-ups.
One way to ensure this is to make sure that your procedure is taking place in an accredited surgical facility.
This ensures that the support staff is top-notch, well-trained and experienced in the field. It also ensures that you will have a qualified anaesthesiologist and a fully equipped office that is ready to handle any emergencies, should they occur during the procedure.
The Surgeon Must Have Great Customer Service
There is nothing more frustrating than dealing with grumpy, unhelpful staff during your cosmetic surgery experience. Customer service becomes even more important post-op.
A good practice will have someone reach out to you post surgery to follow up on progress and answer any questions or concerns, as well as get you booked in for a follow-up procedure if needed.
Some surgeries have strict post-op windows where the surgeon needs to know if anything went wrong, as well as if there are any concerns within 24-hours, so an attentive follow-up staff is necessary.
It is always recommended to ask what the follow-up protocol is like so that you can know what to expect, as well as determine if it meets your standards.
No matter what the service, plastic surgery is a big decision and being comfortable with your chosen team is essential. If you have any questions about our offered procedures or if you would like to set up a consultation, we’ll be happy to help.
