There's more to finding a reputable plastic surgeon than simply looking at advertisements or going through business listings. Whether you're looking for a plastic surgeon for reconstructive or elective surgery, do your research before making your final decision.
1. Check for Board Certification
2. Check for Society, Association and Academy Membership
There are many societies, associations and academies that require high standards from and offer continuing education to their members, including:
3. Form Your Own Opinion
After you've located board-certified plastic surgeons who have training in the specialty you're seeking, visit their Web sites to learn their approach and philosophy. Request a free initial consultation with doctors who appeal to you, and ask the following questions (adapted from Plastic Surgery Review, which also provides patient reviews of plastic surgeons):
1. Check for Board Certification
- Graduated from an accredited medical school.
- Completed at least five years of additional training as a resident surgeon in an accredited program with at least two years devoted entirely to plastic surgery.
- Passed comprehensive exams.
- Maintained certification by completing continuing education requirements.
- Graduated from an accredited medical school.
- Completed at least five years of additional training as a resident surgeon in an accredited program with at least two years devoted entirely to plastic surgery.
- Passed comprehensive exams.
- Maintained certification by completing continuing education requirements.
2. Check for Society, Association and Academy Membership
There are many societies, associations and academies that require high standards from and offer continuing education to their members, including:
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
- American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
3. Form Your Own Opinion
After you've located board-certified plastic surgeons who have training in the specialty you're seeking, visit their Web sites to learn their approach and philosophy. Request a free initial consultation with doctors who appeal to you, and ask the following questions (adapted from Plastic Surgery Review, which also provides patient reviews of plastic surgeons):
- How many years of plastic surgery training and experience do you have?
- At what hospitals do you have privileges to perform the procedure I want?
- Is your office-based surgical facility accredited by a nationally- or state-recognized accrediting agency? Is it state-licensed? Medicare-certified?
- Where will you perform my procedure?
- Am I a good candidate for the procedure I want?
- What surgical technique will you use?—Why do you recommend it as opposed to another type?
- What kind of results can I expect?—May I see before-and-after photos of your patients who've had the same procedure?
- What's expected of me to achieve the best results?
- How long does recovery take?
- What are the risks and complications?—How will you handle them?
- What if I don't like the outcome?
