Every year, there are over 15 million cosmetic procedures done in the United States.
It’s becoming increasingly common for people to get plastic surgery procedures done, but with that comes some nerves. It’s understandably daunting to put something you’re insecure about or any part of your body in the hands of another person.
That means you need to choose the best plastic surgeon to ensure everything goes well. Here’s how to choose a plastic surgeon.
Ask Your Friends and Google Search
When choosing a plastic surgeon, you can ask your friends to gather an initial list.
Be careful — you likely shouldn’t assume a friend has had a procedure done, as they may take offense! However, if they’ve been open about something they’ve had done, especially if it’s a similar procedure to the one you want, ask how it went.
They may have a good recommendation or tell you who to avoid!
You can also search for plastic surgeons near you on Google which will add to the list.
Read Reviews
The first thing you’ll want to do after compiling a list to find the best plastic surgeon is look up reviews if there are any available online. 79% of people say they trust reviews as much as personal recommendations, and they’d be the right to — for the most part, reviews are from unbiased strangers.
The plastic surgeon should have a plethora of reviews with a good overall rating. You can also do a deep dive into the low and high reviews to find out what their weak points and strong points are.
Make Sure They’re Board Certified
When you’ve found a plastic surgeon who seems to look good, it’s time to make sure they’re board certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS).
The reason to be this specific is that the government doesn’t require a plastic surgeon to be specifically trained in the procedures they’re offering, so the state medical boards aren’t too reliable. While it may confirm that someone is qualified to perform surgeries, they may not actually be very experienced in the one you’re looking for if you only go by the state medical board.
The road to becoming a plastic surgeon is a long one. To become board certified by the ABCS, the cosmetic surgeon must have a lot of experience and training behind them as well as passing a two-day long exam.
This intense, grueling process makes sure they really know what they’re doing!
Being board certified isn’t just important for the surgery’s outcome, but for your safety. Everyone who passes that exam is highly trained in safety and ethics. Every surgery comes with risks, and you want to make sure that yours are minimal.
Read Also-Choosing The Best Dentist For Dentures: A Guide
Ask Them About the Specific Procedure
Even when you’ve confirmed that they’re qualified in the procedure you want to be done, ask them about it. Everyone has different experiences and styles and if you want to find the best of the best, then make sure they’ve produced the results you want time and time again.
If you’re looking for Rhinoplasty in this area, for example, someone who specializes in breast augmentation surgery may not be the best call — no matter how good their specialty. The types of plastic surgery are all very different.
You can ask them how long they’ve been doing this procedure, how long they trained for it, and how many times they’ve actually done it. The more procedures a plastic surgeon has performed, the higher their success rate likely is.
You don’t want to be part of a learning curve!
Look at Pictures
You should never agree to let a plastic surgeon work on you without asking to see pictures of their work. Again, make sure it’s of the specific procedure you want!
When looking through their pictures, look for photos similar to you in the ‘before’ part of the work. They should be around your age, with a similar shape in the nose, breasts, or whatever you’re looking to have worked on. The results should be clean and consistent every time.
You should also make sure that the surgeon’s aesthetic taste matches yours. A surgeon can do technically great work but if you don’t like the appearance of the outcome, then you shouldn’t go with them.
Remember, this surgery is expensive and often permanent, so it’s okay to be picky.
Assess the Surgeon’s Manner
If the surgeon does great work but doesn’t make you feel comfortable then there’s no point in going with them. Any sort of surgery is a very daunting process so if they’re blunt, sharp, or aggravate any anxieties, then you don’t want to go with them.
Here’s what you should look for in a plastic surgeon, aside from credentials and experience.
Transparency
When you ask lots of questions, the surgeon should be used to this and understand that you’re trusting them with a lot. They should be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Warmth and Professionalism
They should be able to strike the perfect balance between warmth and professionalism.
They should be friendly and informative at the same time.
Trust
You should have a sense of trust with your surgeon, and they should know how to give it to you.
The main reason for this is not just the surgery, but for your safety. You’re going to have to disclose all of your medical history and habits to this person and if you aren’t comfortable doing so, then it’s critical you don’t go ahead with the surgery.
If you lie about something, such as alcohol or drug use, it could be dangerous.
Consider the Staff
It’s not just the surgeon you need to consider, but the staff around them. From the reception to anyone assisting the surgeon, everyone should have that same balance of warmth and professionalism.
If anyone makes you feel uncomfortable, then it’s not a good match and there are plenty of other places you can go for a consultation.
You should also ask who else will be involved in the surgery — for example, the anesthetist. Make sure they’re also qualified.
The Location
You should make sure you feel comfortable in the location where the surgery will take place and ensure that the operating room is accredited and has everything it needs. This includes emergency equipment if something should go wrong.
While it’s not nice to think about things going wrong, remember they likely won’t — but when anesthesia is involved, it’s essential to have equipment and personnel on hand to respond to these situations, just in case.
Think About the Availability
Once you’ve decided you’ve found a surgeon who does great work and who you feel comfortable with, it’s time to consider their availability and if it works for you.
A good surgeon may have a long waiting list, so prepare to be patient. This, if anything, is reassuring that they do good work and are very popular with a lot of people!
However, it’s important to make sure it’s a realistic amount of time for you to wait and that the surgeon can accommodate your needs. You may have some specifics about the timeframe you get this done, whether that’s due to work or other responsibilities, so ask about this.
Ask for the Quote
When you’ve decided you may want to go with this surgeon, it’s time to get a quote.
Plastic surgery procedures usually aren’t covered by insurance, and you’ll mostly be paying out of pocket. Some plastic surgeons will offer a financing schedule so you can pay over a period of time rather than having to drop a large sum of money at once.
While it’s important to make sure that the procedure is within your budget, it’s also essential not to disregard everything else to go with the cheapest option. The cheapest surgeon may be that way for a reason, whether it’s because they’re not certified properly or have bad reviews and are struggling for business.
Consider the quote alongside everything else, but don’t make it your only decider.
This Is How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon
Make sure you consider all of these things when choosing a plastic surgeon. There are many things to consider, including their experience, the quote, and even just their bedside manner. Even with anxiety about the procedure itself, you should have complete confidence in the person performing it.
When it comes to how to choose a plastic surgeon, consider your instinct along with all of the important technicalities and you can’t go wrong.
For more advice and other lifestyle tips, check out the rest of our site.
