Undergoing plastic surgery can be daunting. From the scalpels to the anesthesia, an inherent amount of risk is involved in nearly every procedure available today.
A few other considerations to keep in mind when researching plastic surgeons:
1. Not all plastic surgeons are equal. Just as not all chefs or artists are the same, no two plastic surgeons are quite the same either. Although all licensed plastic surgeons must have met a set of minimum requirements to obtain medical board certification, beyond that the skill level of different surgeons can vary greatly. And since it is unlikely that any plastic surgeon is going to outwardly admit to having inferior technique to that of his colleagues, it is up to the patient to do the necessary legwork to find a qualified surgeon to perform his or her procedure. This necessary research can be done through checking with referrals, searching for references to the surgeon online, or checking with the medical board in your state to ensure that the surgeon in question has not had any complaints filed against him or her in the past.
2. Every Surgeon Has a Specialty. Plastic surgeons may perform dozens of different cosmetic procedures on patients, but nearly every qualified doctor has one—or more—surgeries he enjoys doing the most and is therefore more specialized in performing. For the best chance of optimal results, every patient should do the necessary research and find a surgeon that specifically specializes in the augmentation he hopes to have done.
3. Not all cosmetic surgeons are certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Due to the way licensing laws work in the United States, physicians need only to be certified by their state licensing board to practice in nearly any specialty, including plastic surgery. Obtaining licensure through the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), however, shows that the surgeon has received at least six years of surgical training—with a minimum of three years of plastics-specific training—and has received instruction in performing all plastic surgery procedures.
In addition, plastic surgeons certified by the ASPS must stick to a strict code of ethical guidelines, and must continue to complete annual training courses even once their standard medical education is over. This continued emphasis on improving techniques and learning new procedures ensures that patients are in the best hands possible when it comes time to go under the knife.
It is because of this that all cosmetic surgery patients should think long and hard before choosing any surgeon not certified by the ASPS.
4. Plastic surgeons don’t just deal with cosmetic issues. Plastic surgeons may be most-commonly associated with breast augmentations and nose jobs, but many of those currently working in the field want nothing to do with these purely cosmetic, elective procedures. For a number of plastic surgeons, their primary business is reconstructive surgery—that is, treating patients who are facing a debilitating defect caused by genetics, illness, or a major accident. These plastic surgeons typically work on-staff at major medical centers, and are unlikely to handle any elective cosmetic surgeries.
5. Not all surgeons use the latest techniques. While most patients hope to find a doctor willing to use the most cutting-edge techniques in their plastic surgery operation, this may not always be the best—or safest—option. That is because treatments for various beauty ailments must undergo testing for a long period of time before a surgeon can be fully sure of the lasting outcome and effects. Even if a plastic surgeon is willing to try out a new technique, patients may want to consider waiting until it has been more thoroughly researched before diving in.
With that said, the majority of patients should not rule out going to a particular plastic surgeon simply because he or she refuses to perform a brand-new operation technique, since there is a large chance the physician is simply waiting until the procedure has been better refined for safety reasons before trying it out on new patients.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
If you are considering surgery, check out the following links to find specialists in your area:
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