Surgeons for Plastic Surgery
‘He received his general and plastic surgery training at the prestigious Institute of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He served as chief plastic surgeon in an army field hospital during war time. Today, his experience as an artist has conditioned his ability to see things with a unique standard of beauty…’ Do advertisements like these tempt you to try out these plastic surgeons for getting breast implants? Well, you’re not alone, advertisements do motivate. However, there’s always more than meets the eye. So, there’s a need to adopt foolproof ways to get the best plastic surgeon.
Research holds the key
Deceptive advertisements and television programs promising miracle surgery for breast augmentation and other cosmetic improvements may mislead you into thinking it’s as simple as getting a tattoo. But nothing can be far from the truth. Undergoing plastic surgery is a serious commitment and selecting the right surgeon is one of your most important responsibilities. After all, it’s your body that’ll be on the surgeon’s block!
Since, plastic surgery is a specialized field, there’s tremendous confusion about it. Advertisements and shows generally trivialize the experience and may often intentionally mislead. The reason why most cases go wrong is because of inadequate research in selecting the surgeon. Although, there are no ‘risk free’ surgeries, you can take some steps in ensuring both safety and satisfaction in your cosmetic surgery. So, do your homework, when choosing an experienced plastic surgeon.
Finding the right cosmetic surgeon
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) is the only national organization of the Board certified plastic surgeons specializing in cosmetic surgery. Their guidelines for choosing the right plastic surgeons include the following:
a. Board certification: If your surgeon has Board certification, you can be rest assured he or she is trained in a particular medical or surgical specialty. This certification is bestowed by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the only Board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
b. ASAPS membership: This membership signifies the surgeon is not only certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, but also holds significant experience in cosmetic surgery, since the membership of this Board is only by invitation.
c. Facility accreditation: It’s important that the venue where cosmetic surgery is performed is accredited. Although, a hospital or a surgical center is generally credited, majority of office-based surgical facilities are not. If your surgeon is a member of American society of plastic surgeons, he or she’ll invariably be operating in accredited, state licensed or Medicare certified facilities.
d. Hospital Privileges: Another important aspect in checking the surgeon is to find out if he or she holds operating privileges for an accredited hospital. This is given by hospital review committees after evaluating the surgeon's training and competence for specific procedures.
e. Reliable Sources: There’s nothing better than the word-of-mouth in homing on to a good plastic surgeon. So, ask a patient's primary care doctor for recommendations. Your friends and relatives, too, may offer suggestions. However, the surgeon's Board certification should always be verified independently.
f. Surgeon’s traits: It’s important your surgeon feels ‘right’ to you. So, interact with your selected surgeon to find out whether you strike a rapport with him or her. This surgeon should also be experienced and thorough in reviewing your medical history and existing medical conditions to custom-tailor the operation based on your needs.
g. Cost: Surgeon fees may vary considerably depending on the State you’re in, the surgeon’s experience and individual patient factors. The complexity and length of your surgery will certainly have a bearing on the cost. However, don’t choose a surgeon only based on the cost, strike a balance.
Anyone with an MD can call himself a surgeon and, in fact, some do perform cosmetic surgeries outside their scope of practice. The trick is to separate the wheat from chaff and not get dazzled by false promises from unreliable sources. It’s only you who can do it, if you make some efforts.
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