You can’t take any risks at all when it comes to getting plastic surgery. Provided this is an elective procedure you’re having, your surgery will likely physically alter your appearance in a way that will ideally be noticeable to all.
Given those high stakes, and the money involved with this kind of procedure, you don’t need any mistakes clouding what should be a positive and rewarding experience.
So, how do you find a reputable plastic surgeon in your area? Depending on where you live, you may have a ton of options, or you might have two or three. But, no matter what your local plastic surgeon market looks like, you need to put the time into vetting these professionals so you know you’re making the right decision for you.
Here are three tips for doing just that.
Stick with Board-Certified Surgeons
First, don’t even waste your time looking at plastic surgeons who are not certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. To become certified by this board, surgeons must have many years of plastic surgery training and complete multiple exams designed to test their knowledge.
Essentially, being board-certified means the surgeon has been held to the highest of American medical standards, and that expertise will be passed along to you. You’ll get a true professional who knows what to do and how to do it.
To get plastic surgery from surgeons who are not certified means to risk your health and appearance, and that is simply unthinkable.
Consult with a Few Candidates
After you’ve narrowed down your surgeons, meet with a few or all of them to see who offers the most successful outcome. Your surgeon should be honest with you and describe exactly what you could expect from having this surgery.
Your surgeon will also tell you if you’re even a good candidate for the procedure. Some patients, due to health conditions, don’t make good candidates for surgery, and any honest surgeon is going to relay that to you.
Plastic surgeons who perform any procedure on anyone despite health concerns are probably not board-certified or legitimate or even safe to work with.
Use your intuition to judge which surgeons seem the most trustworthy and who have the best success stories from patients in online reviews.
Inspect the Surgery Center
Finally, while you’re consulting with different plastic surgeons, take the time to note the conditions of the medical center where you’d be having the procedure. Don’t make it look like you are, but check over the cleanliness, the age of the equipment, and the types of people who are working there and sitting in the waiting room.
All of these things can tell you whether you’re making a good decision by going with this doctor. If things are dirty and outdated, it’s probably not a good idea. If the place seems new and modern and like it can afford the best equipment, you might be in a better position.
Be very careful when you make a plastic surgery decision. It’s worth taking that time, but when you do, you’ll be happy you found something that works for you.
