Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon

1.    Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?                      

Verify and continually monitor surgeon certifications, and only list Board Certified Plastic Surgeons. If any word is in place of “Plastic” in the American Board of Plastic Surgeon, it is not the same, and usually denotes less training (IE. Cosmetic, Facial Cosmetic, Aesthetic, etc.).                           

2.    Are you a member of American Society of Plastic Surgeons?

This society requires a surgeons to be board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and have been in practice a minimum of two years. Verify your surgeons is a members of the ASPS which is usually designated by the ASPS logo on their website.  

                                                                                      

 

3.    Does the surgeon have a clean Malpractice record?          

It is important to know if the surgeon has any Malpractice lawsuits against them; and how this was resolved. These public records, can be verified by looking them up at: https://apps.fldfs.com/PLCR/Search/MPLClaim.aspx

and type in the physician’s name. Make sure to spell the surgeon’s name correctly. You can also verify from our site on the Find a Surgeon tab, by using the “Check a Surgeon” feature.

 

4.    Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure? If so, at which hospitals?

All hospitals verify training and education and they only allow surgeons who are adequately trained for specific procedures to perform them in their hospital. They also have committees in place that monitor potential problems to help insure patient protection.

 

 

5.    Do you feel comfortable with the surgeon?

Feeling comfortable with your doctor will allow you to communicate your specific needs so that you can achieve the precise look you desire. Feeling uncomfortable with the surgeon can actually affect the outcome because you may be more stressed and you may be hesitant to ask questions that are important in how the procedure is done and its outcome.

 

 

6.    Do you feel comfortable with the staff?

This is important because often you spend as much time with the staff as the surgeon. They will be the ones that coordinate your surgical process and will be your support team throughout your cosmetic surgery experience.        

 

7.      How are complications handled?

Your surgeon should be reachable 24 hours a day for all questions. It’s better to ask a seemingly simple question than to ignore a potential problem. Having access to the surgeon can minimize problems or concerns at the onset.

 

8.     Can you talk to previous patients who have had this procedure?

If you are given the option to speak with a patient who had the procedure that you are considering, it is normal for this to take up to a couple of weeks to happen. Due to patient confidentiality, the patient’s name cannot be given to you, and it can take a while to contact the patient and get them to call you.    

 

9.    Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for this procedure and what results are reasonable for me?           

A surgeon’s style is often evident in the before and after pictures.

 

10.  Is the office-based surgical facility accredited by a nationally- or state-recognized accrediting agency, or is it state-licensed or Medicare-certified?

Your health should be the primary concern and certain procedures need to be done in a sterile surgical facility. Whenever anesthesia is used, you will want to be adequately monitored. Going to a certified facility helps assure that you are in a safe environment.       

 

11.  Were you specifically trained in the field of plastic surgery?          

Following four to five years of undergraduate training and four years of medical school, most Plastic Surgeons acquire their initial surgical skill in a General Surgery Residency of approximately five years. This is then followed by a two-to- three year residency in the specialty of Plastic Surgery. Two years of Plastic Surgical practice after residency is then required, with surgical experience in the various fields of Plastic Surgery, prior to one becoming eligible for their Plastic Surgical Boards.

A physician advertising as Board Certified in Cosmetic Surgery can have any background training, as there is no recognized Board Certification in Cosmetic Surgery. Only fully trained and board certified Plastic Surgeons have received a comprehensive education in all aspects of Plastic as well as Cosmetic Surgery.

 

Make certain your surgeon is a Board Certified in Plastic Surgery.

 

 

12.  How many years of plastic surgery training have you had?

Checking a plastic surgeons education, training, credentials, and certifications can be a timely process, but a necessary step in considering the surgeon.

By selecting a board-certified plastic surgeon from NewFace.com you are assured that your physician has been prescreened, based on education, board records, certification, credentials, ethics and much more. You may request the records in our find a surgeon feature, by clicking on the “research a surgeon” feature, and we will provide you the surgeons biography and records.

 

           

13.   Has the surgeon performed this procedure on many patients?     

If you are the first patient that a surgeon is doing a specific procedure on, you have the right to know. Going to a surgeon who performs your procedure on a regular basis will increase your chances of getting a good result.

           

14.  Am I a good candidate for this procedure?    

In considering whether you are a good candidate for the procedure, the surgeon will be asking you questions to determine why you want the procedure, what you think the procedure outcome will do, your overall physical and mental health and a host of other determining factors. It is important to be very candid with the perspective surgeons. Many people want to have elective cosmetic surgery, and not all of them are for the right reasons. Elective procedures aren’t going to change who you are, only the way you look. It is important to understand what the results will and won’t do.

 

15.  What will be expected of me to get the best results?

While the surgeon may have done this procedure many times, and hopefully this is the case, no two people are the same; therefore, no two results will be the same. You and the surgeon will discuss your desired outcome, and make a plan, including the pre-operative, surgical techniques, and post-operative things you can do to get the best results.  It is very important to follow the surgeons pre and post procedure directives, to get the best possible outcome.     

 

 

16.  Where and how will you perform my procedure?

Many surgeons perform the procedures in office setting surgical centers, outside surgical centers, and even hospitals. It is important that it is a certified facility, and asking the surgeon where, and how the procedure will be performed, is part of the process.

 

17.  What surgical technique is recommended for me?  

Determining the technique will give you a better understanding of the step by step process, helping you understand the path to the desired results. Surgeons have many techniques to choose from, and many have developed their own techniques during years of performing the procedure. Keep in mind, they have done it many, many times, and are knowledgeable on how to achieve the results. 

 

18.  How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?    

Based on your general health, the procedure being performed, together with the techniques being used, the surgeon will be able to set realistic expectations for your recovery period. Understanding those expectations is vital to any recovery, as patients will respond differently.  It is common for recovery process to be several stages, and normal activities to be resumed after hours, days and even weeks, depending on the procedure. Asking the doctor what you can do to have the healthiest recovery possible should be main objective.  

 

19.  What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?

While many procedures are quite routine for the surgeon, no surgical procedure is without risks. Be sure to inquire on the specific risks in the procedure you are considering. Also, what steps can be taken to minimize those risks.

 

20.  How can I expect my results to look over time?

Some procedures will get the desired results instantly (such as Botox) and some won’t appear for several months (Liposuction, Body Lifts, etc.). Understanding the procedure, and recovery, will help you and the surgeon establish the timeframe for the long term (or short term) results.

 

21.   What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome surgery?

While all surgeons are trying to please all their patients on every procedure, not all surgeries end with the desired results. Making sure you understand that this is a possibility, and additional surgeries may be needed to accomplish your desired results, speak candidly about this with your surgeon, in advance of the procedure, it gives both you and the surgeon the knowledge and understanding that the procedure may need corrective action after the initial procedure.