How Do I Choose a Plastic Surgeon?

(Excerpted from Dr. Peter Adamson’s book Fabulous Faces (available on Amazon.com) and edited for our blog.)

Two women chatting

So you’ve made the decision to have cosmetic surgery… Now you have to find a doctor—not just any doctor, but an experienced doctor who specializes in the kind of surgery you’re going to have. Beyond that, your chosen doctor must inspire your confidence. You have to be able to tell yourself, “I can trust this doctor with my face.”

You often ask yourself: Which doctor is right for me? How will I know? How many doctors should I see before deciding on one? It seems like a daunting task, but it’s quite manageable. In this first of a series of articles I’ll explain how with a little detective work, you’ll soon find yourself face-to-face with the doctor who is right for you.

DOING YOUR RESEARCH

Start by asking around. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to determine which doctors should be on your short list. A third of the people who come through my door have heard about me from my patients.

You probably have a friend, relative, or co-worker who has had plastic surgery and won’t mind talking about it. Find out if he or she is satisfied with the results. Start a list of trusted doctors. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you get names.

Talk to your family doctor. He or she will almost certainly know of several cosmetic surgeons. Add them to your list. Nurses are also a good source of information. Determine which names keep appearing. Check with your local medical association. They’ll have a list of approved and certified facial plastic surgeons. Compare that list with the one you’ve been making. By now you should have a list of several facial plastic surgeons whose names keep coming up.

Take your sleuthing a step further. Go on the Internet, review web pages, and browse chat rooms (but be careful here, as they aren’t always accurate). See who’s being quoted in newspaper and magazine articles.

By now you should have a list of names. But you’re not yet ready to decide. This is your raw data. You’re now ready to do your due diligence by checking the medical credentials of the top two or three names on your list.

In my next post, I will explain how to check the credentials of the doctors on your list for consideration. I will also reveal some red flags you should be aware of, and in the final installment on choosing a surgeon, I’ll walk you through what you should expect in a good consultation.

Thank you for reading our blog, and please don’t hesitate to call our office if we can answer any questions you have about facial cosmetic surgery.

 

 

 

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