In 2020, there were 15.6 million cosmetic procedures that took place all across the US. Plastic surgery is becoming very common for those who have something they’d like to physically change about themselves.
However, when putting your body in the hands of someone else, you’ll want to make sure they’re skilled and trustworthy.
Here’s how to select plastic surgeons for your procedure:
Ask for Recommendations and Read Reviews
If you have family or friends who’ve had similar plastic surgery procedures done and are very open about sharing, ask them for recommendations! They may have a surgeon they loved or even have a recommendation of who to avoid.
You should also be reading online reviews from neutral third parties. These can be found on lots of sites across the internet if you Google their name and “reviews”.
Make sure they have a good overall score, but it’s also a good idea to do a deep dive into the good and the bad. That way, you can see what people are complaining about and what aspects they had a good experience with.
Some plastic surgeons will also have client testimonials available on their website for you to browse such as seen in https://saberplasticsurgery.
Make Sure They’re Board Certified
Some states allow any registered physician to brand themselves as a plastic surgeon — even if they have no specific certifications in that area!
Make sure your surgeon is board certified with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. That way, you know they actually have experience with the procedures and know what they’re doing.
Hopefully, physicians won’t be irresponsible enough to brand themselves as plastic surgeons with no experience, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Make Sure They Have Experience
Aside from being board certified, you should make sure they have experience with the specific procedure you want. A surgeon may have decades of experience with other types of plastic surgery, but just be starting out with yours.
While they might be a natural at it, the last thing you want is to be part of someone’s learning curve.
Feel free to ask them as many questions as you like pertaining to their experience, such as:
- How many surgeries have you performed?
- Have you had any complications?
- How long does it take people to recover?
Asking all of these questions will give you a clearer picture of the surgeon and help you decide if they’re the one to go with.
Ask for Before and After Pictures
Before and after pictures are absolutely essential. For example, if you’re looking for rhinoplasty, you should be looking for before pictures that have a similar shape to you and after pictures that have the result you want.
There are lots of plastic surgeons around so if you can’t find one that looks like it might be similar to you, look elsewhere to find photographs that can accurately predict your surgery.
They may have pictures available online they can direct you to (or you can find), or they may have a physical portfolio they can hand you.
Inquire About Availability
When looking at options for surgery, you’ll also want to inquire about their availability. Most cosmetic procedures aren’t emergencies and if you can wait a while, that’s ideal, as the most popular surgeons will be booked out in advance.
You’ll need to consider when you want the surgery done and how long you can wait for it. The availability of surgeons can vary wildly depending on the time of the year and the demand placed on them.
Ask About a Quote
Chances are, comparing surgery costs is essential for you. Even if you have insurance, it’s unlikely to cover plastic surgery unless there’s a medical need for it, so you’ll likely be paying out of pocket.
You may have the choice to pay the whole thing at once or split up the payments into a few. Making this decision will depend on your own personal finances and what’s convenient for you.
However, the main thing you’ll have to think about is the quote itself. Make sure it’s within your budget but also, don’t make the quote the deciding factor.
You should think about other things alongside it. The cheapest plastic surgeon may be so inexpensive for a reason. Maybe they have bad reviews, don’t have much experience, or aren’t even board certified!
The quote is important, but it’s not the be-all and end-all.
Trust Your Gut
At the end of the day, you should also trust your gut. You want your plastic surgery experience to be a good one, so when you go for your initial consultation, consider the person in front of you:
- Are they warm?
- Are they professional?
- Do they answer all of your questions?
- Is their office a welcoming environment?
If something feels off, then you can always go somewhere else. Consultations don’t come with an obligation, so you should feel free to go somewhere else if you don’t feel comfortable with the surgeon you’re currently talking to.
You should never compromise your plastic surgery experience because you feel bad.
Select Plastic Surgeons Carefully
Selecting plastic surgeons with the utmost care is vital. You should make sure you have complete trust in the person you’ve picked, considering the reviews, their experience, the quote, and your instinct too!
If you have any doubts, they’re not the one for you.
For more lifestyle tips and advice concerning plastic surgery and other things, check out the rest of our articles.
