With the explosive advent of cosmetic surgery secondary to popular TV shows such as Extreme makeover and Nip/Tuck, more people than ever are interested in plastic surgery.  According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery,

  11.5 million invasive and non-invasive procedures were performed in 2006  Because of this you need to do your homework before selecting a plastic surgeon.  With the tragic deaths of the mother of famous rapper Kanye West and the writer of  The First Wives’ Club,  it is even more imperative to research your surgeon, the facility where the surgery will be performed,  and whether your medical condition can tolerate an elective procedure.

• What type of training does your plastic surgeon have?

There is only one training program that specializes in cosmetic surgery of the entire body….Plastic and Reconstructive surgery.  Here, plastic surgeons are not only trained in aesthetic surgery, but also in burns, reconstructive surgery, surgery of the head and neck, hand surgery, as well as cosmetic surgery.  Therefore, they have a strong background to handle any situation that may arise in and out of the operating room.

• Is your doctor Board Certified, and What Specialty is he board certified in?

Board certification is a process which involves completing prerequisite requirements, a two to three year training program, followed by written examinations, and then an oral examination.  Many physicians can advertise as being board certified, but the question should be in what specialty is the board certification.  Would you take your child to a heart surgeon if he is complaining of a sore throat?  The only specialty accredited by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)  is plastic and reconstructive surgery.  You should check doctors who are board certified in “cosmetic surgery” since cosmetic surgery is not a recognized board of the American Board of Medical Specialties.

• How many cases has the surgeon performed in the past?

Make sure you find someone who is well experienced.  If you are thinking about having a breast augmentation performed through your belly button,  make sure that the surgeon that you choose has done many of these procedures.  Sometimes, a new and exciting procedure that you may see on TV is just a fad that is performed by one or two surgeons only, and proper training is necessary before the surgeon can perform the procedure.

• Is the operating room facility accredited by an accepted accreditation agency?

There are several national accreditation agencies that survey outpatient surgery centers to check for deficiencies and competencies.  Some of those are AAAJHC, AAAASF, JACHO, and IMQ.  This alphabet soup of companies will check the facility, the policy and procedures, the nursing care, the doctors, and many other factors to determine if the operating room is a safe place for the patient.  There should be an accreditation certificate posted in the facility. 

• Does he use a licensed anesthesia provider?

A  licensed, board certified anesthesia provider such as an anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) should administer the anesthesia.  During the surgery, all your vital functions which include your heart rate, blood pressure,  respirations, temperature, and fluid losses are monitored. The anesthesia provider should have ample experience with outpatient cosmetic surgery. 

• Are you allowed to talk to some of his patients?

It’s always nice to hear about experiences from other patients….they will always  tell you the truth about your surgeon.  They will also give you pointers on what to expect from the surgery

• What kind of preoperative tests do I need to undergo before I am clear for surgery?

Patients who are forty years old or over should have a note from their regular physician clearing them for surgery.  They may order other  tests such as EKG’s or chest X-rays to make sure you are ready for surgery.   Plastic surgery can be very demanding on the body, and therefore, you need to make sure your body can handle it.

 Remember the overall success of your plastic surgery procedure depends   on your plastic surgeon and YOU!

What questions should I ask during the consultation?

Once you have done all the research and determined that the physician you have chosen is competent and qualified, you may want to go ahead and make a consultation appointment. In addition to the questions you ask the physician, the most important thing to consider is the communication between you and the physician. Be sure that you are comfortable with the physician and that all your questions are being answered. A give-and-take dialogue can ensure that you and the physician have the same vision of what you want the end result to be. Together with the questions provided here you should get a fairly comprehensive picture of the physicians working style and credentials.

• Does the physician have hospital privileges at a local or major hospital? You may also contact the hospital to verify the information.
• What does this treatment recommendation mean? Any part of the treatment your physician has recommended that you don't understand, don't be afraid to ask for more information.
• Why did you select this profession and what procedures do you prefer doing the most? If the physician doesn't enjoy what he/she is doing, he/she may not do the best job. But when the physician loves what they do, they may do more research and have developed better techniques.
• How much will it cost, and when and how are you expected to pay? Does the physician participate in your medical plan?
• How will he/she accept payment and when will it be due?
• If you have talked things over with your physician and are still unsure about what to do, get a second opinion. Don't ever be apprehensive to get a second opinion, "two heads are usually better than one".
• Has the physician ever had malpractice insurance denied, suspended or revoked? The answer should be "NO".

CAVEAT:

Selecting a qualified physician assures you that the doctor has completed extensive training and passed rigorous examinations in his/her specialty. However, this does not guarantee that you will obtain the exact results that you desire. Carefully read about the procedure in the Procedure Description section, understand the risks associated with the procedure, and perhaps obtain a second opinion from another physician. In sum, thoroughly research the physician and procedure before proceeding. You will be better informed and be able to ask more informed and pertinent questions. But most importantly, enjoy your new look!

Links to Professional Organizations:

http://www.lcme.org - Liaison Committee on Medical Education. This organization accredits medical schools in the US and Canada. Click on "Directory of Accredited Medical Education Programs" to verify the accreditation of your doctor?s medical school.

http://www.abms.org - American Board of Medical Specialties. ABMS is the umbrella organization for the 24 approved medical specialty boards in the United States. http://www.Abplsurg.org - American Board of Plastic Surgery ? one of the approved medical specialty boards that make up the American Board of Medical Specialties. This is the board that certifies plastic surgeons. You may call to verify a doctor?s certification status at 215.587.9322

http://www.SearchPointe.com - a Physician Credential Verification company. From the home page, click on "Doctor Search", enter the search parameters and click "Search Now". Within a few seconds, SearchPointe will provide a free report that gives you the doctor?s name, phone number, address, specialty, education, school and residency information. Then for a small fee, you can order a License and Sanction report on that doctor.

Other relevant links:

http://www.plasticsurgery.org - American Society of Plastic Surgery. 97% of all US Board-certified plastic surgeons belong to this professional organization.

http://www.surgery.org - American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Over 1,400 Board-certified plastic surgeons worldwide are members of this professional organization.

http://www.aafprs.org - American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. With over 2,600 members worldwide, this professional organization represents surgeons performing cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the face, head and neck. AAFPRS is a National Medical Specialty Society of the American Medical Assoc. (AMA) and holds official seats in the AMA House of Delegates and the American College of Surgeons. While the American Board of Plastic Surgery does not certify many of AAFPRS' surgeons, the majority is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology, which includes training in facial plastic and reconstructive procedures. Other AAFPRS members are surgeons certified in ophthalmology, plastic surgery, and dermatology.