| CHOOSING
THE RIGHT BREAST AUGMENTATION SURGEON
Choosing a qualified and experienced board-certified plastic surgeon
is not easy, considering the fact there are many licensed medical
doctors who perform plastic surgery procedures, yet are not specifically
trained and certified in the field of plastic surgery. Only surgeons
certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) are specifically
trained to perform plastic surgery procedures. The ABPS is the
only board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties
(ABMS), to certify medical doctors in the specialty of plastic
surgery of the face and body. In order to become board-certified in plastic surgery, a medical
doctor must have:
- Graduated from an accredited medical school
- Completed a three year residency in general surgery*
- Completed a two year residency in plastic surgery*
- Completed comprehensive written and oral board examinations
- Hold a valid medical license in the state actively practicing
* Residency programs have to be accredited by the Accreditation
Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The type of training a surgeon received, like that of a board-certified
plastic surgeon, is a good indication of his or her ability
to provide you with experienced and safe cosmetic surgery.
It is important to understand however, that no credential,
such as board-certification is an absolute guarantee of individual
results. With this in mind it is sensible to choose a surgeon
who has received extensive plastic surgery training and has
experience with cosmetic surgery procedures. Besides a surgeon's qualifications, such as board-certification,
you should also evaluate:
- The Surgeon's Experience
- The Initial Consultation
- Your Instincts
Your surgeon's experience: The level of experience the surgeon has accounts a great deal
for the safe and successful outcome of the surgical procedure.
Generally speaking the more experienced a surgeon, the safer you
should feel in his or her hands. It is important to feel absolutely
confident about the surgeon's abilities to perform your cosmetic
surgery procedure. Typically a surgeon with extensive medical and surgical experience
knows how to deal with unexpected events during a surgery, in addition
is able to minimize the possible complications you may have during
and after a particular procedure. This knowledge can mean a shorter
and smoother recovery period after your procedure. In addition
the surgeon should be up to date with newer and more advanced surgical
techniques and procedures. Be sure to ask the surgeon about his
or her background and surgical experience. The initial consultation: This initial meeting tends to be a relaxed, yet systematic discussion
about the particular procedure you are considering. Generally,
the surgeon will begin by reviewing and evaluating your desired
goals. He or she will then review your medical history and lifestyle,
conduct a physical examination and assess whether you are a good
candidate for the procedure. The aim will be to educate and inform
you about the proposed procedure and to "walk" you through the
whole procedure. He or she will then explain what the procedure
involves, discuss the types of anesthesia, and go over the risks
and benefits involved as well as the recovery time and how you
will feel at each stage of the procedure. Finally the surgeon will
discuss the costs involved for the total procedure and give you
some reading materials. During the initial consultation the surgeon
should:
- Discuss your motivations and expectations of the procedure
- Offer alternatives, if appropriate, without pressuring you
to consider unnecessary procedures
- Be open to questions about his educational background, professional
qualifications, experience, and costs
- Answer all your questions thoroughly and compassionately
- Discuss all the risks and benefits involved
After the consultation a mutual understanding hopefully will have
developed, allowing you to feel comfortable with the surgeon. Follow your instincts: Trust your personal feelings about the surgeon, his staff and
the facility. If you do not feel completely comfortable, walk away
and meet with another qualified surgeon. The decision is always
yours. The best thing you can do you for yourself is to get educated
about your options by learning all the details of the procedure,
including all the risks, benefits, alternatives and estimated costs.
The more informed you are, the more comfortable you feel making
this personal choice. Questions to ask during your consultation: Once you have decided to consult with a plastic surgeon, be sure
to make the best out of your consultation by asking the right questions
to be able to make an educated decision. When meeting with your
surgeon, be sure to consider asking some of the following questions:
- Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
- How many of these procedures have you performed?
- Where and how will you perform my surgery?
- Is the surgical facility accredited by a national or state-recognized
accrediting organization?
- What are some of the risks involved with my procedure?
- How long is the expected recovery time for my procedure and
what are some special precautions I need to take?
- How much does the total procedure cost? Is financing available?
- Do I need to take time off from work, if so how long?
- What results can I expect?
- Do you have before and after photos of this procedure?
- What complications are associated with this type of procedure?
- Do you have clinical privileges, if so where?
- What kind of anesthesia will be used?
- Who will administer the anesthesia?
- What kind of products will be used during my procedure?
The decision to have cosmetic surgery can often be difficult.
Finding a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon can be even
harder. After all the most important aspect of a successful procedure
is to choose the right surgeon to trust your face and body too. Click
here to find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in you area.
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