5 Considerations for Choosing a Cosmetic Surgeon

The choice to undergo cosmetic surgery is a big one. Choosing the right surgeon to help you meet your cosmetic goals is equally important. 

There are plenty of amazing surgeons out there, but there are also some…not so great ones. Likewise there are top-of-the-line facilities out there…and some sketchy ones. Doing your research ahead of time and finding the right surgeon and practice to have your plastic surgery is crucial.

Dr. Fortes, a board certified doctor by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, understands the importance of finding a surgeon that is right for you. Voted an 11 time “Super Doctor” by Texas Monthly magazine, Dr. Fortes acknowledges a few considerations that you’ll want to go through before choosing the doctor that will help you to meet your goals.

Credentials

If your doctor doesn’t have proper credentials, like a medical school degree and board certification, you can stop your search then and there. These are required to practice plastic surgery and you should not choose a doctor without seeing the proper credentials. Check their website, look online, or even ask a potential surgeon in a consultation for their credentials. A good doctor understands this is an important step in choosing your surgeon, and will take no offense.

Additionally, make sure the facility that your potential surgeon operates at is accredited as well. You should check that everything, including the equipment, the operating rooms, and the other essential components, is up to par. There are just too many terrifying accounts circulating about inadequate medical facilities that resulted in infections and botched surgical procedures. 

Referrals

Referrals are a great way to find an accredited, reputable surgeon. Talk to your health care physician and find out if they can give you a referral to a plastic surgeon who specializes in the treatment that you are considering having done. If they can, take advantage of this opportunity. In many cases, primary care offices will recommend patients to well-respected surgeons who they are confident carry out successful procedures at facilities that have been granted accreditation. 

Recommendations

Do you know anyone that has undergone cosmetic surgery that is happy with the results? Ask them who their surgeon was and schedule a consultation. Even if that surgeon does not specialize in the particular procedure you need, credible plastic surgeons have extensive networks, and they will undoubtedly be able to recommend and trust the services of another specialist.

Specialization

We’ve talked about specialization a couple times briefly so let’s dive into it. Many surgeons specialize in certain procedures. This simply means that they may prefer or concentrate their efforts in a certain procedure that they are well above average in. Consider concentrating your research on surgeons who have extensive experience doing the operation that is of particular interest to you.

Consultations

It is likely that after conducting a fair amount of research, finding referrals and recommendations, and seeking out accredited options, you will have a few surgeons that could potentially help you meet your goals with cosmetic surgery. If the doctors you’re considering all seem qualified on paper, meeting with a handful of them to determine who you resonate with is still recommended. 

To get the most out of your plastic surgery experience, you should have a trusted doctor with whom you feel comfortable discussing personal matters like your goals, insecurities, and financial situation. A good surgeon will offer a free consultation, so schedule as many as you need!

Make Your Decision

Once you go through the 5 considerations above, you will be ready to choose your surgeon. If you take time to research, schedule consultations, and consider qualified options, you can be confident you’ve made a great choice and will be on the way to a successful cosmetic surgery.