How do I find a qualified plastic surgeon?
The best thing is to find someone who is by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. There are many different boards out there but this is the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. The ABPS is located in Philadelphia and their contact number is ( 215 ) 587-9322. You can call there to see if your doctor is a plastic surgeon. Try to get a referral from a friend who’s had a good experience. Hopefully their doctor is a plastic surgeon. If you don’t have any referrals you can go to www.plasticsurgery.org This is the website for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Only plastic surgeons can be members of this organization. A listing of member plastic surgeons can be found on the website Once you find your surgeon go for a consultation and see what he has to say. Different surgeons will have different opinions, different personalities, and different surgical abilities. Therefore, it is wise to do some research and find a surgeon with whom you are comfortable. View some before and after photos. It is important to see if your surgeon’s idea of what is aesthetically pleasing, is pleasing to you.
Who is a good candidate for plastic surgery?
Anyone who is both physically and mentally healthy, who has a realistic expectation as to the outcome of the procedure can be a good candidate.
How do I ensure a good result?
The honest answer is that there is no way to ensure a good result. The best you can do, is do your research and follow your surgeon’s instructions for proper care after the surgery. Doing your research and finding someone to perform an excellent surgery is only half of the process. You must also take proper care of yourself before and afterwards to give yourself the best chance for proper healing. Even if all the instructions are followed on occasion a complication will occur. This is the nature of any surgical procedure. Anyone who tells you they never have complications has either just started practice or is lying. A competent and ethical surgeon will have no reason to lie to you. Therefore,in regards to complications they will most likely tell you, that although complications can occur, with proper planning and proper care they can be kept to a minimum.
How long will my recovery be?
Recovery will vary from procedure to procedure and also from patient to patient. For example for liposuction recovery may be anywhere from a few days to a week. For a rhinoplasty the recovery time may be longer. The entire healing process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
What is the best way to do my procedure?
Every procedure has several different ways in which it can be performed. Your surgeon can guide you regarding the advantages and disadvantages of the various methods. Keep in mind that every surgeon will have their own preferences as to what they feel is the best method and what they are more comfortable performing. If you are unsure, get different opinions so that you can decide which method is best for you.