We stress this all the time, the number 1 most important thing to us, when it comes to performing surgical procedures is safety.
Yes, we are also concerned about how you’re going to look and feel after the procedures are done, we want to make sure we properly manage expectations and discuss all the different options available to you. But at the end of the day, or goal is to make sure you are as safe as possible when going under the knife.
There are a number of risk factors to consider when it comes to plastic surgery whether it’s health, lifestyle, body type, current medication, etc. All of these things should be taken into account when a doctor is consulting you on having a surgical procedure of any kind.
Since plastic surgery is typically a voluntary operation, and not necessarily lifesaving, we need to consider more things before undergoing the procedures. If we, as doctors, don’t believe that the rewards outweigh the risks then we may recommend that you opt for a non-surgical procedure or some other kind of alternative solution to your problem.
This isn’t always because we don’t think you’ll benefit from plastic surgery, it’s just because, in our professional opinions, there may be too many risks involved with performing non lifesaving procedures on you due to varying reasons of concern.
How to Find a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The 5 tips that we’re going to outline below all have to do with finding the right plastic surgeon for the procedure you wish to undergo. While pricing is a concern of a lot of people, finding the cheapest option is not going to be the best option, in most cases.
Just like getting a tattoo, plastic surgery is typically a permanent procedure that you are going to have to deal with for the rest of your life. If you go with the cheapest option, you may end up with less than stellar results after the procedure as well as down the road as your body continues to age.
You wouldn’t go to the cheapest tattoo artist who has done less than 10 tattoos in their life, you would go to the experienced artist who has credibility in the tattoo world, a portfolio of work, and years of experience.
1. Find a True Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
We can’t stress this enough. Make sure you find a plastic surgeon that is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
If your plastic surgeon is not certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, then you may want to look elsewhere. Just because a doctor tells you they are board certified does not mean that they are board certified from the American Board of Plastic Surgery. There are other boards out there that can certify doctors, but the ABPS requires significantly more in order to become certified.
Being a board certified plastic surgeon requires the following:
- Medical School Degree
- 3-5 year residency of general surgery and another 3 years of fellowship.
- Specialty experience of at least 2 years in the field.
- Member of the ASPS, ASAPS, or both
The difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon is that a cosmetic surgeon is only required to complete medical school and have a 1-year fellowship in order to start performing procedures.
2. Find an Expert For Your Needs
The next thing you need to do in order to protect yourself and receive the best care possible is to find a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in the procedure you wish to have.
This means that if you’re looking to have breast augmentation a surgeon like Dr. Adams should be higher on your list than a doctor that typically focuses on rhinoplasty’s or something other than breast augmentation.
Going back to our tattoo analogy, you wouldn’t go to a tattoo artist who specializes in thin line, flower tattoos if you’re going to be getting a realistic portrait tattoo. It just doesn’t make sense.
Find an expert in the specific field of plastic surgery that you’re considering and then make sure they are board certified with the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
3. Look at Society Membership Members
Another great way to find qualified surgeons is to look at the two main plastic surgery societies. The Aesthetic Society and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons only accept members that are board certified from the American Board of Plastic Surgery and also operate in an accredited facility (which we’ll talk about next).
So, if you’re looking for a great starting place when searching for a doctor, these two societies are a great place to look as there are strict requirements for being a member.
4. Operate in an Accredited Facility
While we understand that price is a factor when choosing a plastic surgeon, you want to make sure that your surgeon works out of an accredited facility and not a backroom or sketchy office.
Accredited facilities are actual operating rooms with strict safety and health procedures in place. They are inspected regularly and held to very high standards when it comes to sterilization and cleanliness.
Finding a surgeon who operates out of an accredited facility will help keep you safe from any outside infection or issues that you may run into during or after surgery. They also allow for proper, registered, anesthesiologists to be in the room monitoring you as you undergo the procedure.
5. Do Your Research on The Surgeons
The last thing we recommend that you do, when it comes to plastic surgery safety, is to make sure you visit with a few different doctors before deciding who you’re going to go with.
Setup 3-4 consultations and sit down and talk with the actual doctor. Ask questions about their practice, education, portfolio, and more. You want to be able to get a feel for the doctor and get to know them a little bit before deciding on who is best suited to operate on you.
In the same sense, talking with the doctor also allows the doctor to get to know you and understand exactly what you’re looking to get out of a surgical procedure. It can help them manage results and provide you with a better understanding of how the procedure works and what is realistic.
Safety Should Come First in Plastic Surgery
The main thing you want to remember is that plastic surgery is still surgery, even though it’s cosmetic and voluntary. You want to make sure you’re in the best hands possible and in the safest environment.
Yes, there are many plastic surgeons around the world that will perform some of these procedures for a lot cheaper than you may find in your area, but is the price worth the risk when it comes to your life?
Remember, the skill of a plastic surgeon will make your results better and will also make the healing process less miserable. A skilled plastic surgeon knows the proper way to make incisions and the proper way to manipulate the body in a way that results in less pain and less recovery time.
Doing your research ahead of time and choosing a real board certified plastic surgeon who operates out of an accredited facility, with the proper skillset to ensure your procedure goes as smoothly as possible, may cost a little bit more, but your body will thank you in the end.
If you would like to setup a consultation with Dr. Adams regarding a surgical procedure, please contact us today!
