Considering Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

Asknip — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:30:38 +0000

If you’re contemplating cosmetic or reconstructive plastic surgery there are many things to consider and investigate before actually committing. A good starting point is selecting a trustworthy surgeon. The surgeon must be a member of the ASPS (The American Society of Plastic Surgeons) this ensures that the surgeon completed at least six years of surgical training with a minimum of two years in plastic surgery. The surgeon should be trained and experienced in the all plastic surgery procedures, including breast, body, face and reconstruction.
It’s a good idea to call the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (toll-free at 1-888-4-PLASTIC, or 1-888-475-2784) to get a list of surgeons in your area who perform a certain procedure and are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Generally, the more experience a doctor has performing the surgery you’re interested in, the better. That’s particularly true if it’s a new, technically complex, or especially risky procedure.
At this point you should interview at lest 5 surgeons and you should use this guide to determine your decision after consulting with each.

They should ask about your motivations and expectations, discuss them with you, as well as solicit your reaction to their recommendations.

The surgeon should offer alternatives, where appropriate, without pressuring you to consider unnecessary procedures. Be wary of surgeons who try to group too many procedures together at one time or sign you up for overly lengthy procedures.

Your plastic surgeon should welcome questions about their professional qualifications, experience, costs, and payment policies.

He/she should make clear not only the risks of surgery but possible variations in outcome. If the surgeon shows you photographs of other patients, or uses computer imaging to show you possible results, it should be clear that there is no guarantee that your results will match these.

The plastic surgeon should clearly go over the postoperative instructions in order for you to achieve the best results. Aftercare is as important as your surgery and the plastic surgeon who performs it. If an overnight stay at a care facility is required it should be taken care of, as safety should be your first priority.

If the plastic surgeon suggests billing your health insurance for a non-covered cosmetic procedure you should know that you would be committing insurance fraud which is a felony. You want your surgeon to be honest with you – if the plastic surgeon would mislead an insurance company they will just as easily lie to you.

Your surgeon should make sure the final decision is yours.

If you’ve obtained your surgeon’s name from a good source, checked his or her credentials, are satisfied with your initial consultation, and have realistic expectations for the surgery, chances are very good that you’ll be happy with the outcome of your plastic surgery. Results and safety should be your top priorities. Don’t confuse price with value. You want the best job for each dollar spent not the cheapest. Educate yourself by visiting different surgeons and then make a decision based on multiple factors, including but not solely based on cost.

AskNip » Cosmetic Surgery

Considering Cosmetic Plastic Surgery