New York Cosmetic Surgeons
How to Choose Your Plastic Surgeon
If you are thinking that you would like to have a cosmetic surgery procedure you should start by informing yourself as much as possible using resources such as this site, and using the books and products recommended on this site.
But, nothing will take the place of actually meeting with several surgeons and discussing your needs and goals. Only a qualified surgeon can tell you in detail how your life could be enhanced by a procedure. They can explain the benefits and risks, the healing time and the costs.
You want to get to be as educated and informed as possible before you actually agree to a technique. Surgeons listed on this website will be a good spot to start in finding the best surgeon for you.
The Cosmetic Surgery Consultation
When you first meet with a surgeon you may feel quite nervous. You may be about to make decisions that may effect you in all areas of your life. The surgeon and staff should try to make you as comfortable and relaxed as possible.
You may find your first contact will be filling in a web form on the doctor's web site. You should have a reply in a day or two. Frequently a nurse or coordinator will contact you to ask some initial questions and arrange for a time for your appointment.
Upon arrival you will need to fill out forms explaining your medical history. Your answers help determine if you may be a good candidate. Expect to meet with the surgeon for one to two hours. Understand that the surgeon's time is very full so have your questions ready, and be prepared to give candid answers to the surgeon's questions.
The surgeon will talk with you about your body enhancement desires and tell you what is possible. You should ask to view before and after photographs and get an in-depth explanation of the process. You should be able to talk about the price and financing possibilities.
What should you ask?
Here are 10 important questions to ask your potential cosmetic surgeon.
- Is the surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
- What schooling did the surgeon undertake since medical school? Was it in plastic surgery?
- How many surgeries of this type does the doctor perform each year?
- How long has the doctor been performing cosmetic surgery?
- What hospital is the doctor associated with? You'll need to know should there be an emergency. You may also enquire at the hospital for the surgeon's qualifications.
- Should you find the doctor operates in his/her office has it been accredited? Ask the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities or Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. This may indicate a better level of pre and post-operative care.
- Does the doctor's office have life-saving and monitoring devices?
- Who administers anesthesia? Is this person a board-certified anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist?
- What risks are associated with this surgery? What percentage of the time do they happen? How is the doctor prepared to handle complications?
- What is the average recovery time for this procedure?
You want to ask about the pre-operative, operative and post-operative routines associated with the procedure. Recovery times are normally no more than a few weeks for most cosmetic procedures so you need to be ready to schedule the required vacation time.
By the end of your consultation you should leave feeling educated and confident with the surgeon. Do not schedule your appointment until you have consulted with a number of surgeons and only after you feel absolutely secure that you have found the best surgeon for your needs.
To Verify a Surgeon's Qualifications
Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. (AAHC)
Phone : 847/853.6060
Internet : www.aaahc.org/accreditation/search.shtml
Accredits surgical facilities in physician offices.
American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF)
Phone : 888-545-5222
Internet : www.aaaasf.org/Facilities
Certifies ambulatory surgery facilities and provides practice guidelines for surgeons working in ambulatory surgical facilities.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)/ The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)
All cosmetic surgeons should be ASPS members who are board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. They also should have graduated from an accredited medical school and completed five years of surgical residency, usually three years of general surgery and two years of plastic surgery.
Phone : 888-4PLASTIC
Internet : www.plasticsurgery.org/find_a_plastic_surgeon
Federation of State Medical Boards (FCVS)
FCVS verifies medical education, postgraduate training, licensure examination history, board action history, and identity.
Phone : 888-ASK-FCVS
Internet : www.fsmb.org
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