Over the last several years, the field of Cosmetic Surgery has grown dramatically and elective procedures have become more commonplace and utilized by a wider age range of both men and women. However, with this growth has come increasing confusion as to who is actually a qualified provider and what level of training is considered to be acceptable.
And so what should you look for in a Plastic or Cosmetic Surgeon? First, it is critical to understand the difference between the two titles. Board Certification in Plastic Surgery is only open to physicians who have actually completed a Plastic Surgery residency and is an official board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Cosmetic Surgery, on the other hand, is a catch-all term and board certification in this newly created field is actually not recognized by the ABMS and is literally open to a physician of any specialty who simply completes a written test and can show that he has performed a certain number of cosmetic cases. The difference here lies in the breadth of training and expertise and is an important distinguishing factor between the two titles. With that in mind, in certain parts of the country, breast augmentation is actually being performed by physicians with little to no surgical experience aside from a weekend or short-week course. From there, they are “officially” certified to perform this surgery. Contrast that with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who has spent at least two full years practicing in his or her field and you can understand why there is such a big difference.
To this argument, some Cosmetic Surgeons have pointed to the fact that many Plastic Surgery residencies have been more focused on reconstructive surgery and have taught little to no cosmetic surgery during the actual training program. And while there is some truth to this argument in former years, this comment no longer holds merit. Plastic Surgery training programs have changed dramatically as has the entire field of Plastic Surgery and education and experience in the elective cosmetic cases is now emphasized much more so than in years past. In addition, board re-certification now even allows for sub-specialty focus in this area as the field has realized that this is an integral part of the changing world of Plastic Surgery.
So how do you choose a qualified Plastic Surgeon? First, go to www.plentyofsurgeons.com. Since we only work with the best of the best in their related fields, you know going in that our surgeons are the best at what they do. Once you have narrowed your search, ask the following five questions of your provider to help you select the best of the best and hopefully enable you to achieve the most optimal results:
1. Are you Board Certified in your specialty? If so, what is your specialty?
a. This is an extremely important question and will help you identify what your physician’s specific background training is actually in.
2. How many cases of this specific surgery do you perform in a year?
a. The more experienced your surgeon is in a particular area, the more likely they will be able to manage challenging cases and the more confident they will hopefully be in performing your surgery.
3. What is your practice mix of cases?
a. Again, the more focused a surgeon is, the more experienced he or she will be in a particular area and potentially better able to manage more challenging cases.
4. Where do you perform your surgeries?
a. This is a very important question because it can help weed out non-plastic surgeons. Since all surgeons have to apply for privileges at a Surgery Center or hospital, their training background and experience is taken into account before granting these privileges. As such, many “Cosmetic Surgeons” operate out of their own facilities to bypass this requirement and so this should be a potential red flag when choosing your surgeon.
5. Can I talk to patients who have undergone this procedure?
a. This question should apply to both Plastic Surgeons as well as non-Plastic Surgeons. Get an idea from their patients as to how they were treated by the physician as well as the staff and ask them about their overall experience. Be wary of anyone who isn’t willing to let their patients speak for themselves.
Keep in mind that it is more challenging and far more expensive to fix a bad result than it is to get a good result the first time around. As such, take your time in choosing your surgeon and trust your gut instincts. Flashy marketing may get you into their office but solid training and real results should be the only thing that keeps you there. In the end, a great result can have far reaching positive effects on your body image for years to come and who you choose to perform your surgery is a critical step in the right direction.
