When You’re Thinking About Plastic Surgery

Plastic and reconstructive surgeries are more popular than ever. Some of the most popular are breast augmentation or enhancement, nose reshaping, tummy tucks, eyelid surgery, and liposuction to remove fat.

Doctors who perform these procedures can improve the outward signs of aging and enhance or restore features. They can also correct birth defects, and improve the appearance of scars from burns, wounds, or cancer tumor removal.

If you are thinking about plastic surgery, it’s good to get a little background information first. Check out the library or go online to get some basic information about your options. Choose reliable sources, like government sites or medical associations. Then, you’ll be ready for the next step—finding the right doctor.

Selecting a Surgeon

Any licensed physician may call herself a cosmetic surgeon, so it’s extremely important to find one who has the proper training and experience in plastic surgery. A good first step is determining if the doctor is certified by a surgical board, such as the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. This means the doctor has met certain guidelines for training and clinical experience. Board-certified surgeons must also pass a rigorous test.

To find out if a doctor is certified, ask the surgeon directly. Or you may check the American Board of Medical Specialties online at www.abms.org.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Your plastic surgeon can and should be able to provide you with more information about the procedure you’re considering. Be sure to ask questions, such as:

• How many procedures of the type I’m considering have you performed?
• Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
• What kind of results can I expect?
• What are the possible risks of the operation? These might include infection, bleeding, blood clots, or adverse reactions to anesthesia.
• Where will the procedure be done? Is the facility accredited by a program that helps promote high quality of patient care in health care facilities? One of these organizations is the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
• What will the procedure cost? You may want to compare fees, since insurance usually does not cover elective procedures like plastic surgery.
• How long will it take to recover?
• Are there alternatives to surgery?

Answers to questions like these can help you decide if a procedure or the surgeon you have in mind is right for you.

September/October 2006 A Healthy Tomorrow

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