We all have seen viral posts of terribly botched plastic surgeries. But botched cosmetic procedures aren’t just viral post material, and they can lead to serious complications like chronic pain, severe infections, and even be life-threatening. Not only will your health be seriously jeopardized, but you’ll also have to incur additional medical expenses and suffer through mental trauma.
The choice you make regarding your plastic surgeon will live with you for years. So, you will want to choose one that is capable, certified, confident, and one that you feel comfortable with.
With so much information out there, it can be hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. That’s why we have put down a few tips to help you out.
Board Certification
As surgeons don’t need to have training in the surgeries they offer, any surgeon can technically do any surgery. That’s why you should go for a surgeon who is certified.
They should be certified not only by their state board but also by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery or the American Board of Plastic Surgery. These boards require years of training and education in cosmetic surgery before they become board certified. This education and training are specialized for cosmetic surgeries.
Board-certified surgeons also need to pass examinations showing that they demonstrate ethical and safe surgical practice.
For example, Stratus plastic surgeon Dr. Okada is an ABPS certified plastic surgeon.
Facility Accreditation
When choosing a doctor, you also need to make sure that their surgical facility is accredited. An accredited facility needs to have extremely low mortality rates and less than a single percent of cases developing serious complications after their procedures.
This ensures that the surgical facility adheres to strict guidelines regarding safety, equipment, and staff credentials.
Experience and Body Subspecialty
It would help if you chose a surgeon based on the procedure that you want. This ensures that the surgeon has plenty of experience and training for that particular procedure. Each surgery is different and needs a different set of skills.
Plastic surgery has a lot of subspecialties, so don’t go to a rhinoplasty expert for a breast reduction surgery, for example.
They should also have considerable experience in their chosen specialties. Having the testimony of previous patients and having pictures also go a long way towards showing a surgeon’s experience in a tangible way.
Personal Connect
Finally, you want to make sure that you feel comfortable with your surgeon. Even if a surgeon is the best in the field, if you don’t feel comfortable with them, you won’t trust them in taking care of you properly.
Not only should your surgeon be competent, but they should be kind as well. Nothing feels as bad as feeling worthless or unimportant when you’re about to go through any medical procedure. Your surgeon should be able to reassure you at least and inspire confidence in you.
Final Words
Having a successful experience with cosmetic surgery is incredibly dependant on your choice of a plastic surgeon. That’s why you should go for a certified, experienced surgeon who you can trust implicitly.