How to Find The Right Cosmetic Surgeon

When you are considering your cosmetic surgery procedure, you will want to find a surgeon that specializes in the type of procedure you are want to have performed on you.

With all cosmetic surgery procedures, finding the right surgeon is your first step towards a positive and life-changing experience. Making sure the surgeon that you are considering has all appropriate qualifications & can provide you with the right type of advice for the procedure you are considering, and truly cares about you as a patient.

What You Can Do:

-Ask your family doctor for a referral; Talk with friends and family whom may have had the procedure you are interested in, then approach there surgeon:
-View all of the surgeons before and after pictures to get an idea of what your procedure may look like; Get a recommendation from a satisfied patient; Interview more than 1 surgeon..

A list of Qualifications your surgeon should have in order to perform the procedure/s you are interested in, and for safety reasons.

USA: American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS),The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery(ASAPS) American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPLSURG), American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS), American Board of Dermatology (ABOP).
CANADA: Royale College of Physicians & Surgeons (RCPSC), Canadian Society of Plastic Surgery (CSPS), Canadian Laser Aesthetic Surgery Society (CLASS), Canadian Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery (CAFPL), & Royal College of Surgeons of Canada in Otolaryngology (RCSCO).
AUSTRALIA: Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), & The Royal Australian College of Surgeons (RACS).

Please only ask your GP for recommendations, your GP should not perform any of the procedures unless the have the correct certification!

15 Questions to Ask your Surgeon:

Q1. Does your plastic surgeon practice cosmetic surgery exclusively
-How much surgery does the surgeon perform on the face?
-How much surgery does the surgeon perform on the body?
Q2. How much of the practice is dedicated to cosmetic surgery vs re constructive surgery?
Q3. How long has the surgeon been performing the procedures your interested in?
Q4. Does the surgeon have hospital privileges to perform the procedures i am requesting?
Q5. How many of these procedures does the surgeon perform a year?
Q6. Has your surgeon had any publicity online or offline? written any books or articles on Facial Cosmetic Surgery? and or Body Cosmetic Surgery?
Q7. Do you teach others your skilled techniques of cosmetic surgery?
Q8. Am i able to speak with a patient who has had a similar procedure performed by you?
Q9. Where will the surgery take place? Outpatient surgery center, general hospital or any other and is the center an accredited hospital approved by a government health organization
Q10. Do i need to have any medical examination before surgery?
Q11. Who does the examination the surgeon or your normal physician?
Q12. What type of anesthesia will be used?
-Who will administer the anesthesia?
-How long will i be under?
Q13. What are the most common complications with this surgery?
-what are the most serious complication?
-how can these be anticipated and/or corrected?
Q14. What happens if i need additional work done?
-will there be extra charges?
-by the surgeon, surgery center or a anesthesia?
Q15. How long will the healing period be?
-when can i get back to normal activities?
-will i have follow up support?