Joseph L. Grzeskiewicz, MD

In many instances a patient will have a number of surgeons to choose from. I think the first place to start in your search is to obtain personal recommendations from people who actually know a surgeon's work. If you meet one or several happy patients from a particular surgeon, chances are you will be happy too.

Another very important consideration is to select a surgeon who has the appropriate board certification, training, and experience for the procedure you want to undergo.  In the case of breast augmentation, only those certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery are recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties as having the appropriate training and certification for this procedure. 

You should also make sure that your surgeon has privileges at a hospital to perform this procedure even if he will be doing the surgery in his own office operating room. This is important because it is yet another review of the surgeon's credentials and it gives you assurance that your surgeon is properly qualified to perform this surgery.  Unfortunately, there are many surgeons out there performing this type of surgery who do not meet these standards, and there is no law or rule that makes board certification important. The only thing that makes it important is if you, the public, ask about it and demand it of your surgeons.

The last thing to consider is do you "click" with the surgeon. Remember, you are entering a relationship here, you are not merely going to the store to purchase a product. You should have confidence that your surgeon understands your feelings and desires, and he or she is prepared to not only do an excellent job in the operating room, but care for you attentively after your surgery as well. You should feel as though you are the most important part of his or her day! The best way to determine this is with a consultation. Listen to your instincts. Most people know by the end of the consultation whether or not it is a good fit. If it isn't, simply move on until you find the one who is; you have every right to do so -- you are the patient!

Best of luck in achieving your goals!