Is the number of procedures done by doctors a good indicator of success?

What is a fair amount of times per year that a doctor has performed surgery? I have been speaking with I plastic surgeon about a tummy tuck, breast lift and breast implants. The time has come and I am extremely nervous. I was wondering if the amount of times the doctor has performed all 3 procedure is a prediction of better results.

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16 answers to “Is the number of procedures done by...”

A: How to choose a sugeon

Bahram Ghaderi, MD

This a great question. Even for my own family there are times when you have to choose someone to perform your surgery. Remember that there are many factors to consider. First and foremost make sure you are comparing apples to apples - make sure your surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic... more

A: Surgeon's experience

Sam Speron, MD

You definitely want to have an experienced plastic surgeon. However, while experience says a lot, it does not guarantee fabulous results. A surgeon who has performed a procedure a thousand times is not necessarily better than a surgeon that has performed the same surgery hundreds of times. There are other... more

A: How many of these have you done? Assessing a surgeon's experience.

Brent Moelleken, MD

When patients come into my office, they often ask this question, "how many of these have you done, doctor?"   They have no idea what the right answer is.  I'm not sure what the right answer is myself!  Perhaps if the surgeon breaks down stuttering when asked the question, that is... more

A: Plastic Surgeon Search

Farbod Esmailian, MD

What you need to do is find a board certified plastic surgeon.  Then you need to go for a consultation and get the feel of the surgeon.  Next you need to look at the before and after photos. One you have done all this, you take a step back and evaluate the surgeon on all the aspects.  If you... more

A: I'll tell you how you can tell if your doctor is competent...

Steven Teitelbaum, MD

Here's how:  he or she is recommending A LOT of surgery to do at once.  Many surgeons do it; it is certainly within the standard of care to do them together.  BUT, we all know that there is increasing evidence that there are risks when additional procedures are done simultaneous with a tummy... more

A: Can amount of procedures done by doctors tell success?

Peter A. Aldea, MD

Most of the time. Plastic surgeons are SUPER specialists. All of us had to train in another surgical field before beginning training in Plastic Surgery. As such, just like it does not take a seasoned guitar player or piano player to pick up and play a tune - it does not take a long time for a plastic surgery... more

A: Plastic surgery and numbers of cases

Steven Wallach, MD

You would best be treated by someone who is "seasoned" however it doesn't mean that the surgeon has to have  done  thousands of the type of procedure you want.  Quantity doesn't always equate with quality.

A: Does Number of Procedures Equal Success

John Whitt, MD

You certainly want to have an experienced plastic surgeon.  However, someone who has performed a procedure 500 times is not necessarily going to obtain a better result than one who has done the procedure 100 times.  Seek a Board-certified surgeon who is a member of ASAPS.  Ask to see photos and... more

A: Not really

Scott E. Kasden, MD

Here is my opinion based on my life experience.  Quantity is important as the young doctor overcomes the learning curve and develops his skill.  Numbers are important to keep the edge as well. However, I have seen that no matter how many times a procedure is done, some doctors never seem to get a... more

A: Experience with Tummy Tuck, Breast Implants, Breast Lift

Christopher L. Hess, MD

You pose a good question.  What makes one surgeon better than another?  Is time the factor?  There are many different factors that determine a skilled surgeon.  Time is one factor that is both good and bad.  The more years a surgeon practices the more experience he gets. In... more

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