How Do I Research Plastic Surgeons for a Tummy Tuck?

First, make sure the doctor is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. No substitutes or "lookalikes" are allowed! Many "Boards" claim to be equal but are not. An example is the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. These are NOT the people you want because they are not real trained plastic surgeons!!!! Second, meet the doctor and their staff. Do they perform a substantial number of tummy tucks and what do their photos look like? Listen to your gut... more

The first place you can start is the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This will tell you if they are a member. If they are a member that means they are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. There's a lot of information on the Internet so figuring out how long they've been in practice, where they is training isn't difficult. But training local etc doesn't really mean they will be a good surgeon. Go meet with several different surgeons and rate the consultation. ... more

Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty procedures should be performed by a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic procedures and who has extensive experience with your body habitus. Tummy tucks can vary in terms of technique based on the body habitus and the amount of skin laxity. Always ask to see pictures before your procedure.

Hi! 1) Go to www.surgery.org for names of cosmetic surgeons near you. 2) On my web site, there are links to other societies. 3) Get 2 or 3 consultations, and ask to see lots of before and after pictures. You want to get a sense that the surgeon spent enough time with you, and came up with an individualized plan for your particular anatomy.

First make sure that it is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. No other board will do. There is no substitute. I would only trust a plastic surgeon with the above credentials and so should you. Second, view their before and after photos in particular, look at how high there scar is and how their belly button looks like. Third, ask your family practice physician or your gynecologist if he or she know of a good plastic surgeon in your area. Lastly dont shop around for price, because in the... more

Get a referral from a patient who's had one. Or ask the doctor for someone to talk to. Find out the doctor's education trail--good doctors come from good schools and good residencies. Make sure they're a board certified Plastic Surgeon. And ask to se several Before & After Pictures to evaluate. And after all that trust your intuition. Go with the doctor you like.

In most major metro areas, there are multiple excellent plastic surgeons. A few things that can help you decide who to go with are: Credentials: Training at a fully-accredited plastic surgery residency, Board Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and Membership in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons; these are the basics. Results: look at their before and after photos to get a sense of the type of results you can expect; in particular, see if the patients... more

The best way to make sure that your plastic surgeon is qualified to perform your surgery is make sure sure that he or she is well trained. You can do this by making sure that they trained in plastic surgery, are board certified in plastic surgery and are a member of the society of plastic surgeons. Once these prerequisites are met ask your friends whom they have used and find out what their experience was like. When you visit ask the physician how comfortable he or she feels about... more

You can check if someone is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery at the website: www.ABMS.org A free password is required, then you type in the name of the surgeon you are looking up and you can see if the Doctor is certified in anything at all. However, you need to click a 2nd time on the name to learh "what field" the Doctor is certified in. I would also have at least 2 consultations with different doctors and try to feel some rapor with the physician as well as... more

I would start with your gyncologist. All women have a gynecologist or knows one. All female plastic surgery patients who have undergone an abdominoplasty have seen a gynecologist. It stands to reason that gynecologists generally have a pulse on the world of platic surgery that pertains to tummy tucks and post-partum body-contouring. They know who's good, who has a good or bad reputation, who has had more or less complications. Good doctors tend to refer to other doctors of the same quality... more

Besides Board Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and Membership in the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, referrals from acquaintances and friends who have had abdominoplasty surgery by plastic surgeons in your area can be helpful. Also, websites where satisfied plastic surgery patients provide feedback can guide you. Do not forget to ask your family physician, internist, or obstetrician/gynecologist for their recommendations, since they do see the work of... more

My advice is to start with certification with The American Board of Plastic Surgery, and also membership in The American Society For Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Next, visit with at least 3 surgeons who focus on cosmetic surgery. Look at the web site, ask to meet with some patients. In the end, go with the information and your gut instinct based on the chemistry with the doctor and staff. Of course there will be no guarantee, but this is the best that you can do. Chances are you will be... more