How to tell if I got a good plastic surgeon?

How can you make sure you have found a very good plastic surgeon? I want a Breast reduction and Tummy Tuck but I'm afraid it will end up a disaster. I want to make sure that I've found someone very good because I can only afford to do this once and I couldn't afford to have a botched job fixed.

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10 answers to “How to tell if I got a good plastic...”

A: You can find a surgeon right for you.

Peter E. Johnson, MD

Choosing a plastic surgeon can seem like a very difficult process, however the selection starts right after the first impression. Before you schedule any appointment you should make sure the surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. It is also helpful to view the practice website to help... more

A: Do your homework bit be prepared; complications occur even in the best of hands

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

You have a couple of different issues here: Finding a good plastic surgeon Wanting a perfect result the first time around. While the first is an important decision and one that has been answered, the second reveals  aspects of your situation which may not make you a suitable candidate for surgery... more

A: A most difficult question

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Nothing is guaranteed. A good result from a fantastic surgeon is not guaranteed. One important thing is to trust a doctor with knowledge of that doctor, not just blind trust. A good place to start is with your internist or gynecologist. They are not going to ruintheir reputation by referring to... more

A: Pick a hospital and ask the OR nurses

G. Gregory Gallico III, MD

Obviously, Check credentials: Board Certifed? Years of experience? Societies joined? But those won't tell you whether the surgeon does good surgery. The best thing to do is to select a good hospital in your area and ask the nurses who work in the OR. They know what's what and who's who.

A: Not much different than any other profession...

Armando Soto, MD

Hi there- Start with the basics... If you were looking for a good lawyer, architect, OR plastic surgeon, you would want to know where they went to school, right? A medical school's reputation will not always mean that their graduates are good doctors, and there are great physicians and surgeons from lesser... more

A: You really can't, easily

Scott E. Kasden, MD

I would look at his web site and see if you like the results.  Speak with former patients.  Know any nurses at the hospital he works in?  Know any other doctors to ask?  However, even the best doctor occasionally gets a complication, even when everything is done correctly, so in the... more

A: Do your homweork

Francisco Canales, MD

Hello Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery is the first requirement you should look for. Beyond that, meet with at least 2 such surgeons and view as many before/after photos as you can.  Ask to speak to patients who have had your procedures. Ask your family doctor for... more

A: Finding a competent plastic surgeon

Brent Moelleken, MD

For breast reduction and tummy tuck, patients should consider board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery first.  They should then go to the website and confirm that their physician is indeed board certified in plastic surgery. Next, they should read the CV, the resume of the doctor... more

A: Check out the physicians credentials

Glen Brooks, MD

It is important to do some upfront work to make it more likely that you have a qualified surgeon and excellent outcome.  First, make sure the surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  You want the skill of a doctor with more than six years of surgical training... more

A: Board Certifacation is key

Leslie H. Stevens, MD

Although there is never a guarantee of a favorable outcome from ones surgery, you dramatically increase your chances of being happy by following a few simple rules. Make sure your surgeon is a board certified plastic surgeon, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Ask how many of these particular... more

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