Breast Augmentation: Q&A
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When It Comes to Breast Aug, How Do I Decide Between a Surgeon Who Runs a Volume-based Practice and a Surgeon Who Does Not?
I've consulted 3 doctors for breast aug and feel good about all 3. They have great credentials, education, etc. However, while one of them runs a large, volume-based practice, the other 2 perform 75-100 breast augs in a given year...is this too few? What is the "sweet spot" for the number of breast augs a surgeon should perform in a year to have plentiful, continuous experience? I don't want to automatically assume that the surgeon who has done the most procedures is the best choice for me.
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27 Doctor Answers |
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THEBC
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How Do You Choose A Surgeon?
Just because an office has high volume doesn't make the surgeon better or worse. The same goes for a lower volume office. When making your decision, make sure your surgeon is Board Certified in Plastic Surgery, that they use a Board Certified Anesthesiologist in a fully accredited outpatient surgery center, that you like the staff because you will be in contact with them a lot before and after your surgery and also that you have seen before and after photos. You can also...
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Choosing a surgeon
Thanks for your interesting question. Personally, I would not base your decision on the number of cases performed by a surgeon in a given year. There really is no sweet spot for the frequency of cases. Similary, continuous amounts of surgery do not improve a surgeon's skill. I would choose a surgeon based on his or her style and results. After meeting three surgeons, you should choose who you feel can give you the best results and make you feel most comfortable.
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How to pick your Breast Augmentation Surgeon
It is very important to look at the results of your surgeon. You should be able to see many photos of good results from your surgeon. It is also very important that you feel comfortable with your surgeon. Plastic surgery is so personal. It is important that you are comfortable with the size you pick. At the end of the day you need to be happy with your results. So, while surgeon with a slow practice may spend more time with you, you need to get a good result. So, as long as you are...
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How to chose a doctor
This is a common question and not easy from our side of the argument to answer. Sounds like all three will be able to help you and have a good outcome.
While it's good to have someone with lots of experience, Volume based = assembly line in my opinion. You don't want to be just another number and for a high volume practice, you won't be spending a lot of quality time with your doctor.
this is still art. and this is still medicine. Pick the person whom you trust and cares...
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Selecting a surgeon
It sounds from your description that all are adequately qualified to perform the surgery. It certainly seems you have done your "homework" as well in checking their credentials, etc. Who appealed to you most from a personal standpoint, meaning who did you feel you had the best connection from a doctor-patient standpoint? Was there a particular office where you felt you would receive the best care for follow up appointments or any questions or concerns? If all else is equal, it...
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Breast augmentation surgeons
A surgeon who performs 75 or so cases a year is probably sufficiently experienced to know what he or she is doing with breast augmentation. Based on the info you give, all three sound like they have plenty of experience. It also sounds like you have consulted with all three and are comfortable with each, so it sounds like you will be in good hands regardless of which you choose. Maybe a second consult will the one you like the best will help you in your decision. Good...
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100 augmentations per year
If your research is correct, all 3 are well qualified to do your surgery, provided they are board-certified, and you have inspected their before & after photos and like what you see.
Here are some other things to ponder: Which office did you prefer? Who did you feel most comfortable with? Which office has the best service? Did they all recommend the same implant - or did you prefer one recommendation over the others? Have you spoken with other patients...
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Breast aug
If a doctor is doing 75-100 augs a year I think that is plenty to keep a surgeon's skills up to par.Also talking to soem of his old patients is also helpful and in the end what kind of rapport do you have with the doctor.
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How to choose a surgeon
You ask an excellent question. How do you choose a surgeon? Surgeons who do over 75 cases a year certainly have enough experience. Just because one surgeon does more cases than another, doesnt mean he is doing them better. Here in south florida, there are a few high volume discount centers. Its fairly common for patients who have surgery there to be unhappy for many reasons including poor results, poor follow up, no one available to answer questions, long waiting times to see their doctor,...
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Numbers are important,but
Numbers Are Important, Or Not The Only Important Factor. You Need To Look At The Results, Some Surgeons Can Perform A High Number Of Procedures Because Their are Cheaper Than The Other Surgeons Or BecauseThey Have An Outstanding Marketing, However They Could Be Doing A Lot Of Bad surgeries, The Same Is True For Somebody That Tells You That He HaA Been In Practice For Many Years, Check The Malpractice History Of TheSurgeon And Look At The Before And After Pictures.
Good Luck
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Choosing a surgeon - do numbers matter?
It is great that you feel comfortable with all three surgeons that you have met with! In terms of experience and numbers, any surgeon who performs 75-100 breast augmentations a year should have plenty of experience with the procedure, its outcomes, and management. As you make your final decision, other things that you may consider are: look at before and after pictures, talk to previous patients, think about how accessible the surgeon is -- is he or she easy to talk to?...
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Breast implants
I think any surgeon who does 100 or more augmentations a year should have plenty of experience, but it is more than just numbers. Ask to see before and after photos, and there should be a large number.Talk to your Ob/Gyn and see who he recommends, or ask the PS to have a previous patient call you.
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Surgeon
The ultimate choice should be based on results and not sales. You dont have to do hundreds of these procedures yearly to be great at performing it. Performing 75-100 breast augmentations yearly is actually quite a large volume
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Breast Augmentation, Choosing a surgeon
The most important thing is that you find a surgeon you are comfortable with, and have a comfort level with her/his expertise. Having breast implants should establish a life long relationship with your surgeon, as you should be followed up routinely as long as you have implants. You should feel confident about your intra-operative and post-operative care. Is your surgeon's operative facility certified by an accredited organization? Will your procedure be performed with...
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How to pick a breast implant surgeon
Experience is important but talent and caring are more important. Look for someone who has a large selection of post op photos, good online reviews and actual patients that are willing to talk to you. Beyond that, find someone who seems to care about you and your results. Sometimes it is hard to do this in a very high volume practice.
see video
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What volume of BAM is adequate?
I think that 100 BAM's per year is adequate. That is about one per week. I think more important is what the patients look like. I also think it is important for you to assess the practice and see how it will meet your needs as a patient. While you may like a mega practice, you may get a lot more personal time with the doctor with the smaller practice.
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Experience vs. volume - what is most important in selecting a plastic surgeon?
Now that you have interviewed 3 board certified plastic surgeons, and all were personable and had good photographs, it is time for some homework.
The credentials of a plastic surgeon are important. Check out where they did their medical school, residency, and where they have hospital credentials. Doctors who attend top flight universities and residency programs did not get there by accident. A top flight hospital will generally attract higher quality people than a...
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Connection with a Surgeon
I think it is a great question. All those surgeons have enough experience with breast augmentation to give you good results. I think you should go with your gut feeling as to which doctor you feel connected with. The reason this matters is because you are going through a journey together and you want to be able to ask questions and trust your surgeon every step of the way. You sound like you are making wise decisions and will do great. Good luck!
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Your experience matters most when choosing a surgeon
Thank you for your question. This is a unique one and it is a good question. In my opinion, it is the quality of the result that is important as well as your overall experience with the surgical procedure including the precare and postop care. I assume you have looked at before and after photos from each office. Next, what is the feeling you have in each office? Is the staff respectful? Do the staff and surgeon take the time to answer each and every...
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Result is what counts in breast augmentation
First and formost you should choose a surgeon you are comfortable working with, and remember that no matter how many he may do or claim to do, the result is what counts. You should be treated as an individual and not a case number for the day, and your surgeon should be accessable to you before and after your procedure.
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When It Comes to Breast Aug, How Do I Decide Between a Surgeon Who Runs a Volume-based Practice and a Surgeon Who Does Not?
I understand it can be very hard to sort out all the 'information' that is available these days.
I recommend you talk to your friends, do some (but not too much!) online research, and eventually go with the surgeon you feel you have the best connection with.
There is no reason to think that a surgeon who does 50-75 breast augmentations a year cannot produce consistently good results.
I think the real question is not volume, but about which surgeon seems to you to be the most...
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Volume based practice-or not?
First, I have to say that there is so much self-hyping in our business that, in my opinion, you can't take a number that is provided by a surgeon, with no possibility of independent vertification, at face value anymore. Even 75-100 augments translates to about 2 a week, which is certainly a large number. I do not think you will find as much personalization in a "mill" setting where you are one of hundreds of patients undergoing the same surgery in a given year. You should inquire about who...
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Picking a Surgeon
In picking a surgeon, the difference between skill level is not based on how many cases. It should be based on how well he does and how comfortable yoou feel with the doctor and his office staff. Another good way to evaluate is finding out what doctor your friends liked or didn't like.
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Which surgeon to pick
Pick who you feel most comfortable. I agree with you that an extremely busy practice without personal attention you deserve may not be the way to go. It also does not mean the surgeon is better. Sit back, think about the doctors and the consults and pick who you feel the best about.
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Select Surgeon With Whom You Are Most Comfortable
All of the surgeons you have seen have adequate experience to perform breast augmentations which are not difficult procedures for BC plastic surgeons. There you should base your selection on one with whom you feel most comfortable. The "volume practice" may have you seeing an assistant post-op whereas the others will likely see you personally.
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Breast Augmentation and Volume Based Practice
The truth is that every plastic surgeon would like to be busy. The key is can you be busy doing 5 or 6 surgeries a day and get everyone right 100% of the time. If you feel like you have found that surgeon, stick with that surgeon. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA
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When It Comes to Breast Aug, How Do I Decide Between a Surgeon Who Runs a Volume-based Practice and a Surgeon Who Does Not?
Volume alone does not assure good outcomes. As one who does a fair amount more that 75-100 augmentations a year, I suspect that that quoted volume is sufficient to have developed good technique and judgement. I might not say that for someone who does 10 a year.
Hopefully you have had a chance to look at patient photos from all three. I would consider the results as more important than the raw numbers. All the best.
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