How do you decide on a surgeon if he only has very few reviews online? An there old reviews?

Question

I found a potential doctor to perform my future breast augmentation. I met him for a consultation an I really liked him and felt comfortable speaking to him. He also was very informative and didn't rush my consult and was the first doctor who was extremely focused on educating me on breast aug. My only concern is that I can't find that many reviews on him online. There are a few but not many compared to other doctors.

Leland Deane, MD, FACS · Answer

I agree with other answers that 'negative' reviews mean more than the number of 'positive' reviews. Always consult with a board certified Plastic Surgeon before deciding on a treatment. This post is not intended to be medical advice and is for informational purposes only.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

Fewer online reviews could mean that your surgeon has not been practicing as long as some, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. His professionalism and the impression he made when you met him is very important. As well, it may be helpful to ask the office staff if there are patients of his that you can speak with. Many happy patients will be glad to share their experience with you. Always be sure to choose a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.Best of luck

Ira H. Rex III, MD · Answer

Reading a lot of comments about your plastic surgeon online is just one part of making an informed choice. One thing that might make you more comfortable is speaking to some of his patients. You can talk to the office manager about this possibility. If you had a good consultation and feel comfortable with the surgeon, this goes a long way to finding a good fit. Another aspect of choosing the surgeon right for you is being able to see before and after photographs. This is most helpful when done with the surgeon.

Mahlon Kerr, MD, FACS · Answer

I would say that if you like the doctor that is more important.  Perhaps you can ask the office if they have a few other patients who had similar procedures that you can talk to.  Sometimes few revews means that the doctor is younger, which can be good or bad.  I would do a little background research and rememver that the most important aspect is how comfortable you feel with the surgeon and the office.  Good luck!

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

Online reviews are helpful because they educate you on other patients experiences. If you like this surgeon I would recommend researching him in other ways. Such as how long he has been practicing, what his specialties are, he may have before and after photos for you to view. Hope this Helps.

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD · Answer

Ask your doctor to refer former patients to you to speak to. Ask your family doctor or gynecologist to comment since they might have feedback from their patients about plastic surgeons in the community. I don't think reviews are that helpful. In fact, some of the best doctors don't have much online presence since they are personally well-known within their local and medical community. And many publicity-minded and younger doctors are very savvy with online "marketing" and stack the reviews in their favor.Robin T.W. Yuan, M.D.

Kiran Polavarapu, MD · Answer

I think you should go with a doctor that is well trained and makes you feel comfortable and confident in your future surgery decision. Not every patient who is happy with their results writes a review. There are great surgeons who do not promote social media and some that do. Its all about how you feel about the doctor. If you check his credentials and you trust him, that's all that matters.

Michael Law, MD · Answer

Reviews can be helpful, but they should be a very small part of the equation when selecting a plastic surgeon. Education, training, before and after images, and experience are all far more important than reviews. I have create a surgical questionnaire that patients find helpful.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Online reviews are just one of the many sources of information available to you. Lots of negative reviews may be a "red flag"; the presence of just a few reviews may not be meaningful. I would suggest starting with the American Society of Plastic Surgery and/or the Aesthetic Society of Plastic Surgery to obtain a list of well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons.
Then, I would suggest you visit a few surgeons whose practices concentrate on aesthetic surgery. Ask to see lots of EXAMPLES of their work and preferably speak/see patients who have had similar procedures done.
Be very careful with your decision-making. You will find, while doing your due diligence, that there are many different “specialties” who will offer their services to you; again, I strongly recommend you concentrate on surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. I hope this helps.

Ronald V. DeMars, MD (Retired) · Answer

It sounds like you found a good doctor. Remember, just a few years ago there were no reviews on any doctor. Some surgeons tend to spend more time practicing mediicine and less time working on their internet presence.

How do you decide on a surgeon if he only has very few reviews online? An there old reviews?

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