Choosing a Doctor for Breast Implants

There are many ways to make sure the plastic surgeon you choose is the best one in your area. Definitely check his credentials; it is important he is a board certified plastic surgeon. Go to his website and do some research. You should be able to find patients testimonials after the procedures. Look at the before and after pictures. Call his office to schedule the consultation with the doctor. Talk to his patient coordinator to find out as much as you can about the physician and his practice. Schedule the meeting with the surgeon which gives you the opportunity to see how comfortable you feel with that provider. Ask for the chance to talk to some patients who has undergone the breast augmentation surgery.

Hello! Thank you for your question.  Cost will vary among plastic surgeons as well as with geographic location and what procedures exactly they will be providing to you.  Certainly, researching a board certified plastic surgeon well-versed in the procedure(s) you desire is recommended - checking the American Board of Plastic Surgery is a great start. Consult with two or more surgeons who you are happy with their postoperative photographs and those who you, most importantly, feel comfortable and confident with. Use the opportunity to ask questions as well as visit with staff and investigate the accredited facilities they work out of.  I believe fellowship-training, beyond the core plastic surgery residency to be important, as that surgeon has gone above and beyond to seek additional training specific to that area of interest and chosen to gain additional expertise in that area.   Experience should not be measured solely by the age of the surgeon or how many years s/he has been in practice.  Checking the education and training is more valuable - a Board Certified MD plastic surgeon who was accepted to and completed an integrated plastic surgery residency, in today's day and age, are excellent choices. Those are the top students who have superior training at top institutes.  Plastic Surgery is NOT a fellowship...it is a residency. Those surgeons who have actually successfully completed additional fellowship training beyond the plastic surgery residency are also passionate about that area and will likely have the most recent, innovative, and up to date techniques. These are usually the younger surgeons, who are still readily willing and competent to continue to strive for the newest material and remain up to date on literature and conferences. You must decide for yourself who you are most comfortable with and confident with who will meet your goals and expectations. Cost may differ just on expertise and the aforementioned additional training ad what that additional expertise training has afforded to his/her patients.  Hope that this helps!  Best  wishes!

NCBeachMom,
My advice is to choose the doctor that you feel most comfortable with for your surgery. A doctor that is only going to see you for the first time on the day of surgery is no a good sign. You want a doctor that is going to individualize the surgery for you and communicate with you. Also, do not rush into surgery without exploring all your options. It really would be a shame if you had surgery quickly just for your vacation but ended up with an inferior result. Take your time, meet with the surgeons and the office staff and then choose who you want to do your surgery. Good luck.

Hi there,
I would agree with my colleagues. The most important choice to make in order to achieve your goals for breast contour is your choice of surgeon. If you've seen photos of his work that pleased you, your GYN knows happy women who have seen him, and he has a good reputation, you're much more likely to be happy when you're done than if the above were not true.

There is not doubt that plastic surgeons vary in their skill level, experience, judgement, and bedside manner. It's important to spend some time well in advance of your surgery talking with your surgeon, and you should not feel pressure from him in regards to a timeline for your procedure.
Before and after photos are important, as is his training, standings with medical boards, and reputation, but just as important is to establish a solid doctor-patient relationship. It's critical that the surgeon understands what YOUR goals are for your breast enhancement and tailors your procedure to these goals, not his own-- this can't be done without spending some time getting to know the surgeon.
Remember, it's your body and your future-- invest not only your money, but your time, wisely.
Best of luck!
Dr. Salemy