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

I concur with Dr. Rand.
There are no guarantees of a perfect outcome even with the most qualified surgeon.
It sounds like you have done your homework and I would recommend that you go with the surgeon with the better track record.
Take you time and don't rush your decision for one vacation. This surgery has potential long term implications. It's worth it to wait. Enjoy your vacation. Even if you rush this in before your trip, it 's not worth it to be recovering during your vacation.

Take your time selecting a plastic surgeon to perform breast augmentation.  Look at many, many before and after photos. Too often people think of breast augmentation as a "simple" surgery.  In order to provide a truly natural looking result significant expertise is required.Check the credentials of your plastic surgeon, the facility where plastic surgery will be performed, and the team that will be providing support before, during and after surgery. Most patients want to have the fullest breast profile that still looks natural on their body. The limiting factor for implant size is almost always the appearance of the upper pole. At some implant volume, the upper pole of the breast begins to look excessively rounded or convex, and that is a look that says "breast implants live here". Surgeons who are attentive to detail use an O.R. table which allows them to sit a patient upright several times over the course of the procedure, so that an implant size and profile can be selected that is ideal for each individual patient.

Thank you for the question.  It is actually very unusual NOT to see your surgeon prior to the day of surgery.  Office visits help the communication process between the surgeon and patient.  This communication is critical in achieving the outcome that you are looking for.  Please be careful with your surgeon selection.

Anyone considering plastic or reconstructive surgery should consider consulting a board certified plastic surgeon to achieve the best and safest results possible. Physicians who are considered board certified hold a certification with the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). This certification proves that the surgeon has graduated from an accredited medical school, has completed a residency of at least five years, has three years of experience in general surgery, is actively practicing plastic surgery for at least two years, and has passed mandatory comprehensive and written examinations. These surgeons are referred to as diplomats of the ABPS and have fulfilled the following requirements.  
It is in the patient’s best interest to choose a board certified plastic surgeon. It is vital to your safety and the success of your cosmetic surgery that the surgeon you choose has the right qualifications, ample experience, and documented results of his or her work. ABPS diplomats have extensive skill and experience in a wide range of plastic surgery procedures.
There are a number of advantages in choosing a qualified and highly experienced plastic surgeon to perform your cosmetic surgery. If there are any complications during surgery, an experienced plastic surgeon will be more adept at handling the situation. In addition, a plastic surgeon that has performed many cosmetic surgeries will have had more time to perfect his or her technique and results.

Reputable plastic surgeons should have privileges to perform cosmetic surgery procedures in the operating room at an accredited hospital, not just in the surgery center in their office. They work with a highly skilled team including, board certified anesthesiologists, nurses, and technicians to enhance patient comfort and to provide a peace of mind to the patient’s and their families.
During your consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon, ask to see before and after photos of actual patients who have undergone cosmetic surgery. The surgeon may provide you with a list of patients you may speak to as a reference for the doctor. To enhance your education regarding the surgeon, you may be introduced to some post-op patients as well during your visit with the surgeon. Most patients are willing to share their experience regarding their surgeon, the staff, hospital, and recovery. 
Professional doctors will ensure realistic expectations and take the time to address your concerns. They will provide you with honest advice and encourage you to do your homework, talk to other patients, and make an informed choice. One of the most important factors in choosing a plastic surgeon is your personal comfort level with the doctor. You should feel comfortable asking questions about your cosmetic surgery procedure so that you can make an educated final decision on whether you would like to proceed with surgery.

I hope this helps.

Won't see you until surgery. Strike one. Medical board record. Strike two. Staff that makes you feel awkward about seeing the doctor before surgery. Strike three. Making a hasty decision based on vacation plans. Strike four?
Beachmom, you will have many more vacations on which to enjoy your breast implants. Make sure they are done well by choosing a good surgeon, and more importantly, are done safely, so you have them to enjoy on those vacations. Don't rush into something that you might regret. Good luck!

Breast augmentation is so common that most people, and doctors, assume it is a very simple procedure. In some respects, considering what procedures plastic surgeons are trained to do, it is quite easy technically. However, the decision-making process is very involved and you should be sure to spend plenty of time one-on-one with your surgeon, not a nurse or business consultant, going over your options, your anatomy, your goals, the trade-off (there are always short and long-term tradeoffs), side effects,and complications.
You will have to decide on incision ( usually periareolar, transaxillary, inframammary, or, in some practices, transumbilical), location of implants (subgalndular versus submuscular), type of implant (saline versus silicone), style (round or shaped, smooth or textured), and size (various dimensions according to base width and various profiles or projections). Each choice will effectively change your risks, side effects, and results. As you can see, each patient might have dozens, if not hundreds, of options to choose from as each variable is changed. Surgeons who won't spend this time with you are doing you a disservice. And time will often mean money is terms of higher fees. Choose wisely.
Photos can help communication between surgeon and patient but may not be directly transferable from one patient to another. Photos are also not infallible as they do not show movement and do not indicate if the patient is happy or not, or achieved her goals or not. It might be more informative to ask to speak to former patients about their experience and results.