How Do I Find the Best Breast Augmentation Surgeon?

The first place to start is The American Board of Plastic Surgery. Are they certified by this board? Also, have they taken the time and interest to complete the Maintence of Certification and have they re-certified their boards(recommended after 10 years)? A referal from a friend or family member is helpful if there are many BC surgeons in your area. The next step is how experienced are they in breast augmentation? Ask them how many of these procedures do they do in a year. Ask to see results and also to speak to patients that have had augmentation. Finally you must feel comfortable and safe with your choice. Do you like your surgeon?

Look first for a board certified plastic surgeon.  Then look for someone that does primarily or only cosmetic surgery.  Then look for someone with years of experience, good reviews and good photographs.  Talk to your friends.  Finally, go to meet with the surgeon.  If you get a good feeling from the staff, the doctor, and the office, it usually means the fit is right. Simply finding someone nearby that can do surgery can often lead to disappointing results. It is your body, you need to make the best choice.

In
South Florida there are several surgeons that are very good at breast
augmentation surgeries. There are some
important questions to ask as you should not base your decision about where to
have surgery only on price. I would
advise you to see a couple different surgeons to get a couple different
opinions and see where you feel most comfortable.



It is important to
ask the right questions during your consultation:



1.Is
your surgeon a board certified plastic surgeon?a.Be
sure he or she is a plastic surgeon, there are a lot surgeons that are cosmetic
surgeons or board certified in other fields other than plastic surgery. They do not do the same training as a plastic
surgeon. b.You
can check the American Board of Plastic Surgery website for a list of plastic
surgeons in your area.





2.Does your surgeon commonly
perform this procedure?a.Ask to see before and after
pictures or look online for reviews on the procedure.



3.Where is the surgery performeda.Is the procedure performed in an
accredited surgery center or hospital?



4.Who performs the anesthesia for
the procedure?a.Is an anesthesiologist performing
the anesthesia?

I hope this helps. 

I give frequent educational seminars and this question always comes up. Here are the tips I give to prospective patients:

1. Look for a surgeon board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This should be the big number one. If not, go elsewhere.

2. Find a surgeon who has a focus in aesthetic surgery. You can find this out by asking if they are a member of the Aesthetic Society, also called the ASAPS. In order to be a member you must be board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and prove that you focus is in aesthetic surgery by doing predominantly cosmetic surgery

3. As how many breast augmentations the surgeon does each year. If he does this procedure weekly he probably has the required experience.

4. Ask anyone who will sit still long enough about his/her reputation. Former patients are the best source. Ask you medical doctor or family physician. Ask anyone you think may know him/her. Call the county medical society and the state medical board to check for any complaints or prior disciplinary action.

5. Make sure he has privileges to do the same procedure at a major local hospital. The requirements are usually stringent and indicate competence.

6. Look for someone who spends 45 min - 60 min during the consultation and gives you a feeling of competence and comfort. They should be open to questions and not cut you off. YOU should decide the size of your implants based on their guidance and your goals. Don't let the doctor tell you what you should want. They should be willing to show many examples of their work and give you the name of patients who are willing to describe their experience.

In summary, do your homework and you will naturally lead yourself to a highly competent surgeon who will provide you with the best that the procedure of breast augmentation can offer you.

The best way to prevent botched surgery is to do your research when selecting a surgeon.

You always want to work with an experienced board certified plastic surgeon.
Your doctor should be board certified by American Board of Plastic Surgery.


My recommendation is to also ask for several before and after pictures, and make sure the surgeon you are meeting with has experience with facelifts.
Also, the goal of facelifting should be restoring the facial volume, not pulling the skin back – that is old thinking.
Talk to your surgeon in detail before making a decision!

Thank you for your question.  When seeking the best breast augmentation surgeon, patients can go to ratings sites such as this one or RateMDs to learn about past patient experiences with the prospective surgeon.  Learning about the surgeon's credentials are important, for example:  is he/she a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, are there any current complaints filed, years of experience and area of specialty.  It is also important to have an in-person consultation with the surgeon to determine a trust and good fit when meeting you goals.  These may be some of the criteria you can use when selecting the right surgeon for you.  @yorkplasticsurgery

Thank you for your question. First, I would suggest that you look for a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area. (You can check plasticsurgery.org to see if a physician you are considering is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon.) Second, if you can, find a plastic surgeon who is an active member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) in your area. ASAPS (also known as The Aesthetic Society) is probably the most exclusive society for plastic surgeons. Only approximately 30% of Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons are able to join, and to be eligible for membership, a plastic surgeon must perform 75 cosmetic surgery cases within an 18-month period among other requirements.Then, research plastic surgeons whose before & after results you find aesthetically pleasing. There are many techniques to breast augmentation, and to some degree, the surgeon may influence your choice of implant size. Things to look for include: symmetric breasts post-op, attractive cleavage, and appropriate position of the implants (not too high, not too low), and well-hidden scars.When you have an in-office consultation with your surgeon, ask your board-certified plastic surgeon how many breast augmentations they perform per month. Ideally, the more commonly they do the operation, the better. I personally perform breast augmentation very frequently, and it's one of my favorite cosmetic surgery procedures to perform. Finally, after consultation, do some further research on breast augmentation to answer any remaining questions you may have. I have attached a link below to my Guide to Breast Augmentation on my website that details many of the possible choices you should consider before undergoing surgery and answers some common questions: saline vs silicone implants, round vs anatomical implants, textured vs smooth implants, implant profile selection, implant insertion location, implant placement in the breast, implant manufacturer, etc.Disclaimer: I am personally an active member of ASAPS.I hope this helps, and good luck with your surgery.

Finding the right surgeon begins with looking for certification from reputable boards. The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) oversees the training of American plastic surgeons. When your surgeon says that he or she is ‘Board Certified’ it doesn’t necessarily mean ABPS certified, so be sure to check. Any physician (from any specialty) can call themselves a cosmetic surgeon! Just because a surgeon claims to be ‘Board Certified’ doesn’t necessarily mean they have completed the appropriate training in plastic surgery, or that they have experience performing delicate, complex plastic surgery procedures. The ABPS is the only board out of 24 approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties to certify physicians in both facial and body plastic surgery.  





Your Surgeon’s Training:  Always ask where your surgeon attended medical school? Where did they complete their surgical training. Where someone trained and who they trained with are important considerations. Has your surgeon spent extra time specializing in the procedure you’re considering?







Your Surgeon’s Hospital Privileges:  Your surgeon should be able to create a safe, comfortable experience for you. Always ask where your surgeon is permitted to perform surgery? Having hospital privileges let’s you know that your surgeon is in good standing with the local hospital and has met their requirements of conduct and training.  Likewise, make sure the physician performing your anesthesia is also board certified.   







Your Surgeon’s Memberships: Professional organizations and medical societies will have their own set of strict criteria for acceptance, such as board certification, ethical conduct, and maintaining the highest standards of professional integrity.







Your surgeon should be proud of their education and accomplishments. There should be no question in your mind about your surgeon’s ability, affability, and availability to perform your procedure. The best procedure is the one performed by the right surgeon, at the right place, at the right time – the first time!

This is a very important question.  My biggest recommendation for patients who are looking to undergo any cosmetic surgical procedure is that they seek out a board certified plastic surgeon who is well-experienced in the procedure of specific interest.  What many patients are surprised to find out is that not every 'cosmetic surgeon' has had formal plastic surgery training and not every plastic surgeon is a board certified plastic surgeon.  After this, it is about finding a surgeon with whom you are comfortable with.  Look at their before and after galleries, ask to speak with past patients, and make sure that all of your questions have been answered and that you completely understand the answers and information you are provided with.  No question is not worth asking.I hope you find this helpful and best of luck!

Doing your homework is so important when trying to find a qualified plactic surgeon. Your first step should be to go to the website of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons to find board certified plastic surgeons who are in your area. Once you have a few names of board certified surgeons, you might talk to your family doctor and see what they say about the list of surgeons you have found. It's ok to schedule consultations with several plastic surgeons. During your consultation ask lots of questions. You might ask how long have they been doing augmentation surgery, and how many of these surgeries do they do each year. You should also ask is they do their surgery in a safe certified surgical facility. Good luck!

I would recommend that you visit with a board certified plastic surgeon in your area.  Make sure you feel they spend adequate time with you, and that you have your questions answered.  I would also see if you have friends and colleagues who can share their experience with you.