Considering a tummy tuck. How can I choose the right surgeon?

1. Ensure board certification in plastic surgery2. Have multiple consultations - bedside manner is important3. Look at results - the more the better4. Tummy tuck scar should be very low. Anything to high should be subject.5. A result that looks better than before doesn't equal a good result. As you review different doctors website photos, you'll get a good eye. 6. Trust your instinct

Your #tummy tuck or #abdominoplasty procedure should always be performed by a #PlasticSurgeon who is board-certified and has a great deal of experience specializing in cosmetic #surgery. You will then greatly improve your chances of getting the result you desire, and, without the need for a revision surgery. It is suggested that you look at before and after photos of the surgeons actual patients, and read patient reviews. Seeking the right doctor and gathering all of this information will help you make a well-informed decision.

Jackson is not a small town if I am not mistaken. Also, a tummy tuck is a common procedure so there should be someone nearby with experience. Best to take your time with a number of consults and ask for photos of their work so you can be sure you will meet your desires and goals. Make sure they are skilled at making pretty, natural appearing belly buttons & check the location of the scar making sure it  is below the bikini line so it is not seen. Good luck and thanks for sharing!

Thank you very much for sharing your concerns with us.I usually tell my patients that the first step for a safe plastic surgery is to choose a board certified aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon.This should have a personal website containing details of his professional biography and some photos of the procedures performed.Your plastic surgeon should be transparent and a honest person with you, with ethical and human values, and especially with good reputation and history. Also, it's much better if this doctor have special training and experience in procedures like the one you're interested.Finally, i invite you to send your photos to give you more information of interest for you.Kind regards, Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

Tummy tuck, also know as abdominoplasty, is a procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen and to restore the weakened abdominal wall, giving a firmer and smoother appearance.

We nearly always add liposuction to our tummy tucks to sculpt the body 360 degrees to achieve an ideal feminine figure.
Tummy tuck is a very powerful technique in the right hands, and can have dramatic results if done correctly. You definitely have to choose your surgeon correctly and make sure that he/she has the training and experience to meet your goals with absolute safety. Don’t settle for less than a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with specialized expertise in this procedure.

The first thing you should do is check the ASPS website
for a list of doctors in your area. Then look at online reviews.
Check the surgeon's website. Look at their results. Ask
around to see if you have any personal references, these can be very helpful.
Once you have screened the doctor, meet with them. If they are
professional and sincere, educated and experienced, if they listen to your
concerns and develop a plan which fits with your goals, you have found a good
match.

I always recommend a stepwise approach to selecting a surgeon for any cosmetic surgical procedure.Step one is to research for a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who is a member of your local Plastic Surgery Society.  Some of these might just include your region or the entire state.  Here in Utah, we have a state wide Plastic Surgery Society.  The reasons I believe that is the FIRST place to
go is that all members of a society such as ours are board certified in Plastic Surgery,
and everyone is held in high regard by their colleagues in the area. It
is unquestionable that they have the most familiarity with
the practice style, background, and surgical results of the surgeon because they are his or
her local colleagues. Step two is to go to the plastic surgeon's website and to Realself.com and look over things thoroughly.  You'll begin to get a good impression about the philosophy and makeup of the surgeon's office and his team from this phase.  Don't just limit your investigation of the doctor's website and Realself.com answers and reviews on the topic of interest.  It'll be very informative to look at other procedures to develop a strong foundation of understanding of the surgeon you're considering.I would discourage you from relying too much on Yelp, ratemymd, etc because their reviews are not nearly as strongly vetted as they are on Realself.com (Yelp may legally withhold positive reviews and only publish negative reviews, strongly skewing the real opinion patients have of their doctor, FYI). Step three is to ask around in your community for acquaintances who may have actually undergone treatments in the office of the surgeon you're considering.  You should begin to get a fair idea of their reputation in your area.  Remember to keep these in perspective as sometimes great patients and great surgeons sometimes just don't click.Step four is to go in for an in office consultation with the doctor.  At this point, you are really just trying to confirm the things that you should already know by now:  the doctor has a great reputation, you know of people who've gotten great results, the doctor's credentials are superb, and the office staff and personnel are pleasant and people with whom you'd want to spend some time.  The consultation should allow you a realistic idea of what is possible and specifically what treatments you should be considering.  This is one reason why I absolutely detest the idea of seeing a non-plastic surgeon for non-surgical options for skin tightening, fat reduction etc.  It is difficult, if not impossible for a non-plastic surgeon to fully discuss ALL of your options since they are non-surgeons.  Without a thorough awareness and conversation regarding both surgical and non-surgical options, you cannot make a fully informed decision.Lastly, you'll notice that I did not mention using price as a means to find a good surgeon.  The reason is that most surgeons fall within a few percentage points of one another when it comes to cost.  It is rare that the cheapest surgeon offering Groupon deals and "specials" is busy and in demand.  You can certainly understand why a surgeon who does a great job, has excellent patient skills, and has years of experience will not underprice their services.  You'll almost always get what you pay for:  reference my link below.I hope this helps.Best of luck.

Others have given good advice but you should also listen to friends and family members who have had good experiences with plastic surgeons and their work.  Reviews placed on a web site are pretty much anonymous and often provided only by the few patients who are either totally happy or are on the extreme opposite end of the satisfaction curve.  You can get a more balanced review by the "word of mouth" method, especially if you have friends or family in the medical field.

If a member of my family underwent a tummy tuck, it would be
performed by an experienced plastic surgeon who is board certified by the
American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American
Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) that you can find through the Smart Beauty Guide. If you are serious about undergoing
these procedures, you should have a thorough consultation with a plastic
surgeon having those credentials, who will fully explain what is entailed in
the procedures, including both the positives and potential problems. You should
be complimented on the fact that you are seeking valid information before
jumping into any procedure.

Robert Singer, MD FACS

La Jolla, California

You should start your search by looking at either the ASPS or ASAPS websites to find a plastic surgeon near you.