The consequences of your choice in a surgeon and facility for your plastic surgery will live with you for your entire life. A surgery successfully performed will not only boost your aesthetic appearance and self-confidence but also keep you away from health complications. On the contrary, if the surgical facility is ill-equipped, unaccredited, or if your doctor is not board-certified, you may end up with a plastic surgery disaster.
Finding a trusted, highly qualified plastic surgeon and a fully equipped, accredited surgical facility is therefore very important to the success of your operation. Remember, plastic surgery is a major operation that entails a number of risks and potential complications. Also, since you are aiming to enhance your aesthetic appearance with plastic surgery, you should pick your surgeon and surgical facility very carefully. This article will help you find a reliable and trusted doctor and facility for your plastic surgery.
How to find a reliable plastic surgeon
Board Certification: You should choose only a board-certified plastic surgeon to undertake your operation. A board-certified plastic surgeon is basically a member of the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). A board certification indicates that the doctor has undergone at least 3-5 years intensive training in general surgery and 2-3 years in plastic surgery. Board-certified plastic surgeons are specialized in performing almost all types of plastic surgery procedures.
Patients shall bear in mind that in the US, all doctors are legally allowed to undertake surgeries. This means that even a general physician can pose as a plastic surgeon. You should be sure to verify whether the doctor is really board-certified. You can do so through the website of ABPS and ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons).
Board-certified plastic surgeons are highly experienced, fully trained, and skilled in plastic surgery. Additionally, they undergo continuous education and training to retain their board certification, which indicates that they’re keeping up with the latest practices and developments in plastic surgery.
Sense of aesthetics: Since you are considering plastic surgery to overcome an aesthetic flaw or enhance your body features, you should have your surgery done by a plastic surgeon who has a great sense of aesthetics and understands your goals and desires. There is no denying that the definition of physical beauty differs from one person to another. A good plastic surgeon will go to great lengths to understand your definition and viewpoint of beauty and deliver what you desire.
A reliable plastic surgeon is not only proficient in the scientific literature and technical skills governing plastic surgery but also in aesthetics and artistry. A good plastic surgeon sees plastic surgery as a mix of science and art. S/he is able to mold and sculpt your body areas to make them appear beautiful. To find a surgeon with a greater sense of aesthetics, you should look at the before and after pictures of patients treated by the surgeon. You will get a pretty good judgment of the doctor’s skills and artistry from that.
Experience and skills: A good plastic surgeon has at least ten years of experience and possesses the technical skills to undertake even the most sophisticated of plastic surgery procedures. The experience and skills of the doctor are indicated by the number of surgeries s/he has undertaken, the success rate, satisfaction level of past patients, and the number of years s/he has been actively practicing plastic surgery.
Emotional connection: You should choose a plastic surgeon with whom you can connect with emotionally. Remember, you are undergoing plastic surgery because you are experiencing emotional problems emanating from your aesthetic appearance; therefore, your surgeon should ideally be able to understand and respect your feelings. Also, you will be spending quite some time with your plastic surgeon before and after the operation. You may also desire future fixes or touch ups, so be sure to select a doctor you can connect emotionally with. You can simply judge whether your doctor is someone you can easily establish rapport with during the initial consultation. Good doctors are amiable, easy-going, sympathetic, caring, and helpful.
The surgical facility
Your safety during the plastic surgery also depends on the surgical facility. There are many unlicensed practitioners and general physicians who perform plastic surgery in unaccredited facilities and hotel rooms. If your doctor tells you that your surgery will be performed in a hotel, walk out of the door immediately.
Accreditation means that the facility is obligated to delivering high-quality healthcare services and that it has pledged to meet patient-safety measures and standards. The Joint Commission and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) accredit surgical facilities. Any medical facility accredited by any of these two bodies meets high quality and safety standards.
An accredited surgical facility is fully equipped with life supports to deal with any type of emergency. Moreover, accredited facilities run background checks on their doctors to be sure patients remain safe and achieve better outcomes with the surgery. The facility staff will also monitor the operation and extend their assistance during every step.
Generally, any facility that is accredited for surgeries is safe for your operation. This includes hospitals, ambulatory facilities, surgical clinics, and an accredited operating room in your surgeon’s office. To verify whether a facility is accredited, you should visit the AAAASF website or check the facility on this website www.qualitycheck.org.
Conclusion
Plastic surgery is a major operation. You should make sure to do all your homework and research before selecting your plastic surgeon and surgical facility. To achieve safe and good results with plastic surgery, be sure to select a board-certified, experienced, and skilled plastic surgeon. Your surgeon should also have a great sense of aesthetics and be able to understand your goals and desires and offer you valuable recommendations.
The surgical facility where your operation is to be performed will also shape the operation’s outcomes. It is therefore important to make sure the AAAHC or the Joint Commission has accredited the facility.