We all know that choosing a plastic surgeon is more than surfing the Internet until you find some pictures you like. Doing a little homework to make sure you know the questions to ask to qualify your doctor is key. Â Choosing a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon like Dr. Henry Wells is your best choice.
About Website Photographs
Pictures are important and we have a lot of them on our website, where all of our photos are of our surgeries and even the models have been our patients. Be aware that on some plastic surgery websites that pictures are sometimes stock photos or may even be copied from another surgeon’s website.
Choose Only a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
The one thing to make your search easier is to look for a surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. There are a number of self-proclaimed cosmetic surgery boards and societies that require very little training or qualifications beyond a license to practice medicine. If they are simply ‘board certified’ don’t assume its in plastic surgery. The American Board of Medical Specialties governs certification requirements not only for Plastic Surgery but many other specialties such as Radiology Dermatology, and General Surgery. There are other board certified specialties, such as ENT, Dermatology and Ophthalmology that perform cosmetic procedures within their area of specialty.
Have More Than One Consultation
It is also wise to have a consultation with more than one plastic surgeon. Face to face interaction with your surgeon and his staff helps you determine your comfort and confidence level. You are entrusting them not only with your appearance, but also with your safety and well-being. Cosmetic surgery may well establish a life-long relationship with a practice that can help guide you through life’s stages. While you may not be thinking that long term, comprehensive practices provide services such as lasers, skin care, facial and even makeup counseling that can enhance your surgical results as well as reduce the effects of aging and the environment.
Hospital Privileges
While many surgeons have their own surgical suites, it is important to know if your surgeon has hospital privileges to perform your surgery. This assures that their skills have been reviewed and approved by their peers to perform surgery in their facility.
Experience is a Must
Experience is essential when choosing a plastic surgeon. You many not want a surgeon that does hundreds of assembly line breast augmentations, but you do want someone with a good reputation and a proven history of good results and happy patients. Be sure to ask your friends who have had plastic surgery about their experiences.
Go With Your Gut
It ultimately comes down to the doctor/patient relationship and how comfortable you are going forward. Were you well informed? Were all your questions answered? Did the surgeon himself (or her) take time to listen to your concerns and clearly understand them? Because when it comes down to it, it is all about the understanding between you and the surgeon when you are in that operating room together.
Dr. Henry Wells of Wells Plastic Surgery and Skin Care is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and a member of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and of the prestigious American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.