Searching

Some time ago, I promised to pass on some insider tips on finding an excellent plastic surgeon, one who is most likely to give you a good outcome.

At least, given what I now know – after 25 years on Park Avenue – it’s what I would do if I wanted plastic surgery!

Many good surgeons are found online.

Just type into a search engine the kind of surgery you want and your location like this: “Breast Augmentation L.A.” or “Face lift San Diego.”

Check for training and background. To be called a plastic surgeon, a physician must have anywhere from five to eight or more years training after getting the M.D. degree.

That doctor should also be board certified in plastic surgery or otolaryngology – the only two specialties fully qualified to perform plastic surgery.

Check by going to The American Board of Medical Specialties, registering and typing in your surgeon’s name. Certification, if any, will show up.

Next, check for the surgeon’s hospital privileges. Hospitals take no chances and have fully investigated surgeons’ backgrounds and training.

If the website gives you an email address, ask the surgeon:

• How many times monthly he performs the rejuvenation you want
• If you can speak to former patients about their outcomes
• If the surgery center is certified

Look for a surgeon who performs the procedure you want at least weekly.

Look at the surgeon’s before and after plastic surgery pictures. There should be pages and pages – literally — of patients.

Look at the quality as well as the outcomes. All the before and afters should be standard with the same background, lighting, distance from the camera and other features.

When you go to the initial consultation, ask: what was your last procedure that went wrong and what did you do about it?

Even in the very best of hands things occasionally go wrong – an infection crops up or a patient is not satisfied with the outcome.

If the surgeon told me nothing ever went wrong, I would leave. I would be looking for the extra steps a fully trained and certified surgeon can take.

In the final analysis, patients are walking advertisements — he wants you to look good.

In fact, one happy patient will bring in five more through word of mouth alone.