Tips on Finding the Best Aesthetic Surgeon for You

Your choice of aesthetic surgeon will be a choice you live with for years, if not your entire life. A successful procedure will make you feel more like yourself and give you greater confidence for years to come. On the other hand, ending up in the hands of an inexperienced surgeon increases your chances of having poor results which leads to additional costs, time, and heartache. Finding an aesthetic surgeon who has plenty of experience in your procedure of choice is critical to getting the results you desire.

Key Point: Experience in the Procedure You Want

You now know the importance of specialization and board certification in aesthetic surgery, but aesthetic surgeons can have subspecialties within this field. This is because each area of aesthetic surgery requires different skills: you can imagine how operating on a nose with bone, cartilage, and breathing passages would be quite different from operating on a breast, which is primarily comprised of soft and glandular tissue.

Key Point: Aesthetics

We all know that what one person finds beautiful may be unattractive to another. This is why it is so important to find an aesthetic surgeon that shares your aesthetic sensibility.

For this reason, you can’t just trust a friend’s recommendation of a surgeon, or solely depend on the aesthetic surgeon’s experience. You’ll need to look carefully at the results for each surgeon you interview.

Tips & things to look for:

• At this step in the process of vetting providers, you should compare each doctor’s results for the procedure you want to have, and think about whether those results appeal to you personally.
• Look at yourself carefully in the mirror or take a selfie for reference in finding patients that have similar qualities to you. Do their results look like you want to look after your surgery?
  • For facial procedures, look for patients that have a similar facial structure, are around your age, and have some of the same concerns, whether it’s a sagging neck or prominent hump on the nose.
  • For breast procedures, look for patients who have a similar torso and breast shape. For instance, if you have narrow shoulders and widely-spaced, small, asymmetrical breasts, patients with those qualities in the before images will give you a better sense of how that surgeon tailors a procedure to patients with your concerns and body type.
  • For body procedures, look for patients with a similar shape to you. So if you tend to carry extra weight around your hips, or have a sagging tummy, see how the doctor helped patients like you. Hint: Be open to considering related body procedures, as you may find that a concern you thought could be treated with liposuction is best treated with abdominoplasty.
• How consistent are the surgeon’s results for all patients who’ve had the procedure you are considering?

Key Point: Emotional Connection

You’re going to be spending quite a bit of time with your aesthetic surgeon both before and after surgery. Plus, surgery is a big deal, and there can be curves in the path to your new look. You need to feel very comfortable with your aesthetic surgeon and their support team.

Things to ask yourself:

• Do I like spending time with this surgeon?
• Do I feel like I can trust this surgeon to recommend what’s safe and right for me?
• Would I feel comfortable asking this surgeon any question I might have throughout the process?
• Do I feel comfortable disclosing my full medical history and habits to this surgeon? (This is critically important to your safety!)

Key Point: Safety & the Operating Facility

Your safety during surgery depends in large part on the anesthetist and the operating facility. Accredited operating rooms include key life support systems just in case something goes wrong.

Things to ask and look for:

• Ask your surgeon where they perform surgery, and find out that facility’s level of accreditation.
• Ask about the anesthetist’s qualifications. For safety, you want a Board Certified Anesthesiologist administering your anesthesia.

Key Point: Customer Service

Throughout the process of improving your appearance, you want to be sure you are being served and treated well. Some of that will be obvious a few minutes after you walk in the door of aesthetic surgeon’s office. Here are some tips on other things to consider.

Things to ask and look for:

• Is the staff friendly and helpful?
• Do I get helpful materials that fully prepare me for the risks and realities of surgery and recovery?
• Are all fees clearly stated? Is the quote all-inclusive?
• When I contact the practice, do I receive a prompt reply?

To make the process of comparing aesthetic surgeons easier, we have put all of these pointers into a checklist you can use as you interview doctors:

MEETING YOUR SURGEON

BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME:

• Research your procedure ahead of time to research your topic of interest.
• If you’re looking into breast or body procedures, be sure to wear clothing and underwear that will make disrobing comfortable and practical. (You’ll be asked to undress relevant portions of your body and don a patient gown while the doctor and nurse step out of the room.)
• Write down any questions you have for the surgeon.
• Have your medical history information ready, including medical problems that run in your immediate family, and bring it with you. To make things easier, ask if you can fill out your medical paperwork beforehand.

ARRIVAL AT THE SURGEON’S OFFICE:

• Is the office clean, organized, and professional? ___ YES ___ NO
• Is the staff friendly, courteous, and happy to see you? ___ YES ___ NO
• Is the atmosphere warm and inviting? ___ YES ___ NO

WHILE YOU WAIT TO MEET THE SURGEON:

• Fill out all paperwork accurately; the more comprehensive, the better!
• Be certain to share any and all medical conditions, which can help ensure proper planning and safety before, during, and after your procedure.
• Give a full list of medications and supplements you take and anything you ingest to support your health, including herbs, teas, and vitamins.

MEETING WITH YOUR SURGEON:

• Does your surgeon make you feel welcome and at ease? ___ YES ___ NO
• Does he/she listen to your concerns and offer feedback? ___ YES ___ NO
• Does the surgeon understand your expectations? ___ YES ___ NO
• Does he/she help you understand your options? ___ YES ___ NO

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR SURGEON:

• Am I a good candidate for my procedure of interest? If not, what is keeping me from being a candidate?
• How many times have you performed this procedure?
• What are the risks?
• What are the benefits?
• Where will the surgery take place?
• Is the surgical facility accredited?
• Do you have hospital privileges? If so, where?
• Who performs anesthesia and what are their qualifications?
• What type of anesthesia is required for this procedure?
• What are the credentials of your surgical staff?
• How would you respond if an emergency were to occur during surgery?
• Have you helped patients with similar physical qualities and concerns? Can you show me before and after photos of their results?

DURING THE PHYSICAL EXAM, MAKE MENTAL NOTES:

• Is the doctor courteous and professional? ___ YES ___ NO
• Did the doctor seem to understand your areas of concern? ___ YES ___ NO
• Does the surgeon understand your expectations? ___ YES ___ NO
• Does he/she help you understand your options? ___ YES ___ NO

FINANCIAL PLANNING:

• If you need to finance your procedure, ask about the available options during your consultation. (Be sure to note if you are given courteous help and guidance for applying.)
• Most surgeons require an initial down payment when you schedule your procedure and payment in full prior to the date of surgery. If this is a concern, be sure to discuss financing options during your consultation.