How To Ensure The Best Possible Outcome
Choosing a cosmetic plastic surgeon, especially in another country, is the most important element to insure success. The more information you have about the surgeon and the procedure, the better your experience will be.
We’ve all heard the terrible tales of plastic surgery gone wrong, whether it is in the U.S., Canada or Mexico. And there are reasons for this. Lack of qualifications on the part of the doctor or team performing the surgery is the main one. So how do you know how to find the right doctor? The following 10 comprehensive tips and 10 questions to ask will help to ensure that your surgery is safe and comfortable with beautiful results.
- Credentials, credentials, credentials.
Credentials should be your major consideration. Cosmetic surgery is not something to be taken lightly. As with any surgery there are risks. To ensure the best possible results you need an experienced, highly qualified surgeon. So check his/her credentials.
Take the time to do your due diligence. The internet now enables us to research the world and consider our options. Find out what kind of training the doctor has had.
Board Certification
Board certification means the surgeon been tested and approved to practice in a specific field. He/she has earned a degree from an accredited, well known medical school and has completed the requisite amount of surgery in an accredited facility. He or she will also have completed a supervised residency in plastic surgery in a respected hospital and should have at least two years of professional practice and will have passed rigorous oral and written exams.
Surgeons should be not just be board certified but board certified in the specialty you are seeking. You would not want a podiatrist, no matter how talented, performing a rhinoplasty! They are two entirely different specialties. Even dermatologists have been known to try their hand at cosmetic surgery, with disastrous results. So make sure your surgeon has trained specifically in the procedure(s) you want done and that they perform them regularly.
Your anesthesiologist should be board certified as well.
- Get more than one opinion.
If you are seeking plastic surgery abroad, consult with a surgeon in your own area. Gather all the information you can.
- Referrals
Seek referrals from people you know if you can. Talk to the doctor’s former patients. Word of mouth is an excellent way to get feedback on a doctor’s reputation.
There is large retirement community of North American expatriates in the small villages around Lake Chapala, close to Guadalajara. Many have lived there for years. They can be a good source to recommend the best doctors, dentists and opticians. Do certain names recur?
- Before and after pictures
Check out before and after pictures – not just those supplied by the doctor, but independently posted online pictures as well if you can.
- Meet the surgeon in advance
Meet the surgeon who will perform your surgery ahead of time. Better yet, call from home first. Is there a rapport? Does he/she speak English? You both must be able to communicate clearly. There is no room for misunderstanding when it comes to your health and safety.
Does he/she listen to your concerns and fully answer all your questions in a clear and logical way? Trust your instincts. Do you feel comfortable with the surgeon?
- Ask questions
It’s a good idea to have a list of questions ready when you first speak to the doctor. This will provide you with a good sense of how well he/she communicates with you and how he/she relates to you.
The 10 Key Questions
Here is list of 10 key questions you may want to ask:
- * What pre-operative work will be required? Who performs this preliminary exam? You should receive a comprehensive pre-surgery evaluation for your particular case.
- * What do you need to do to prepare? (e.g. stop smoking is a big one).
- * Will it be the doctor himself who performs the operation or will an assistant be involved?
- * How many surgeries like this has he/she performed? The doctor should be performing the procedure you are seeking on a regular basis.
- * How much will it cost? What do the costs include? Make sure there are no surprises and that you get everything in writing.
- * What does the procedure entail?
- * How will you feel afterwards?
- * What are the potential complications? Are the doctor and the facility equipped to deal with them?
- * What can you expect in the way of results?
- * How will follow up care be dealt with? How accessible will the doctor be after your surgery? How often does he/she check up on you?
- Find out where the surgery will take place. A hospital? A clinic? The surgeon’s office? Is the facility accredited?
- Visit the facility ahead of time if you can. Does it look clean and efficient? Is the staff friendly? Are they helpful? If you have any concerns, raise them.
- Allow sufficient time to recover before heading home. You need time to heal and to relax – and to be assured of good post operative care if complications arise. The first few days after surgery are the most critical. Two weeks should be a minimum, longer if you have more than one procedure.
- And just as you would when travelling away from home, especially if you are on your own, let friends and family know where you are and how to contact you.
Researched and compiled by DG Communications
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