What You Should Know Before You Have Plastic Surgery

• Make sure that your physician is board certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery. Many physicians practicing as plastic surgeons advertise that they are board certified, but they don't mention what their certification is in a different medical specialty, such as ear, nose and throat, oral surgery, etc.
• Get references from friends or acquaintances whom have had a similar procedure done by that plastic surgeon.
• The plastic surgeon should also be comfortable showing before and after photographs of his/her patients, as well as having former patients discuss their procedures with you. The surgeon should also be comfortable discussing how many of these procedures they have performed. Be very realistic about the procedure and results.
• The surgeon should have hospital privileges to do that procedure. Any surgeon can perform any surgery in his/her own facility. Only appropriately qualified surgeons can do the same procedure in a hospital or ambulatory surgery center. Make sure the surgical facility is appropriately accredited.
• Some health issues also need to be considered. Smoking is one of the two most detrimental external influences you can have on your aging process, skin, and the results of your surgery. You should completely quit at least two weeks before the surgery to allow your body and lungs to clear some of the damaging chemicals such as carbon monoxide. The other detrimental influence is excessive sun exposure.
• For the best results, you should be in reasonable shape regarding your weight and exercise regime. Your blood pressure and any diabetic risk factors should also be under control.
• The surgeon should also give literature about the procedure, as well as discuss possible risks and potential complications. No procedure is without risk and this should be clearly communicated in the consultation and preoperative discussions.
• The surgeon should be very realistic about the recovery process rather than give a best-case scenario. Too often a patient is told that the recovery will be short and easy when there may be bruising, swelling, and additional time needed.