Getting the Best Results from Your Plastic Surgery
Cosmetic plastic surgery procedures have an excellent safety record. In fact, surveys have found that the rate of serious complications resulting from plastic surgery procedures performed in accredited surgical facilities by board-certified plastic surgeons was less than half of one percent. However, nearly everyone has heard or seen the stories of “botched” plastic surgery procedures, where poor results or complications result in serious disfigurements or health problems. Fortunately there are several steps that you can take to help minimize even further this small risk and help ensure that you achieve the best possible cosmetic plastic surgery results.
Check the Credentials: While anyone with a medical degree can call themselves a “cosmetic surgeon” and perform cosmetic procedures, a true plastic surgeon’s residency requires years of advanced plastic surgery training after they’ve completed medical school. Moreover, the most qualified plastic surgeons are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the only recognized certifying agency for plastic surgeons in the United States. Board certification is a rigorous process that requires years of additional specialized training and thousands of hours of hands-on surgical experience.
Check the References: It is difficult to imagine hiring even a babysitter without talking to their previous employers. Similarly, reading online patient reviews of a surgeon and their work can be a great way to get valuable insights into their qualifications and personality. Referrals from primary care physicians can also help you find the best possible surgeon to perform the procedure you want. Be sure to carefully consider all of the options before choosing the best plastic surgeon for you.
Set Reasonable Goals: Patients usually lack the detailed understanding of anatomy and physiology that allows a qualified plastic surgeon to accurately judge the viability of specific cosmetic procedures on different individual body types. As a result, they may request procedures that are either unsafe or unsuited to their individual aesthetic needs. Discussing the specifics of your surgery in detail with your surgeon and being honest and frank about your expectations can help you avoid any surprises down the road. A reputable plastic surgeon will not be afraid to tell you if a particular outcome is unrealistic or a procedure is ill advised.
Consider Hospital and Follow-Up Care: Even if your cosmetic surgical procedure is going to be performed in an office or an ambulatory surgery center, you should still make sure that your surgeon has privileges to perform the same procedure in an acute care hospital. This ensures that, if something does go wrong, your surgeon has access to full medical facilities. Make sure that the facility is accredited by a recognized national agency, state-licensed, or Medicare certified. Finally, a reputable doctor will give you detailed post-operative instructions and be available for any necessary follow-up care.
Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. is the most experienced plastic surgery center in Atlanta, and has been recognized throughout the medical community as the Southeast’s premier cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery center for almost fifty years. All of our providers are board certified plastic surgeons with years of experience and superlative patient reviews. If you have additional questions about payment options at Atlantic Plastic Surgery or about any of the plastic surgery procedures our providers perform, contact us at one of our Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming, or Newnan offices. Also, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest news and updates.
