The decision to have cosmetic surgery is a big one. In addition to the physical aspect of having the surgery performed, there is also the mental and emotional aspect of taking steps to change your appearance. When it comes to our appearance, we want to look as good as possible. This means that it is vitally important that your cosmetic surgery is successful. As such, there are important questions to ask your plastic surgeon ahead of time.
Every successful cosmetic surgery starts with a successful and detailed consultation. This consultation is a one-on-one conversation between you and your plastic surgeon. It is an honest conversation where you should feel free to express yourself without reservation. The patients who get the most out of their cosmetic surgery are the ones who are not afraid to ask questions.
Remember, we are talking about your appearance. Your appearance is want defines you. You do not want to make a wrong choice when it comes to dealing with the way you look. Do not leave your consultation until you have asked important questions and have received satisfactory answers.
A key question to ask is, “Are you a board-certified cosmetic surgeon?” Why do you need to ask this question? Because the way your surgeon answers this question will give you an idea of their training, their experience and how committed they are to seeing to it that your procedure is performed in a safe way.
It is important that you understand that in the United States, any physician who is licensed can perform cosmetic surgery, even if they’ve never been trained in cosmetic procedures. Making sure that they are board-certified is a must. When a cosmetic surgeon gets board-certified, it doesn’t just mean that they’ve taken a test.
What it means is that they are cosmetic surgery experts. They have participated in a 12-month cosmetic surgery fellowship training program. This includes training in every aspect of cosmetic surgical procedures. This also means that they are performing their surgical procedures in facilities that have been licensed by the state and that are fully accredited.
The next question to ask is how frequently they perform the procedure that you are going to have done. The more experienced the cosmetic surgeon is at performing the procedure you want to have done, the better the outcome will be. Many cosmetic surgeons specialize in one or two procedures.
You want a cosmetic surgeon who spends the majority of their time doing the procedure you want to have done. Ask to see before and after photographs of procedures that they personally performed. This will allow you to determine if you like their artistic style.
You should also ask about the recovery process. This is a must because some procedures require weeks or months of recovery. You do not want to walk into a procedure thinking that you’re going to be able to return to your daily routine within a few days, only to realize that you will have months of downtime. It is important that you discuss what restrictions you should expect. For example, will you be able to lift heavy objects, will you be able to eat normally and will you have swelling?
Do not to be afraid to ask pinpoint questions to your plastic surgeon. A good cosmetic surgeon will be open and will be happy to answer any questions you have. One of the most important questions to ask is who will pay for the cost of treating a complication if a complication occurs. Based out of Birmingham, CosmetAssure provides patients and doctors with peace of mind in this area. Contact us today to learn more about our process.