It all begins with credentials. Keep yourself from becoming sidetracked by elegant designs or lyrical wording. You are chasing that official certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Apart from anything else? Most likely not up to current.
Get in touch with those who have already travelled this route. Real-life stories can expose what images and websites never will not show—from your cousin to your yoga teacher to even the assistant to your dentist. Good encounters, horror tales—soak it all in.
Spend some time looking before and after photographs. Don’t hurry or let dazzling changes trick you. Compare outcomes; search for natural variations and change. Look somewhere else if every face or feature begins to seem like a carbon copy.
Treat a consultation as an audition when it comes time for one. Note your questions: How often do you do this specific surgery? What happens if there are glitches? The surgeon should answer specifically and be honest. Sugar-coating or vague answers? Advance along.
Watch who is really meeting with you. That is a clue if you never even shake hands with the surgeon. Not just administrative personnel or a video conference; you deserve direct attention from the individual doing your surgery.
That small voice you have in your head? You can count on it. Stop if you are feeling uncomfortable or if you are being pushed into a snap judgment. Excellent surgeons share both good and not-so-good options and welcome your queries and appreciation of the time you need.
Sort through web reviews, but keep one eyebrow raised. Normal is a mix of positive and negative remarks; nobody is flawless. Often more telling than the problems themselves is how the office handles them.
Inquire about the facility used for the surgery. Is it geared for a crisis? Any extra security measures? The true test is what occurs should a complication arise during operation; mood lighting or expensive coffee makers in the lobby will not change this.
Talk about expenses right out of the start. You want everything on the table—surgery, anesthesia, post-care—no little extras. Reading the fine print now will help you avoid many problems down road. After you have already experienced so much, surprises are not needed.
And keep from sprinting toward the finish line whatever you do. Take breaks for yourself. Talk it out with a family member or straight-shooter acquaintance. More than speedy closure, your security and pleasure define everything. This decision calls for clarity and patience.