My Fitness Edge

Cosmetic procedures on the face, neck and body have risen exponentially recently. As with any medical procedure, it’s vital to choose the right cosmetic surgeon for the type of operation you desire. Give the same focus on this task that you would give to other medical procedures.

An excellent start would be to ask acquaintances and family or anyone else that you know who has had cosmetic surgery. They can refer a good reputable surgeon and give you advice from first hand experience. You can also search on the internet for directories based upon your location. When you have some names, check to discover whether or not they are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in the U.S. Or registered with the General Medical Council in England. Additional qualifications are Fellows of the American College of Surgeons and Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons in the U.S and UK, respectively. In the UK, a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons can be specialised in plastic surgery (FRCS plast).

As well as certification, cosmetic surgeons are members of associations. The particular professional associations in the U.S. And UK are the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS). Being a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery or the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons further ensures the surgeons have gone through expert training and may perform cosmetic techniques.

Once you have validated their certifications and association memberships, the next step is to find out whether the surgeon works at an approved hospital or facility fully equipped to handle cosmetic surgical procedures. In the U.S, such facilities are authorized by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities. In the UK, clinical standards can be checked on the Care Quality Commission web site.

Write down a list of possible surgeons and arrange for a consultation with each one of them. Some consultations are free of charge, others aren’t. Have a list of things to ask. How many times have they performed the cosmetic procedure you are interested in and how much experience have they got with this operation? Can you talk with some of their patients who’ve had this procedure? What are possible complications and side effects? What does the procedure involve? Will there be scars? What does the price include? How long does it take to recover? Ask for an outline of the operation and the expected cost.

Finally, think about how well you communicate with the surgeon and whether there is a sense of trust. Along with the responses to your questions, they should help you when choosing your cosmetic surgeon.

Anna Sola is a longtime article author publishing articles on a wide selection of subjects including travel and plastic surgery. How patients balance the pros and cons of cosmetic surgery is a particular area of interest.