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Top Insider Tips for Finding a Trustworthy Cosmetic Surgeon
The number of men and women opting for cosmetic surgery is on the rise and to cope up with the increase in demand, more and more people are entering the aesthetic game. If you are thinking of undergoing a procedure, you have to be careful about selecting the right professional for getting the job done. As cosmetic surgery is attracting a growing base of eager patients, it has prompted a number of unqualified physicians and even non-physicians to jump on the cosmetic bandwagon, with white lab coats and all. You don’t want to sign up with such inexperienced individuals because they may not be able to give you the desired results.
Along with meeting the cosmetic surgeon in person, it is strongly recommended that you take a look at their background to ensure they are certified for handling the exact cosmetic surgery procedure you want. To help you choose a skilled, qualified, pleasant-to-be-around and vetted cosmetic surgeon, here are some insider tips you can use:
Ask friends, family members and acquaintances for recommendations
First things first, look at people close to you. Has anyone in your circle had some work done? If you are comfortable, reach out to them to get some advice. They will be able to provide you with an honest rundown of the whole process, beginning with a consultation with the surgeon to the surgery and eventually the recovery process. If you don’t know anyone personally, you can still ask around for a connection. For instance, you can talk to friends or acquaintances working in healthcare. Other healthcare professionals, even if they are nurses or physician’s assistants, will have better knowledge. They will be able to recommend the best cosmetic surgeons in the United States.
Do your homework by going through reviews
As is common in this day and age, you should turn to the internet before choosing a surgeon to carry about any cosmetic procedure. Knowledge is power and you should read as many reviews as possible to get an idea of the previous experiences patients have had with the surgeon. This will tell you how the surgeons are in and out of the operating room. These days, finding reviews is not that difficult, thanks to social media. You can find multiple groups and pages that don’t just help you in understanding what to expect, but also in narrowing your options to the best cosmetic surgeons in the United States.
Always be skeptical about what you read
It is essential to remember that not everything you read on the internet is true. Yes, it is true that reviews on online review sites and social media pages can be excellent resources, but they can also spread misinformation. There are anonymous reviews, particularly negative ones, which are often used by patients for seeking revenge or advancing their own agenda rather than sharing their personal experience or knowledge with other potential patients. Likewise, you need to view the ‘before and after’ photos with a grain of salt.
Most cosmetic surgeons will showcase such pictures on their website or will send them to people on their request. However, it should be noted that not all surgeons will show their work honestly. When you are viewing pictures, make sure that the lighting, shadows, and makeup is consistent in both pictures. In addition, you should remember that the best cosmetic surgeons in the United States don’t need to rely on advertising to help their business. Any cosmetic surgeons that rely heavily on advertising should be avoided. The primary task of a good surgeon is to attend to their patients and not to get the highest number of likes or followers.
Review the qualifications of all candidates
After you have made a list of the best cosmetic surgeons in the United States, you should review their qualifications before going for a face-to-face meeting. You should ensure that they are qualified to perform your required procedure. Not every cosmetic surgeon is capable of performing the procedures. Some cosmetic surgery procedures are non-invasive, but this doesn’t mean that they are 100% safe and anyone with some medical knowledge or non-MDs should perform them. These procedures can also have side effects and only experienced cosmetic surgeons will be able to recognize and manage them if they occur.
Thus, you need to ensure that the cosmetic surgeon you choose is experienced and skilled in your area of concern. Some doctors hailing from other specialties also perform cosmetic surgery treatments and procedures, but they don’t have comprehensive and standardized training in these areas. However, it is better for you to find someone who specializes in the procedure you need because they will have the right qualification and knowledge to do it right.
Ask if the surgeon is affiliated with a hospital
Another qualification box that needs to be checked off is whether the cosmetic surgeon you are considering is affiliated with a hospital or not. Bear in mind that the best cosmetic surgeons in the United States will have hospital privileges for performing surgeries. If the surgeon only performs surgeries at their own office, it should be regarded as a red flag. Having access to a hospital facility is reassuring because it means that if there is any complication, the surgeon can attend to it immediately.
Have a consultation and ask the right questions
Similar to a job interview, you need to be prepared for your consultation with a cosmetic surgeon. Have a list of questions that you want to ask your surgeon. At the end of the consultation, you want to make sure that both of you are on the same page and that you have communicated what you want. This is an excellent opportunity to check photos of the surgeon’s past work and to discover if they are really experienced in the procedure you want. You can also express your goals and get a feel for whether the surgeon understands and can deliver the results you are after. It is also a great time to clarify what costs will be incurred so there will be no surprises later on.
