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American Society of Plastic Surgeons and American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery member surgeons:
- Are board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery® or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada® after passing rigorous written and oral exams
- Have at least six years of training and experience in surgery, with three years specifically in plastic surgery
- Annually complete continuing medical education, including patient safety training
- Perform surgery only in accredited, state-licensed, or Medicare-certified surgical facilities
- Adhere to a strict code of ethics
Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon To explore the safety issues of cosmetic surgery and be sure your physician can provide the best care and results, ask your plastic surgeon the following questions: |
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- Are you a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery?
- Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
- Where and how will you perform my procedure?
- Do you have hospital privileges to perform my procedure? If so, at which hospitals?
- Is the surgical facility accredited by a nationally or state-recognized accrediting agency, or is it state-licensed or Medicare-certified?
- Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
- What will be expected of me to get the best results?
- What is the length of the recovery period, and what kind of recovery help will I need?
- Will I need to take time off work for my recovery? If so, for how long?
- Are there alternative procedures I could consider? What are their pros and cons?
- Who on your staff will be performing my procedure and what are their qualifications?
- What risks and complications are associated with my procedure and how are they handled?
- What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the outcome?
- Do you have before and after photos that illustrate this procedure and show results that are reasonable for me to expect?
Questions About Injectables You should be fully informed about injectable procedures as well. Ask your plastic surgeon the following questions:
- Is the injectable procedure I have chosen sufficient for the result I am trying to achieve?
- What can I expect in terms of swelling, discomfort, and recovery time following the injectable treatment?
- Is the cosmetic injectable approved by the FDA?
- If my injector is a nurse or physician’s assistant, will my plastic surgeon be on site and supervising the procedure?
- Am I aware that injectable procedures do not provide permanent results?
Questions to Yourself Finally, you need to ask: Is surgery right for you? The following questions will help you determine if you’re ready for plastic surgery:
- Am I physically healthy, eating right, and not smoking?
- Am I prepared to make necessary lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, in order to have my surgery?
- Do I have realistic expectations for the results of my procedure?
- Am I exploring plastic surgery for myself or to fit someone else’s ideals?
- Have I spent time testing my knowledge about plastic surgery and exploring the qualifications of plastic surgeons?
- Have I told my plastic surgeon about medical conditions, drug allergies, and medical treatments (including those that involve fillers, facial shaping, and Botox)?
- Have I reviewed with my plastic surgeon my current use of medicines, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, and drugs?
- Am I ready to do my part to ensure the success of my procedure?
- Do I know the procedure’s after-effects and recovery time?
- Do I have a responsible adult to care for me for at least 24 hours (or as long as recommended) after my procedure?
- Have all my questions been thoroughly addressed by my plastic surgeon?
- Have I read, understood, and signed informed consent documents for my procedure?
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