It seems as though selecting a high-quality, competent cosmetic doctor is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Every practitioner has a website, many offer free consultations, and every aesthetic doctor looks like the next. Before you pick the first person listed on your search engine, here are five questions to ask an aesthetic doctor you are considering for your cosmetic procedure.
1. Are you a board certified cosmetic doctor in the procedure I am looking for?
A board certified plastic surgeon will be certified to perform a facelift, but may not be the best choice for varicose vein surgery. For procedures associated with the vascular system, such as vein problems and treatments, a board certified vascular surgeon will be your best bet. Do not settle for a surgeon who does not have the full backing of the medical community. Information regarding board certification can be found at the American Board of Medical Specialties website.
2. What experience do you have performing the procedure I want?
While board certification is key, it is by no means the end of a surgeon’s educational experience. Asking questions such as, “How did you train in this procedure?”, “How long have you been performing this procedure?”, or “How many times have you performed this procedure?” will give you a better idea of how your aesthetic doctor acquired additional experience related to the procedure you are investigating.
3. Do you have hospital privileges?
Not only do hospitals do thorough background checks on aesthetic doctors prior to allowing them to operate on their premises, hospitals have checks and balances in place to ensure physicians are properly documenting consultations, procedures, and complications. If your physician does not have hospital privileges, even if they perform procedures in a surgical center, it is a red flag.
4. May I see before and after pictures of other patients who have undergone this procedure?
Cosmetic doctors will have photographs at the ready for you to peruse of other patients who have undergone the procedure in question. Decide if the surgeon’s style is in keeping with how you want to look. Look for inconsistencies in patient results and be ready to ask questions regarding them. If you don’t like what you see in other people, you are likely to be dissatisfied with your own results.
5. Go with your gut.
If you have checked off the entire surgeon checklist from the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and something still isn’t right, walk away. Deciding on cosmetic procedures should be a fun, exciting process. If you have reservations about your cosmetic doctor, regardless of how they look on paper, it is better to begin the search process again than to have a poor experience.
Whether you are looking for an aesthetic doctor for your varicose vein surgery or a practitioner that can perform dermal fillers, it is important to take the time to find the right doctor for you. If you are considering vein procedures, contact the office of Dr. Charles L. Dietzek for a no-obligation consultation.