Choosing the correct physician for cosmetic surgery is crucial. While many patients get recommendations from friends or their primary care physicians, it is also essential to research your surgeon’s credentials and experience. Beware of doctors who misrepresent their qualifications, as they may give you a botched result that will be costly to correct. Look for the American Board of Plastic Surgery certification, which requires years of post-medical school residency training and stringent written and oral exams.
Certifications
It’s essential to find a surgeon who is board certified. This means they’ve undergone extensive training and passed comprehensive oral and written exams. The physician must also have a valid medical license and maintain active hospital privileges. The American Board of Plastic Surgery has several resources to help patients check their surgeon’s credentials. You can also use physician rating websites to learn more about a doctor’s background and malpractice history. In addition, the right plastic surgeon Bellevue will be honest with you and tell you what procedures are appropriate for you, how long you can expect recovery to take, and give you realistic expectations about the results of your surgery. They will also discuss the risks associated with your procedure and answer any questions.
Reputation
While it is common for prospective cosmetic surgery patients to seek recommendations from friends and primary care physicians, it is essential for them to independently verify their surgeons’ credentials through the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Many doctor-rating websites provide information about a physician’s background, education, and professional affiliations. Additionally, knowing whether or not your surgeon has hospital and surgical facility privileges is essential. This will make you feel more confident in your surgeon’s ability to perform your desired procedure safely and effectively. Finally, your surgeon needs to have a good sense of humor. While it may seem insignificant, humor can make patients more comfortable and help build trust. This is especially important due to the stressful nature of the patient-physician relationship. Moreover, it can be a reality check when patient expectations exceed realistic outcomes.
Experience
Patients can find out if they are considering an experienced surgeon by researching online or visiting states’ medical licensing board websites to learn how long their cosmetic surgeon has been in practice. These sites can also provide information on any interruptions to a surgeon’s career, which may indicate that the doctor has been disciplined or found guilty of malpractice in the past. A qualified plastic surgeon can answer your questions and discuss your desired procedure’s benefits, risks, and expected results. They should also be able to create an open, honest conversation about your goals and lifestyle so that you feel comfortable discussing any concerns. You should be able to find a good fit by asking for patient testimonials and references. These reviews can provide a wealth of information on how a surgeon works with their patients and the level of communication during the process.
Patient Reviews
Most patients looking for physicians go online to check out reviews of doctors before choosing them. They use review sites and others to discover what other patients say about the doctor and their experience. Having a lot of positive patient reviews can boost the credibility of a physician and help them stand out amongst the competition. But the patient reviews must be legitimate and not tainted in some way. For example, it is a red flag when the patient reviews contain negative comments unrelated to their procedure. Also, patient reviews that are exaggerated or fake can hurt the reputation of a plastic surgeon. So it is essential that the physician proactively leads patients to suitable review sites and provides a consistent process for requesting reviews from their patients. These reviews on the website increase visibility for a healthcare practice as search engines like Google love websites with fresh content.