Are you considering having plastic surgery?

It is critical you get the right information and facts so you can choose the best, most qualified doctor to perform your procedure

Here are 7 of the most common plastic surgery mistakes uninformed patients make and how you can avoid them.

1. Not Knowing Your Surgeon’s Credentials

All doctors need to have completed the proper medical training.

Plastic surgeons need to have had four years of training from an accredited medical school, plus three years of general surgery and at least two years of plastic surgery residency training.

You need to know what “board certified” means.

Your plastic surgeon absolutely must have certification with the American Board of Plastic Surgery (if he is performing surgery within the United States).

This will help you make a choice based on the true credentials because  you will know if your plastic surgeon has the proper experience necessary to perform your surgery.

2. Not Liking Your Surgeon or His Care Team 

You will have a special and long relationship with your surgeon and his care team. 

Do you feel comfortable with these people?

Does your surgeon take the time to answer your questions or do you feel insignificant and rushed?

Are your concerns also important to his care team? 

Remember you will seeing a lot of these people during your recovery.

If they cause you to feel unwanted, keep in mind you’re still the customer.

If you feel uneasy in any way, keep looking for another doctor.

3. Trying to Save Money

It’s important to be frugal, except when you’re choosing a plastic surgeon.

You want the best and most qualified.

That means he will not come cheap.

Is it really smart to cut corners when you give someone permission to work on you?

Always keep in mind your main expense will be your surgeon’s skill.

Think of all the money, pain and recovery time it will cost you if your surgeon makes errors?

After all, the whole point is to improve your life, not to make your situation worse.

4. Not Having Realistic Goals

Every plastic surgery patient should set goals. 

What is it you want?

What can you expect?

What will it cost you emotionally and physically?

Plastic surgery can work wonders for many patients’ self esteem.  There are many positive things a well done procedure can bring to your life, but the surgery must be done for the right reasons.

Take time to think clearly on your motives. If you are getting the surgery just to please someone else, that is not a good reason.

You should never feel pressured to have plastic surgery.  Changing your appearance should be something you deeply want.  It should not be a tactic for receiving love or acceptance from others.

Those emotional needs must be satisfied from sources other than a surgeon’s scalpel.

5. Not Investigating If You Can Handle the Surgery

Are you medically able to have the surgery?

Are you at risk for complications?

Are you prepared for the emotional ups and downs that will be part of the recovery process?

Do you and your surgeon know your medical history and has your plastic surgeon evaluated you to determine if you are at risk?

It is vital to know if you are truely a candidate for plastic surgery before you have the procedure. It will be too late to discover hidden medical problems that may arise during the surgery.

6. Evaluating General Complications for Your Surgery

Every procedure has a certain degree of general risk involved and you need to know what those risks are.

Take the time to ask your surgeon what his complication rate is for your procedure.

If he refuses to tell you, or won’t give you the answers you need, know where to go to get the vital information.  The American Board of Medical Specialites , www.ABMS.org is a good place to start.

7. Not Exploring Your Payment Options

Many plasitc surgeons are making it easier for patients to pay for their procedures. 

That’s because more people would consider having plastic surgery done if they realized there are lots of ways payments can be made.

Look for doctors who will allow you to pay for your surgery over time.  That’s much easier than having to come up with all the cash at once.

Having plastic surgery can be very rewarding, especially if you get a problem corrected that has been plaguing you for some time.

Knowing the right questions to ask will help you avoid serious mistakes and complications.

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