Choosing a Breast Augmentation Surgeon

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), more than 12 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2008, but breast augmentation tops the list with 307,000 procedures performed, followed by rhinoplasty, liposuction, eyelid surgery, and tummy tucks.

Selecting a breast augmentation surgeon involves key steps to match the most qualified and skilled surgeon to your specific procedure. Choosing a breast augmentation surgeon from a phone book or magazine page makes as much sense as your teenager picking a college from a glossy handout. Obtaining recommendations and using a methodical approach to selecting a surgeon will go much further toward successful results.

Step One: Conduct a Surgeon Background Check

Making a list of the qualifications that you’d expect your breast augmentation surgeon to have takes high priority. You wouldn’t put a new roof on your house without checking to see if the roofing company has insurance and experience, so don’t hire just any surgeon with doctor in his or her title. The ASPS is a great initial resource for verifying your surgeon’s membership and board certifications, but you’ll also want to ready a list of the minimum qualifications you desire from your breast augmentation surgeon, such as:

· Breast augmentation should play a major role in the plastic surgeon’s practice

· Surgeon should be actively involved in all pre-op and post-op exams

· The plastic surgeon should welcome all your questions and discuss all possible risks and complications

· An outstanding reputation for successful breast augmentation surgeries and extensive surgical and educational experience

Checking the surgeon’s before and after breast augmentation photos to verify successful outcomes should also be a part of your preliminary research.

Step Two: Question your Prospective Breast Augmentation Surgeon

Once you have a list of two or three recommended surgeons, you’ll want to set up a consultation with each one to determine the best match for your breast augmentation procedure. The ASPS recommends asking tough questions to help determine the surgeon’s training and if he or she uses accredited facilities to perform the procedure. A few of those tough questions may include:

· How many breast augmentation surgeries have you performed in the past year?

· What type of facilities do you use to perform these surgical procedures and may I have a tour of the facilities?

· How will post-operative care be handled, especially if complications ensue?

· What type of recovery do you expect based upon my current state of health?

Step Three: Get Price Estimates

After determining the best surgeon for the procedure, obtaining financial estimates will be important. Just because you’ve found an adequate surgeon that offers a lower price, doesn’t mean you want corners cut during the surgical procedure. Have office personnel go over the quoted price and explain what is included. Most surgeons have financing for breast augmentation available to help spread the cost over a longer term.

Select your surgeon with this three-step approach and you’ll feel more confident that you have the best surgeon for your breast augmentation procedure.