-Dr. Parag Telang
Cosmetic surgery is a vital life-changing decision. Sometimes you have to be patient enough for years before you actually think about the idea of getting it done. When you have literally decided to go under the knife, the important first step is to get to the right surgeon. It is essential for your safety and the success of cosmetic surgery.
Let us discuss some major points before selecting the right doctor for your cosmetic surgery:
1. Find out about the Plastic Surgeon, whether he is Board Certified or not
In India there are many “Best Plastic Surgeons” “So-called Cosmetic Surgeons” and “Award- winning Plastic surgeons” who are not actually trained in the field of Plastic Surgery, leave alone specifically cosmetic surgery. There are Associations only for qualified Plastic Surgeons such as International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) or American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), where unqualified surgeons cannot become a member.
In India, surgeons who are a member of the Indian Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons are specially trained and qualified. To become an IAAPS (Indian Association Of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) member a plastic surgeon must have Graduated( MBBS) from medical school, have a Super specialisation in Plastic Surgery (DNB/MCH) in recognised institute, Completed training in General Surgery (DNB/MS), and must have three years of experience. Looking at these qualifications is very important because there are a lot of non-surgeons and fraud practicing as cosmetic surgeons, who are not actually trained for the job. When you choose an Indian
Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons member, you can be proud of yourself that you have made an excellent choice.
2. Ask your friend or doctor for a good surgeon
Take an advantage of word of mouth from a friend or relative to find the best plastic surgeon. Ask a popular practitioner. He or she will have better insight into local services and may offer neutral advice about surgery and surgeons.
3. Choose a Cosmetic surgeon whose aesthetic sense appeals to you
We all know that if we are finding something beautiful may be other people find it unattractive. For this reason, you should never trust a friend’s recommendation or completely depend on the cosmetic surgeon’s experience. You should carefully look at the results for each surgeon you interview.
How to determine a cosmetic surgeon’s aesthetic sense:
Look at the photos, clicked before & after. Compare all the results of the doctor’s for the procedure you want. Then decide that which surgeon’s results appeal to you personally. Pay the closest attention to the patients who have similar qualities to you and you can (Consider taking a selfie to your consultation for reference).
Facial procedures: Find patients who have a similar facial structure, are around your age, and have the same concerns, whether it’s a weakening neck or a prominent hump on the nose.
Breast procedures: look for patients who have a similar body and breast shape. For example, if you have widely-spaced, small, asymmetrical breasts and narrow shoulders, patients with those features in the before images will give you a better knowledge of how that surgeon tailors a procedure to patients with your concerns and body type.
Body procedures: look for patients who is having a similar shape to you. If you have a sagging tummy or you tend to carry extra weight around your hips, look how the doctor helped patients like you. Hint: Be open to considering body-related procedures, as you may find that a
concern you thought may be treated with liposuction is best treated with abdominoplasty.
Look for regularity in a surgeon’s results for all patients who’ve had the procedure you are considering. Are their results look like what you want to look after your surgery?
4. Find out about the operating facility
Your safety throughout the surgery depends in large part on the anaesthetist and the operating facility. Accredited operating rooms include key life support systems just in case if something goes wrong.
5. Customer care is really important!
You want to make sure that you have been served and treated well. Much of this will be clear a few minutes after you walk in the door of the cosmetic surgeon’s office.
Things to ask and look for:
- Is the staffs are friendly and helpful?
- Do I get materials that fully prepared me for the risks and realities of surgery and recovery?
- Are all fees clearly stated?
- Does the quote include everything?
- When I contact the doctor’s clinic, do I receive a prompt response?
There are many self-proclaimed cosmetic surgeons with alternate medical education with paid listing on health apps or google. This information must be verified always by checking for the educational qualifications of the surgeons.