Question 1

Are you board certified in the specialty addressing the procedure in which I am interested?

Accepted Answer

For example, you are considering a tummy tuck or breast augmentation and consult with an oral surgeon that advertises that they perform them. Exactly what training did the surgeon have to perform these procedures? It may be wise to look elsewhere for a surgeon who has appropriate training in body contouring surgery or breast augmentation. It is very important that you consult with a surgeon who is not practicing beyond the scope of his or her training.

Question 2

How long have you been performing plastic surgery in your practice?

Accepted Answer

Plastic surgery is extremely demanding with the blending of that which is learned in training with that which is experienced in the reality of application. Artistry is the quality that develops with years of experience, and with the critical evaluation of one’s results and the constant desire to strive for further excellence. EXPERIENCE COUNTS.

Question 3

How many of these procedures do you perform per month, per year, and what percentage of your practice do they make up?

Accepted Answer

What are the five most common procedures that you perform, and which do you like most and why? Your plastic surgeon should perform your desired procedure often, and should seem passionate about the results you can achieve.

Question 4

Review adequate numbers of before and after photographs of patients who have undergone the procedure that you are interested in.

Accepted Answer

Ask for a detailed explanation of the before and after photographs so you can understand the doctor’s philosophy regarding the procedure, and what they propose for you in particular. Beware of photographs that have been altered.

Question 5

Ask who is providing the anesthesia.

Accepted Answer

Not all Scottsdale plastic surgeons use board certified anesthesiologists, as some use non-certified anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists, often to save costs. There are significant differences between the two, as anesthesiologists must complete college, four years of medical school, followed by a four-year anesthesiology residency program. Board certification is obtained, as in plastic surgeons, when the anesthesiologist passes both written and oral examinations and meets all of the requirements of the American Board of Anesthesiology.

Question 6

Ask about where the surgery is performed, and how you will recover after the operation.

Accepted Answer

Your Scottsdale plastic surgeon’s surgery center must be accredited for safety, either by the state where it is located, or by one of the three major accreditation bodies: American Association for Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAAPS), Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), and The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO). After surgeries such as a full face lift, abdominoplasty, large body contouring procedures, and large volume liposuction, it is wise to stay in a surgical recovery center at least overnight to optimize your initial post-operative course with nursing observation, optimal fluid intake, and necessary pain control.

Ask to talk to patients that have had similar procedures.