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Top Ten Ways To Find A Qualified Plastic Surgeon:
The following information was sent to us from
one of our South Florida visitors. It was culled from a series
on plastic surgery that appeared in Broward County Florida's Sun-Sentinel
newspaper.
There is no foolproof way to choose a plastic surgeon or to
guarantee your results. However, a recent article in Florida's Sun-Sentinel listed the
following as the "top ten" items in their series on plastic surgery. Since the
article appeared in a Florida paper, many of the links are to state agencies in Florida.
The basic principles, however, still apply regardless of the state in which you
live. (We have included links for many other states later in this section, so don't
fret over the fact that this page is "Florida-centric".)
- Check with the appropriate medical board in your state to see
whether the surgeon is licensed and whether disciplinary action has been taken against
him. Many states medical licensing authorities have listings at: http://www.docboard.org/. (We provide you
with the others we have found later in this section.)
- Check medical malpractice suits filed with the clerk of the
county or circuit court in your area. This may require a visit to the courthouse to review
files. Malpractice suits don't necessarily mean a doctor has problems, but according to
the Sun Sentinel, state officials in Florida consider three medical malpractice judgments
against a doctor within five years to be a warning sign. (Florida's Agency for
Health Care Administration has a list of these doctors on its Internet site. Also, the
Florida Department of Insurance lists closed medical malpractice claims against doctors on
its Internet site at www.doi.state.fl.us. Some, but not all other states have
similar information on the web. At then end of this section, there is a page listing
the agencies for each state.)
- Verify credentials and training. Many cosmetic surgeons
advertise they are "board-certified." But requirements vary greatly
depending on which professional board is cited. Florida recognizes only two plastic
surgery boards: the American Board of Plastic Surgery, based in Philadelphia; and the
American Board of Facial and Reconstructive Surgery, in Alexandria, Va. Your state
may be different. Make sure your doctor is certified and experienced in the type of
procedure you are considering.
- Ask the surgeon how often he or she performs the procedure you
want and what the complication rates are.
- Ask surgeons whether they have hospital admitting privileges
in case of complications after surgery. Call the hospital to verify the information.
If the doctor has an in-office operating suite, make sure that it is properly accredited.
For more information, check out the website of the American
Association for Accreditation for Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF) at http://www.aaaasf.org.
- Ask for references from trusted family physicians or other
doctors knowledgeable about the local medical community. Also, get a checkup from your
family doctor to see if you have any health problems that might make cosmetic surgery
risky.
- Ask whether the surgeon carries medical malpractice insurance,
and if not, why not? In Florida, malpractice insurance coverage can be verified by calling
the Agency for Health Care Administration toll-free at 888-419-3456. In other
states, check with the licensing board.
- Don't feel pressured to agree to more procedures than you
want, regardless of the price.
- Ask if the person giving the anesthesia is properly certified.
He or she should either be a certified registered nurse anesthetist or an physician
anesthesiologist.
- Read the patient consent form carefully before signing it. Ask
what steps the surgeon will take if complications occur or further surgery is needed and
what type of follow-up care will be given. Be thorough when discussing your expectations
with your doctor. Proper communication before surgery tends to result in greater
satisfaction.
Next Stop: Board
Certification |
