How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon in Tampa

TAMPA, FL, May 18, 2011 (Press-News.org) There are many plastic surgeons in Tampa, so finding the right one for you can be hard. However, choosing your plastic surgeon is the single most important decision you will make for your plastic surgery procedure. Nothing else will so dramatically impact the safety of your procedure and your results as your choice of surgeon, so it is worth it to put in the effort necessary to find the perfect surgeon for you.

Personal Recommendations from Friends

Personal recommendations from friends are a great place to start in your quest to find the right plastic surgeon. If you know people who have had plastic surgery, talk to them about their surgical experience and how they liked their plastic surgeon.

However, it is important to evaluate your friends' choice. Just because the surgeon was the right one for them does not mean the surgeon is the right one for you. You will also want to talk to your friend about the process used to select the surgeon so you can get a good idea of the quality of the recommendation.

Internet Searches

The internet has the advantage of allowing you to access information about surgeons quickly. After you have searched for plastic surgeons performing your procedure, evaluate the quality of information provided on the site, it may tell you much about the surgeons' practice. There are many variations on some plastic surgery techniques, such as breast augmentation and rhinoplasty, and you can find out how your surgeon performs the procedure you are considering. You can also look at some before and after images to get an idea about the quality of results the surgeon has achieved for other patients.

Is Your Surgeon Board Certified?

Another advantage of web searches is that you can determine whether the surgeons you are considering are board-certified plastic surgeons. Although any doctor can technically perform plastic surgery procedures, only board-certified plastic surgeons are guaranteed to be trained and experienced in performing them. It can be confusing because surgeons who are not board-certified plastic surgeons often advertise as "cosmetic surgeons." You can check whether the surgeon you are considering is board certified by visiting the website of the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Other important criteria are the society memberships. Look to see if the plastic surgeon is a member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. These societies hold plastic surgeons to a very high level of standard in training, education and their practices.

Personal Interviews

Once you've limited the number of plastic surgeons you're considering down to a few (3-5), it's time to schedule interviews with all the candidates. You are looking for many things, including how much the surgeon prioritizes patients, how well the surgeon listens, how well the surgeon understands your goals, and the number and quality of options your surgeon gives you. Remember, when you add in follow-up visits, you will be working with the surgeon for many months, so it's important to find one you not only trust to perform the procedure well, but one you like.

Cost

It is very tempting to take cost into account when choosing a surgeon. However, cost should only be a factor in deciding whether you can afford the procedure, not in selecting your surgeon. Remember, any amount is too much to pay for bad surgical results that may make you look worse than you do now and may be harder to correct. And no amount of money is worth putting yourself at risk working with a surgeon you don't trust.

If you are in the Tampa area and are ready to consider surgeons, please visit the website of Gayoso Plastic Surgery to consider our practice at http://gayosoplasticsurgery.com.