Choosing a Plastic Surgeon for Cosmetic Surgery
Visiting a plastic surgeon is no longer just for the rich and famous. It has become a socially acceptable way to change your appearance and hold back the years. Its popularity has unfortunately meant the rise of unprofessional clinics, and the introduction of aggressive marketing techniques to entice customers.
The desire to change your appearance through cosmetic surgery is growing in the UK, with statistics indicating that up to 75,000 operations per year are carried out. However, while most operations are performed to high standards by fully qualified cosmetic surgeons, there are a number that are carried out by under qualified practitioners, sometimes with unwanted consequences.
Advice on Plastic Surgeons
There are ways to help you make an informed decision and find an experienced, qualified surgeon.
With so many different companies, and surgeons practising in the UK today it is very difficult to know what to look for in a good surgeon.
How can you find a well trained, qualified, experienced plastic surgeon who has specific training related to your procedure? To help give you guidance, here are some guidelines with points to consider helping you make an informed choice.
Here are some guidelines to assist you in finding and selecting a qualified cosmetic surgeon.
If you have any doubts whatsoever, do not go ahead until you're sure about what you're doing. Cosmetic surgery can be one of the biggest decisions you'll ever make. It’s important to make an informed decision.
Anyone can call themselves a cosmetic surgeon, so you need to be sure that you are seen by someone qualified and experienced.
We stipulate the following criteria when choosing our surgeons:
- Must hold an NHS consultant's position
- Must be BAPS and or BAAPS member
- Must be FRCS (plast)
- Must be listed on GMC's specialist register of Plastic Surgery
Memberships
Membership in professional organisations is one of the many factors in determining a plastic surgeon's qualifications. Of the professional societies, some are more specialised than others and have more strict requirements.
BAPS and BAAPS are renowned as being the most highly regarded cosmetic surgery memberships available. It takes many years of hard work and dedication to gain entry to these two organizations.
Guidelines for choosing a surgeon
- Check the surgical experience of the surgeon you are considering, does he or she specialise in the procedure in which you are interested in?
- Before-and-after photographs can give you some insight into the surgeon's ability, although you must realise that they cannot guarantee a result that you will achieve. Every patient is unique in their goals and desired result.
- How many procedures of this kind has the surgeon done?
- When you are booking a consultation with your chosen clinic, make sure you see the actual surgeon who will be operating on you. In some clinics, the first person to see any patients is a 'counsellor' or 'advisor'.
- Make sure you are comfortable with the personal rapport between you and your surgeon. You should always feel that your concerns are being addressed thoroughly. Make sure you're satisfied with the answers you've been given before the consultation is over.
- Your surgeon will need to have a full consultation with you to give an exact price. If someone is offering it quicker and cheaper, there is usually a reason for this.