THE TRUSTED PLASTIC SURGEON

How do I choose the right plastic surgeon?

Often times, we are tempted to just ask "who can I have perform my plastic surgery?" Then we consult the phone book, search the internet, and read reviews and testimonials. Those are all great places to start...but be careful, being trusted is more than just a "paid for" flashy ad or sparkling testimonials!

What we should be asking instead is, "who do I want to be my plastic surgeon?" Knowing that the plastic surgeon you choose is a trusted surgeon will give you peace of mind, letting you relax with the assurance that you will be taken care of.

So who do I want? How do I make my decision?

There are multiple components to our decision making process. They can be divided into two categories: the subjective and the objective.

This is the "perception" that we have about a doctor or the practice. Questions like "how is the staff?", "how was the doctor visit?", and "what do friends or family say" are typical questions that most of us ask to qualify our decision to see a particular doctor.

They are very important in our decision making but unfortunately a lot of time we don’t dig as deep as we should. Feeling comfortable should play a part, but definitely should not be the only factor in it.

Becoming a trusted surgeon requires more than having a beautiful office, nice staff, or an approachable personality. It is also important that we look at who the doctor is -- the facts.

Is the surgeon fully trained in plastic surgery?", "is the surgeon board certified?", and "which board is it?" (yes there are several non-standard boards out there!) are questions we need to ask. Of equal importance are questions like "how is the surgeon's track record?" or "are there problems with malpractice?"

How do I research?

Sorting and making sense of the facts can be daunting and frustrating. We’ve all seen it -- SPAM in our e-mail boxes offering instant diplomas and degrees for just a small fee. It’s very obvious to us that those things are not the real thing.

But often times when looking for a doctor, we tend to look at the degrees on the wall and take them as fact, never asking further. Why do we not ask the hard hitting questions? Are we embarrassed? Do we not understand it well enough? The reasons to each of us are different.

The truth is, the facts aren’t as clear cut and obvious as they seem. Sorting the facts requires diligent research and understanding. Here is an abbreviated list on some things you need to research:

Overwhelming?

This is exactly where the Trusted Surgeons Network fits into the picture. We are experts in sorting and sifting through the facts.

Read on for an overview about our research and the criteria for being a trusted surgeon.