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Tips for Finding the Right Plastic Surgeon

Plastic surgery has never been more popular for many women. In fact, women had 15.9 million total cosmetic procedures in 2015 alone. In the same year, more than 90 percent of cosmetic surgery patients were women.

These are the six most popular cosmetic surgeries for women in 2015, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons:

  1. Breast augmentation: Many women never develop as full of a breast size as they desire. Breast volume can also decrease significantly after weight loss or pregnancy. In such circumstances, breast implants can be used to create a fuller breast size. If necessary, this surgery can be combined with a breast lift to remove sagging skin and achieve the optimal breast shape.
  2. Liposuction: Your plastic surgeon removes excess fat deposits to slim and reshape specific areas.
  3. Nose reshaping: Nose reshaping surgery, or rhinoplasty, improves the appearance and proportion of your nose. As a reconstructive procedure, it can also correct certain breathing problems.
  4. Eyelid surgery: This procedure improves the appearance of the eyelids, helping you look more rested and alert. This surgery can treat loose skin of the upper eyelids, under-eye bags and lower lid wrinkles.
  5. Tummy Tuck: The shape of the abdomen can be negatively affected by pregnancy, weight loss/gain, aging and prior surgery. Also known as abdominoplasty, this procedure removes excess skin and fat of the abdomen. In most cases, it also restores weakened or separated muscles. This creates a smoother and firmer abdominal contour.
  6. Facelift: A facelift is a surgical procedure to improve visible signs of aging in the face and neck.

Selecting a Surgeon

Any licensed doctor may call himself or herself a “cosmetic” surgeon, so it is extremely important to find one who has the proper training and experience in plastic surgery. A good first step is determining if the plastic surgeon you are considering is certified by the appropriate surgical board, such as the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This means the doctor has met certain guidelines for training and clinical experience. Board-certified surgeons also must pass multiple rigorous tests.

Questions to Ask Your Surgeon

Your plastic surgeon can and should be able to provide you with more information about the procedure you’re considering. Be sure you are ready to ask questions at the time of your consultation. Some topics to talk about:

  • Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
  • Were you trained specifically in the field of plastic surgery?
  • Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure?
  • How many procedures of the type I’m considering have you performed?
  • Am I a good candidate for this procedure? Will I need more than one procedure?
  • What kind of results can I expect? Do you have before and after photos I can look at for the procedure I’m considering?
  • What are the risks and possible complications of the operation?
  • Where will the procedure be done? Is the surgical facility accredited by a nationally or state recognized accrediting agency (such as The Joint Commission, AAAASF or AAAHC)? Is the facility state licensed?
  • What will the procedure cost? This is important since insurance often does not cover elective procedures like plastic surgery.
  • How long will it take to recover? What kind of help will and need during my recovery?
  • Are there alternatives to surgery?

Answers to questions like these can help you decide if a procedure is right for you. The same goes for choosing your plastic surgeon. If you feel uncomfortable with a particular surgeon, talk to another board-certified plastic surgeon until the fit is right.

The West Georgia Center for Plastic Surgery, a Tanner Medical Group practice, is located in Carrollton. For more information or to inquire about a personalized consultation, call 770-834-6302 or visit WestGeorgiaPlasticSurgery.org.

Plastic Surgery




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