If you’re thinking about treating yourself or a loved one to a cosmetic procedure they have been wanting to get done this holiday season, there are a few things you need to be aware of before settling on a cosmetic surgeon. The fact is, although many of the cosmetic procedures that people get done today are non-invasive, there is always risk involved and you want to be sure the physician who are you entrusting to do it is the right surgeon for the job. Therefore, to help you with your search for a qualified and licensed cosmetic surgeon, below are a few tips to keep in mind provided on behalf of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.
- Check to be sure that the cosmetic surgeon is board certified. When interviewing potential doctors to perform the procedure, remember to ask if they are board certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. The fact is, the government does not require a surgeon to undergo the required training necessary to perform cosmetic procedures if they are certified in perform general surgery which means many will offer these services even when they don’t have the recommended experience.
- Confirm that the surgeon has experience in performing the procedure you want to have done. Once you find a surgeon that is certified to perform cosmetic surgery, find out what their subspecialties are. The ABCS says that you wouldn’t want a surgeon who primarily performs rhinoplasties to perform a breast augmentation if they don’t have experience with this.
- Confirm that the surgeon’s aesthetic sense appeals to you. Basically, this means the doctor has the same views as you and is capable of giving you the outcome you desire. Some things the ABSC recommends you do when searching for a doctor who has the same aesthetic sense as you include:
- Look at before and after photos of past patients to see if the “surgeon’s results appeal to you personally.”
- For those patients who had a facial procedure performed, “look for [individuals] who have a similar facial structure, are around your age, and have some of the same concerns, whether it’s a sagging neck or prominent hump on the nose.”
- When comparing photos of patients who had a breast procedure performed, “look for patients who have a similar torso and breast shape.”
- You will also want to “look for consistency in a surgeon’s results for all patients who’ve had the procedure you are considering” and ask yourself if “their results look like you want to look after your surgery.”
- Pay close attention to how the surgeon and staff make you feel? Are they welcoming and friendly or do they make you feel as though you are burdening them you’re your questions? At the end of the day, you don’t want to undergo a procedure at an office where your questions aren’t being answered or where you are rushed in and out.
- Find out some information about the operating facility. Some things the ABCS says you will want to find out include:
- Where the surgeon will be performing the surgery at along with what the facility’s level of accreditation is. You will want to look for AAASF, AAAHC, or JCAHO operating facility certification.
- Find out what qualifications the anesthetist has. You will want someone who is either “a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) or a Board-Certified Anesthesiologist administering your anesthesia.”
Aside from keeping these tips in mind, the ABCS also has available for download a Compare-a- Surgeon Checklist that you can use during your search.
What if my cosmetic surgeon made a mistake?
If you already had a cosmetic procedure performed in any city within the state of Iowa and you believe the doctor made a mistake, you make be able to hold that physician accountable for their negligence. To find out more about filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, contact the Iowa personal injury lawyers at Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, P.L.C. Our office has the qualifications and experience necessary to help you determine if you are the victim of a medical mistake and what forms of action you are permitted to take to recover compensation for the damages you have suffered. Contact us today for more information.
You can call our office now at 319-393-1010 to schedule an initial consultation.
Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, P.L.C. can also be reached at:
1921 51st Street NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 393-1020
Fax: (319) 393-4000
Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC 
