Red Flags to Look for when Meeting a Plastic Surgeon
Selecting the right plastic surgeon for your specific needs is essential if you want to be happy with your results. While using common sense and intuition is important in making the selection, there are some specific criteria that all potential plastic surgery patients should be aware of. Every patient should ensure that their surgeon places patient safety at the top of the list.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Sanjiv Kayastha of Albany discusses the red flags to look for when evaluating plastic surgeons including:
No Board Certification
Becoming certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery is a highly rigorous process that requires at least six years of surgical training with at least two of those years devoted to plastic surgery as a specialization. In addition, all board-certified plastic surgeons must pass very demanding written and oral exams. When selecting a plastic surgeon, it is essential to screen for board certification as a first step.
No Before-and-After Pictures
Plastic surgery is a distinctive field because it is based on science, but the success of a procedure is partly judged by aesthetic results. In order for patients to understand the scope and processes of a procedure, it is imperative that a plastic surgeon has an accessible before-and-after gallery that clearly displays the results of previous patients. In addition, far more extensive photographs should be available during a patient consultation to assist in the decision to move forward with a particular procedure.
The Surgeon Is Not Asking Any (or Enough) Questions
During a consultation, a plastic surgeon should diligently assess patient questions and concerns. This can only be done by inquiring about what is motivating a patient to consider plastic surgery in the first place. While it is necessary to be responsive and educate a patient, a surgeon should be acutely aware of patient objectives for a particular procedure.
Upselling
Sometimes a second procedure can complement the primary procedure. For example, chin augmentation often helps to provide a balanced facial appearance when performed with rhinoplasty. However, if the surgeon you are considering seems to be suggesting procedures in different locations apart from the one(s) that are your main concern, this can be an indication that they are attempting to upsell. If elective plastic surgery is your objective, then it is important to remember that the word “elective” is a vital element of the decision-making process.
Dr. Kayastha is dedicated to helping patients look and feel their best by providing honest, ethical patient care and leading-edge surgical treatment. To learn more about the available surgical and non-surgical treatment options, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Kayastha by contacting his Albany practice today.
