If you are considering cosmetic or plastic surgery, do not overlook the importance of choosing the right physician. Consider these tips when researching your potential plastic surgeon:
1. Make sure the surgeon is certified
All plastic surgeons are not alike. Plastic surgeons that are certified by the Asociación Costarricense de Cirujanos Plásticos are uniquely qualified and specially trained. They have been proven to provide the best patient care and have the lowest rates of complications.
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Do not assume that all doctors who claim to be “certified” have the same training. Be sure that your doctor is certified by the Asociación Costarricense de Cirujanos Plásticos.
2. Check the surgeon’s record
Contact the Asociación Costarricense de Cirujanos Plásticos and ask for a report. Make sure that your surgeon is licensed to practice medicine. Link to list of doctors certified by the ACCPRE.
3. Ask if the surgeon has hospital privileges
This is important because hospitals do background checks. If they don’t have hospital privileges, that is a red flag. Hospitals have balances and checks. Oftentimes when you’re doing surgery in an outpatient setting, there’s no place to take a patient.
4. Come armed with questions for your doctor
- How many times has the physician performed the procedure?
- How long has the physician performed the procedure?
- What other procedures does he/she perform?
- Who will assist in the procedure? Their qualifications and training?
- Are all involved licensed in good standing?
- What is involved in the procedure? How is it performed?
- Can I see multiple before and after photos of patients on whom you have performed this procedure?
- Can you provide me with three to five reference patients on whom you’ve performed this procedure?
- What are the exact breakdown of fees for this procedure?
- Can I get advance copies of all forms I have to complete and sign prior to procedure?
- Are you insured for malpractice?
- Will the physician use sedation? If yes, what level of sedation will the physician use?
- Who will administer and monitor the sedation?
- How long will the procedure last?
- How long will the sedation effects last?
- How long will it take to recover in the facility before discharge?
- Where will the surgery take place?
- What are the emergency plans?
- To which hospital would you be taken?
- Will post-operative medicine be necessary?
- Will there be noticeable scarring?
- What realistic result can I expect?
- Will the physician perform the procedure from the first cut to the last stitch?
- What are the risks associated with this procedure?
- What are the warning signs or concerns to watch for?
- Do you do revisions and at what cost?
