1. A physician may have a great deal more experience in one discipline or the other, your interest is in the surgeon’s skills and experience with regard to the type of surgery you are seeking. Research your surgeon’s training and certification thoroughly and focus on what areas of surgery his or her residency covered. Look for board certifications that are recognized by or affiliated with the American Medical Association. There are lots of certifying boards out there that are independent and which apply uncertain standards.

2. Certification per se does not render a surgeon an accomplished practitioner, or even a competent one. Ask your doctor what percentage of his practice entails cosmetic surgery, and how much of that portion of his work is specifically in the type of surgery you are considering. Ask him or her for references!

3. Ask your physician for a recommendation. When you have settled on one or more finalists ask your physician’s opinion once again. Ask your friends who have had the procedure; see if there is consensus among the women (or men) you know about a doctor’s reputations and abilities.

4. Determine the nature of your prospective surgeon’s practice. Is s/he on the staff of any hospital – and if so, which one(s)? That will give you a snapshot of the doctor’s standing among his peers. There are a number of plastic surgeons that specialize in one type of procedure – and breast augmentation is a good example. You want a doctor that performs many types of procedures but that is up to speed on the procedure you are seeking.

5. Some surgeons use their own offices for surgical procedures and are unaffiliated with any institution in the medical community… Be cautious with a surgeon that is locked into a one surgical orientation and promises spectacular results – taking the “factory” approach to one or two procedures.

6. Ask your prospective surgeon if s/he has any standards for accepting patients. Are there patients who seek cosmetic surgery that are unacceptable? If so, what criteria does the doctor apply?

7. Cosmetic surgery is a field where a patient’s expectations may be unrealistic…surgery may make the patient look more attractive, but leave him or her with the same emotional scar inside. A good surgeon will ask: “Why do you want to do this?” Look for a doctor who will try to match your expectations with what he believes surgery can achieve.

8. Cosmetic surgery has its risks and can go bad just as normal surgery can. If your doctor does not volunteer information about the realities of the procedure you are seeking, ask what they are. If you have to ask, expect a thorough and forthcoming answer.

Source: A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Resource.com