How To Choose The Best Plastic Surgeon For Breast Augmentation
The decision to undergo breast augmentation is a significant one, and choosing a plastic surgeon you can trust is paramount to achieving an outcome you’re happy with.
Plus, the expertise, experience, and reputation of your chosen practitioner all play a crucial role in ensuring both the aesthetic and health aspects of the procedure.
As someone who has seen and worked with thousands of patients over a career spanning three decades, I want to outline an approach you can follow to find the best plastic surgeon for your breast augmentation.
Draw Up A Shortlist Of Certified Experts
The first step is to draw up a shortlist of potential surgeons. There are two key things you should consider when doing so:
- Are they certified?
- Are they knowledgeable and experienced?
Certification
One of the primary indicators of a plastic surgeon’s proficiency is board certification. For example, I am double-board certified, by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and the American Board of Surgery (ABS).
But beyond a fancy title, what does this mean for you?
Board certification ensures that the surgeon has undergone rigorous, specialist training in plastic surgery. It demonstrates their competence, and as part of the certification, they are committed to upholding high standards of patient safety, care and medical ethics.
You might wish to research the surgeon’s education, training, and career to date, too. And finally, it’s worth checking their facilities are accredited by a recognized organization, such as the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF).
You can learn more about certification in our post: What Does Board Certification Mean?
Knowledge and experience
So if you want the best plastic surgeon for breast augmentation, seek out a surgeon who displays excellent knowledge and has clear experience of the augmentation procedure.
For example, breast augmentation is one of my specialist areas. I’ve written extensively about the subject on this website and others, and I have a substantial portfolio of past patients you can look through. This is the minimum to look for when drawing up a shortlist of surgeons.
Review The Experience Of Past Patients
Once you have an initial list of potential breast augmentation surgeons in your area, you’ll want to filter down the list until you have 2-3 surgeons left.
The best way to do this is by reading about the experiences of others.
Online platforms are a treasure trove of information and provide valuable insight into what it’s like working with a specific plastic surgeon. Reading reviews and testimonials can tell you more about the surgeon’s reputation, patient satisfaction, and potential areas of concern. However, keep in mind that some reviews may be biased or misleading.
RealSelf is a particularly popular platform for reviews of plastic surgeons. You should be able to find most surgeons listed on there.
You could also speak to friends or family members who have had a breast augmentation procedure to see if they would recommend their surgeon. Not everyone will know someone who’s been through an augmentation, but if you do, that’s where you’ll get the most honest appraisal of a surgeon’s approach and skills.
Go For A Consultation
Once you have a final list of 2-3 surgeons, you should attend a consultation with each of them to help make your final decision.
A consultation can help build trust and rapport with your surgeon. This is critical for a successful surgical experience. Plus, you want someone who listens attentively to your concerns, but also provides honest feedback and sets realistic expectations.
During the consultation time, breast implant options for your augmentation procedure will be discussed, along with techniques.
Based on your goals, health, and body frame, one implant type may be better than another. Similarly, one technique may be more appropriate than another.
Here’s some questions to ask during your consultation:
1. What are your credentials?
The only board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties in the field of plastic surgery is the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Your plastic surgeon should be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery as this will ensure he has undergone extensive training and met all standards as deemed by the Board.
2. What plastic surgery societies are you a member of?
Certain societies, such as the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, only accept applicants after they have received certain certification and training to meet the society’s standards.
3. What hospitals are you affiliated with?
Breast augmentation is an outpatient procedure and can be performed in an accredited surgical facility. However, some individuals prefer to have breast augmentation in a hospital. Additionally, in the unlikely hood of an unforeseen event, it is important to know which hospitals in your plastic surgeon has privileges to operate at.
4. Can I see before and after pictures of your previous patients?
Any experienced breast augmentation surgeon should have a full portfolio of past patients they can talk you through.
5. What breast augmentation techniques do you perform?
You want to get an idea of the surgeon’s preferences, both for types of implants and insertion techniques. This will differ between surgeons, and there are no right or wrong answers either – it’s more that you’re looking for someone who can offer what you’re after.
Dive Deeper
- How to choose the right breast implant size
- How to choose the right breast implant type
- How much is breast augmentation in Maryland?
- Breast augmentation recovery: a week-by-week guide
- Before and after breast augmentation – examples from past patients
- Learn more about our breast augmentation surgery services
