Choosing the right plastic surgeon

When it comes to plastic surgery, choosing the right physician will be the most important decision you make. With so many people promoting different kinds of procedures, it can be confusing. Below are some guidelines for choosing the Baltimore, Maryland, area plastic surgeon who is right for you.

• 1. Unfortunately, many people with little or no formal training in plastic surgery are now promoting themselves as cosmetic surgeons. If you are unsure whether your doctor is actually a specialist in cosmetic surgery, call the Maryland State Medical Society at (410) 539-0872 to verify that the physician is trained in plastic surgery.
• 2. Ask the physician's office staff whether they are board-certified in plastic surgery and who has certified these doctors. Certification should only be issued by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Once you have verified that the physician is board-certified, ask whether they specialize in reconstructive or aesthetic/cosmetic surgery.
• 3. Ask how many of the procedures, you are interested in, they perform each year.
• 4. Ask to see photos or talk to former patients. People have different opinions and tastes.
• 5. Make sure you feel comfortable with the physician. This should be the ultimate deciding factor. Do you like and trust the physician? Do you see eye to eye? It is often a "gut feeling" that finally matches you with the doctor who understands what you are trying to accomplish and shows you how it can be achieved.