choosing a surgeon

All forms of surgery carry a risk. Before agreeing to cosmetic surgery you should be made aware of the complications that may occur, regardless of how uncommon they are. Arm yourself with as much reliable information as possible, and you will inevitably agree to a procedure feeling far more confident than you would in a state of blissful ignorance.

Have confidence in your surgeon and their staff. Do not take lightly the fact that your appearance is likely to be altered permanently. Your faith in the cosmetic surgeon you choose is essential. Remember, at stake is your self-confidence and your image, which will inevitably affect your relationships, career and above all happiness.

The cosmetic surgeon you choose, as well having expertise gained in medical science and surgery, should have the ability to empathise with your needs and concerns. Clearly, their aesthetic skills in reshaping the human body will need to be evident in not only what they tell you, but also by what you can see in before and after images and from testimonials given by previous patients.

You should never be under any pressure to have cosmetic surgery. Choose your time and choose wisely. Like everything else in life, the cheapest is rarely the best - nor is the most expensive. Make your choice first on the quality of the care and attention you expect to receive before making a decision based on cost.

In the UK anyone with a medical degree is licensed by law to perform cosmetic surgery. However, some clinics hire doctors with little or incomplete plastic surgery training to operate on patients. The level of skill and experience offered varies widely.

It is therefore, important that you learn a much as you can about cosmetic surgery, the procedure you are considering, and then find a top quality, fully trained and experienced cosmetic surgeon.

Ask your GP and read newspaper and magazine articles and books on the subject.

Please use the following points to ensure that you choose a cosmetic surgeon most likely to achieve the results you desire.

Qualifications
You can check a surgeon's credentials against the list held by the General Medical Council (GMC) 020 7580 7642. They should be listed on the Specialist Register in Plastic Surgery. Experienced and successful surgeons should be able to give you details of other professional organisations to which they belong - such as (in the USA) the American Board of Plastic Surgery. If they are certified by the ABPS, they will have graduated from an accredited medical school and completed at least five years of additional residency - at least three years of general surgery (or its equivalent) and two or three years of plastic surgery. They must also have passed comprehensive written and oral exams. You should also check that your surgeon has been granted 'privileges' to operate at an accredited hospital.

Experience
Ensure the surgeon is experienced with the procedure you are considering. Ask to see their CV. The greater their experience, the greater the confidence you will have in them being able to prevent complications arising and be capable of dealing with them if they do. It is also useful to know if the surgeon keeps themselves familiar with developments in surgery by attending conferences (even better if they present at them and/or writes papers on the subject).

Consultation
It is often advisable to speak to more than one surgeon before proceeding with cosmetic surgery. Fees are normally charged for a consultation, so ensure that you have a personal meeting with the surgeon, not an adviser (who may not be suitably qualified). At the Consultation the surgeon should discuss the procedure thoroughly, review the options; assess your suitability; make the risks and benefits clear; and finally recommend the procedure (if any) they judge to be right for you considering effectiveness, safety, cost and appropriateness. You should feel comfortable with their explanations and recommendations. Never accept a 'just you leave it to me' attitude.

Advertising
Yellow Pages and women's magazines carry paid-for advertising, and may be a useful in helping you select a short list of clinics and surgeons to visit. However, do not accept advertising at face value, you should always check them out. A phone call may be all you need in the first instance, but be wary of being sold to over the phone.

Referrals
Your GP or practice nurse or other contacts in the medical profession may be able to recommend a surgeon. High quality private hospitals should be able to provide you with lists of surgeons who have operating privileges - that is those who have been approved by fellow surgeons.

Testimonials
A credible and successful surgeon will normally show you 'before' and 'after' photographs of their patients who have had surgery similar to the procedure you are considering, as a matter of course. If not, ask to see them and if you can speak to previous patients who would be happy to discuss their experiences.

Fees
The clinic and surgeon should be absolutely clear about the costs involved. Costs over and above the surgeon's fee will normally include added fees for the hospital, operating theatre, and the anaesthetist. Surgical Aesthetics will itemise these costs as part of one single payment.