The choice to have Plastic Surgery in NYC can be quite daunting. There’s a lot that goes into this decision, including what plastic surgery procedures you want, when to have cosmetic surgery, and who to choose as your plastic surgeon. For now, let’s focus on how to properly choose the right plastic surgeon.
As you may imagine, this is probably the most important step in the process of getting cosmetic surgery. A skilled plastic surgeon will be able to properly guide you toward the most appropriate procedure for your needs — and be able to perform that procedure safely and effectively.
While no plastic surgery procedure is entirely risk-free, many of the complications that Dr. Schulman has seen over his many years as a plastic surgeon could likely have been avoided if the patient had chosen an appropriate surgeon.
5 Tips for Choosing your Plastic Surgeon
5 Tips for How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon
In order to make sure you choose the best plastic surgeon for your procedure, ensure that the cosmetic surgeon you choose:
1. Is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Many wonder where to start and how to choose a good plastic surgeon. The first place to start when selecting a cosmetic surgeon is to check their credentials and their medical specialties. This includes checking where they went to medical school, what residency program they completed, and whether they have completed and maintained the appropriate plastic surgery certification.
If they have not satisfied this basic level of educational credentials and board certification, then you should immediately cross them off your list of potential surgeons.
When it comes to where your surgeon attended university, what is important is that your plastic surgeon went to an accredited medical school. You must also verify that your cosmetic surgeon completed a plastic surgery residency program.
These credentials will allow a doctor to become board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. You need to ensure that your surgeon has been board certified.
Board-certification means that the doctor has completed an accredited residency program in plastic surgery and has gone on to complete oral testing and written testing to help verify their knowledge and skills. The American Board of Plastic Surgery also requires ongoing education, maintenance of certification with regular testing, and adherence to ethical guidelines of the board.
If your surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, it will be proudly displayed on their website, on their office walls, and on their business cards. If you do not see a clear display of the fact that they are board certified in plastic surgery, then they are most likely not certified.
2. Is an expert at the specific procedure that you want.
While the fact that they are board-certified should make you comfortable that they are experienced as plastic surgeons, you will also want to make sure that they are experienced in the specific procedure you are interested in. The right surgeon should have experience with different cosmetic procedures and reconstructive surgery.
The field of plastic surgery is very broad. This means that plastic surgeons are trained to treat a variety of conditions and perform a variety of surgeries from head to toe. Many cosmetic surgeons have gone on to specialize in specific procedures or specific body parts.
If you are interested in undergoing a breast procedure like Breast Augmentation, for example, you’ll want to make sure that your surgeon is experienced and specialized in performing breast surgeries. If you are interested in having a tummy tuck, then you’ll want to make sure that your surgeon performs a lot of tummy tucks.
The easiest way to find this out is to ask the surgeon or office how many of these specific procedures they perform each month and each year. If your surgeon only performs a handful of the surgeries per year, then you may want to look for someone who is more of an expert.
3. Is on staff at a reputable local hospital.
Plastic surgeons need a place to perform their surgeries. They also need a place to go in the rare event that an emergency occurs.
While Dr. Schulman is able to perform his surgical procedures “in-office” at his accredited, certified operating room, he is also on staff at the local Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. This means that, at any time, he can go to Mount Sinai and have access to their location, equipment, and staff.
Before choosing your plastic surgeon, ensure that they have privileges at a local, reputable hospital. You want to know that you will be in excellent hands and have easy, fast access to further medical assistance should a rare complication occur.
4. Has an academic faculty appointment at a local hospital.
This requirement is not always necessary, but it’s certainly something good to look for.
Dr. Schulman is an Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital, for example. This allows him to have access to the latest technologies and advancements in the field of plastic surgery. He is kept abreast of all the latest and best equipment and plastic surgery techniques through his academic appointment.
As a patient, you want this for your surgeon. It ensures that your surgeon is on the cutting edge of new and improved developments regarding your cosmetic surgery. It also ensures that they are committed to continued education in their field — always a good thing for you as a patient.
5. Has good long-term surgical results.
Lastly, you want to make sure that you are familiar with the types of results that your surgeon can offer from your cosmetic procedure.
This means that you should look at before and after pictures from your surgeon. These can often be found on your surgeon’s website or other plastic surgery websites that are commonly used.
Looking at before and after photos is more than just looking to see if the results are “good”. You want to make sure that your surgeon’s aesthetic matches your aesthetic. For example, there are many surgeons who perform a lot of breast augmentations, but their results may tend to be larger and less natural looking.
If this is the type of look that you’re going for, then great. However, if you were looking for a more natural result with smaller implants, then you should find a surgeon who can offer these results. You should also make sure to talk about your medical history with your plastic surgeon. Your surgeon will want to know about your medical history and in talking with him, you will learn more about his experience as well.
Schedule Your Consultation
The final step in choosing your surgeon is to have a virtual consultation. This gives you an opportunity to meet the staff, meet the surgeon, and decide if they are the right fit for you. You can get to know the surgeon’s personality and ask them questions about the procedure and their techniques.
Choosing a surgeon is like choosing a friend or a partner. Your personalities and goals need to match.
To set up your consultation with Dr. Matthew Schulman, New York City board-certified plastic surgeon, contact us today.
References
https://www.abplasticsurgery.org/
