The number of Americans seeking plastic surgery every year is steadily on the rise. Last year alone, more than 11 million plastic surgery procedures were performed in the United States.

As plastic surgery becomes increasingly popular, more and more unqualified doctors and other untrained individuals are performing procedures in an attempt to make a quick buck. Sadly, the results are often disastrous.

Red Flags

Plastic surgery is a serious medical procedure that requires extensive training and experience on the part of the surgeon. Walk away if you see any of the following red flags:

• You have not been provided with pre- and post-operative instructions, nor have you signed an informed consent document.
• Your doctor has not given you an overall health evaluation to ensure your safety during surgery.
• The surgeon offers you a special price to encourage you to commit to surgery immediately or fails to mention cost altogether.
• The doctor guarantees results, makes unrealistic promises, and/or mitigates the risks associated with the procedure.
• Your surgeon makes suggestions for other procedures unrelated to the one you are seeking or is willing to perform numerous unrelated procedures at a time.

The bottom line for ensuring your safety with regard to plastic surgery is to check your surgeon's qualifications, including areas of expertise, ask for references, and ask about board certifications.

Only surgeons who are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, or the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery are qualified to perform cosmetic surgical procedures.

Considering plastic surgery? Please contact us today to locate an experienced board certified plastic surgeon near you.