Choosing a qualified plastic
surgeon with the right credentials is critical to achieving
a successful outcome. Perhaps you are looking for someone with
a good bedside manner, current magazines in the waiting room
or a sharp dresser. Some may look for the most expensive physician,
yet others look for the least expensive. Whatever your criteria,
iEnhance has put this information together to assist you in
selecting the best plastic surgeon to meet your needs.
After reviewing this section, you may want to conduct additional
independent research. You may want to browse the "Mentor"
section or try the "Message
Board" to find someone that that has had a similar procedure
performed and can help you feel more assured of your own decisions.
You may also check out the "My
Story" section for personal experience from patients that
have had cosmetic surgery procedures. To some people, training
reputation, and word-of-mouth are preferred criteria for selecting
a physician. iEnahnce also has a "Physician
Locator" to help guide you in choosing a well-trained physician
by location, procedure or name. A list of professional organizations
is provided at the end of this page to assist you in verifying
physician credentials.
"What are some of the preliminary checks I should make prior
to scheduling a consultation?"
Verify participation in continuing education programs.
All practicing physicians are required to attend continuing
education programs to maintain their license. Ask what specialized
Continuing Education courses the physician has attended and/or
lectured at. This information can usually be obtained from the
office manager or receptionist. Your physician may also list
membership in medical associations, academies or societies.
You may want to contact each specific organization to inquire
about its entry requirements.
Verify the physician is licensed to practice medicine
in the state he/she is located. You may verify that the
physician is licensed to practice in your state by contacting
the State?s Medical Licensing Board. This number is listed in
the State Government section of your phone book.
Check past or pending civil or criminal actions.
Contact the County Clerk?s Office of the county in which the
physician has practiced or is practicing to verify court actions.
Please be discrete in collecting and using this information.
Alternatively, you may use a Physician Credential Verification
company to conduct the checks for you. iEnhance has partnered
with www.SearchPointe.com
to assist our users in verifying doctors? credentials. At the
SearchPointe home page, click on "Doctor Search", enter the
search parameters and click "Search Now". Within a few seconds,
SearchPointe will provide a free report that gives you the doctor?s
name, phone number, address, specialty, education, school and
residency information. Then for a small fee, you can order a
License and Sanction report for that doctor.
?What questions should I ask during the consultation??
Once you have done all the research and determined that the
physician you have chosen is competent and qualified, you may
want to go ahead and make a consultation appointment. In addition
to the questions you ask the physician, the most important thing
to consider is the communication between you and the physician.
Be sure that you are comfortable with the physician and that
all your questions are being answered. A give-and-take dialogue
can ensure that you and the physician have the same vision of
what you want the end result to be. iEnhance has provided you
with a list of questions within each Procedure Description.
Together with the questions provided here you should get a fairly
comprehensive picture of the physicians working style and credentials.
Does the physician have hospital privileges at a local
or major hospital? You may also contact the hospital
to verify the information.
What does this treatment recommendation mean? Any
part of the treatment your physician has recommended that
you don?t understand, don?t be afraid to ask for more information.
Why did you select this profession and what procedures
do you prefer doing the most? If the physician doesn?t
enjoy what he/she is doing, he/she may not do the best job.
But when the physician loves what they do, they may do more
research and have developed better techniques.
How much will it cost, and when and how are you expected
to pay? Does the physician participate in your medical
plan? How will he/she accept payment and when will it be
due? IEhance provides an avenue for you to arrange financing
for your treatment. Patient
Financing
If you have talked things over with your physician
and are still unsure about what to do, get a second opinion.Don?t
ever be apprehensive to get a second opinion, "two heads
are usually better than one".
Has the physician ever had malpractice insurance denied,
suspended or revoked? The answer should be "NO".
CAVEAT:Selecting a qualified physician assures
you that the doctor has completed extensive training and passed
rigorous examinations in his/her specialty. However, this does
not guarantee that you will obtain the exact results that you
desire. Carefully read about the procedure in the Procedure
Description section, understand the risks associated with the
procedure, and perhaps obtain a second opinion from another
physician. In sum, thoroughly research the physician and procedure
before proceeding. You will be better informed and be able to
ask more informed and pertinent questions. But most importantly,
enjoy your new look!
Links to Professional Organizations: http://www.lcme.org
- Liaison Committee on Medical Education. This organization
accredits medical schools in the US and Canada. Click on "Directory
of Accredited Medical Education Programs" to verify the accreditation
of your doctor?s medical school.
http://www.abms.org
- American Board of Medical Specialties. ABMS is the umbrella
organization for the 24 approved medical specialty boards in
the United States. http://www.Abplsurg.org
- American Board of Plastic Surgery ? one of the approved medical
specialty boards that make up the American Board of Medical
Specialties. This is the board that certifies plastic surgeons.
You may call to verify a doctor?s certification status at 215.587.9322
http://www.SearchPointe.com
- a Physician Credential Verification company. From the home
page, click on "Doctor Search", enter the search parameters
and click "Search Now". Within a few seconds, SearchPointe will
provide a free report that gives you the doctor?s name, phone
number, address, specialty, education, school and residency
information. Then for a small fee, you can order a License and
Sanction report on that doctor.
Other relevant links: http://www.plasticsurgery.org
- American Society of Plastic Surgery. 97% of all US Board-certified
plastic surgeons belong to this professional organization.
http://www.surgery.org
- American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Over 1,400
Board-certified plastic surgeons worldwide are members of this
professional organization.
http://www.aafprs.org
- American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
With over 2,600 members worldwide, this professional organization
represents surgeons performing cosmetic and reconstructive surgery
of the face, head and neck. AAFPRS is a National Medical Specialty
Society of the American Medical Assoc. (AMA) and holds official
seats in the AMA House of Delegates and the American College
of Surgeons. While the American Board of Plastic Surgery does
not certify many of AAFPRS' surgeons, the majority is certified
by the American Board of Otolaryngology, which includes training
in facial plastic and reconstructive procedures. Other AAFPRS
members are surgeons certified in ophthalmology, plastic surgery,
and dermatology.
