How to Choose a Tummy Tuck Surgeon
The decision to undergo any cosmetic surgery procedure can be an emotional one, and many patients find the process of selecting a surgeon to be particularly confusing and frustrating.
It is crucial that patients select a tummy tuck surgeon who is certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Board certification ensures that a surgeon has completed at least five years of surgical training and at least two years of training in plastic surgery. Surgeons who are certified by the ASPS are required to have substantial training and experience in all types of cosmetic surgery, including surgery of the breast, body and face. Furthermore, patients can be assured that an ASPS-certified surgeon has passed multiple peer reviews and operates out of a fully accredited hospital and/or surgical facility.
If you are considering tummy tuck, you should ask your potential surgeon how many procedures like yours he or she has performed, and how regularly he or she performs them. While all surgical procedures carry some risk, you can improve your chances for achieving the results you desire when you select a doctor who regularly performs abdominoplasty over one who performs only a few such procedures a year.
It is equally important that you find out where your abdominoplasty surgeon performs surgery. Whether he or she operates out of a hospital or a surgical facility, make sure that the facility is accredited by either the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) or the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Healthcare (AAAHC). An accredited surgical facility must meet strict standards; likewise, surgeons operating out of accredited facilities must also meet stringent standards in terms of their education, experience and ethics.
Ask to see photographs of some of the results a prospective surgeon has achieved through tummy tuck surgery. While this will not guarantee that your results will be of similar quality, looking at before and after photographs will give you a clearer idea of a surgeon’s skills and talents. If you are dissatisfied with the results you see, you should consider another doctor.
You have the right to ask prospective surgeons whatever questions you may have about their credentials, experience, education, training and pricing. Also, there is no reason to feel uncomfortable in asking for a second opinion or interviewing multiple surgeons before making your final decision. It is important that you feel comfortable discussing your procedure, your body and the results you expect from your tummy tuck with whichever surgeon you select.
