Considering plastic surgery? Ask questions

A lot of us have at least thought about plastic surgery. It comes with some catches: you usually have to pay for it, and any surgery comes with risks. So, it's really important to do your homework.

Any doctor who has a valid medical license can legally perform cosmetic surgery. So, you want to find someone board-certified. That means they've met certain training and educational requirements. Why? You're putting your life in your surgeon's hands.

If you're thinking about finally fixing that bump in our nose or doing something about the bags under your eyes, Atlanta plastic surgeon John Connors says 3-D imaging can give you a crystal clear image of what to expect.
     
But first, you need to find the right surgeon for your procedure.

"I would ask that surgeon how many do they do a year, how many do they do a month, how many do they do a week," said Conners.

Connors says don't stop there.

"The real question is, is the surgeon board certified?  And patients are savvy enough to ask are you board certified?  But they need to dig a little deeper. And digging deeper means, are you board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties?  And that's critical. There are a number of boards out there that are not certified," advised Conners.

Once you've picked several surgeons, go meet at least two or three of them. Ask each of them some questions:
    
1.    Where do you perform your operations?  Is it a certified center, or a certified hospital?
2.    Do you do the procedure yourself?  Do you have someone else that helps you?3
3.    What do you do to help me as a patient get ready for surgery and take care of me after the surgery?"
 
And ask about what complications, and results you can expect.
   
"I think really good doctors listen.  They don't do a lot of talking, when it's time to talk, they will talk," said Conners.

When they do, make sure you both share the same goals.
     
"And if I feel like their goals are not in the same dimension or realm as what I feel like I can achieve, I will tell them.  Because I feel like you need to be honest and upfront," said Conners.

If you're trying a new surgery, ask the doctor how much training and experience he or she has with that particular procedure. Also, ask what kind of problems or complications they've seen. You want to know what their plan is if you do have a complication, and whether they'll be the ones taking care of you as you recover.