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Cosmetic surgery has come a long way - it is now more accessible and acceptable than it used to he. In fact, spas are opening plastic surgery centers to offer even greater convenience. You can now have a cosmetic surgery consultation and have your hair done all in one visit to a popular spa in Morris Plains.
What used to require a two- or three-day stay in the hospital is now performed as an outpatient procedure. With reduced recovery time and no hospital stay, it's easy to forget that cosmetic procedures are major surgery and should be approached as cautiously as are other major medical procedures.
Finding the right surgeon is, obviously, the first and most important step when you are considering cosmetic procedures. It is best to start the search with several referrals - from your personal physician, from friends and from family members who have had cosmetic surgery themselves.
According to Dr. Alvin Glasgold, an associate clinical professor of surgery at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (New Brunswick, NJ) and a member of both the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS), "the most important thing is finding a surgeon you trust and with whom you are comfortable." Just because your friend loved a certain surgeon doesn't mean you will. It may cost several hundred dollars for consultations, but in the long run it is worth meeting with each surgeon you are considering.
The first order of business, according to Glasgold, is to find out how proficient the surgeon is at performing the procedure you want done. "Find out how often the surgeon performs that particular operation," he said.
"Is it done frequently or occasionally? The level of experience can make a world of difference in the result."
In addition, ask if the surgeon is certified by the ABFPRS or the ABCS. (See sidebar for certification requirements.)
Get all the answers you need to feel comfortable with both the surgeon and the procedure. Don't let the surgeon brush aside your questions. Ask about the special techniques he or she will use. You want a surgeon with a wide range of experience, who is capable of doing what's best for you rather than just what he or she knows best.
Once you find a surgeon with whom you arc comfortable, ask whether the operation will he performed in an office surgical suite, in an ambulatory surgical center, or at the hospital. "If you'd he more comfortable having the surgery in a hospital, say so. It can probably he arranged," notes Glasgold. You will also want to know the staff/patient ratio. This is important if the procedure requires that you he anesthetized. You wouldn't want to risk being left unattended in a recovery room.
Be realistic about what the surgery can achieve. Ask to see photos of patients who have had the same procedure you are considering; speak to former patients if you need more assurance of the surgeon's abilities.
Problems can arise when results don't match the patient's expectations. "A patient goes in with an idea of how much the procedure will change his or her appearance," Glasgold said. "If there's no communication of expectations with the surgeon, the patient may be unhappy with the final result. Sometimes there's not enough change; sometimes there's too much."
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