Whether you are interested in a lip augmentation, face lift, or liposuction, cosmetic surgical procedures are safe for most patients who are seeking enhanced aesthetics or other improvements. However, like any medical care, high quality cosmetic surgical procedures can be expensive and some patients have found out the hard way that cut rate plastic surgery generally has a poor outcome. Infection, disfigurement, and even death can result from cosmetic surgery procedures performed by unqualified practitioners or in a non-sterile environment.
The problem is not confined to non-medical practitioners. In addition to unlicensed practitioners, many medical doctors have added cosmetic procedures to their practice in order to boost revenue. In most states, a physician can perform plastic surgery even if the doctor is not board certified in that specialty.
Plastic surgery requires a high level of skill and specialized training. To help ensure the best possible outcome, choose a board certified plastic surgeon who has the training and experience necessary to produce top quality work.
A plastic surgeon who is certified by the America Board of Plastic Surgery has not only had two to three years of training in plastic surgery in addition to three to five years of training in general surgery, but has also passed tough oral and written tests and are required to stay up to date through continuing medical education.
Before committing to a procedure, ask your surgeon how often they perform that procedure and how many such procedures they have completed. Practice is important for keeping surgical skills sharp and you want a plastic surgeon who regularly performs the procedure you are interested in.