Choosing a Surgeon for Breast Augmentation
When choosing a breast augmentation surgeon, the first thing you’ll want to do is make sure any potential candidates are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). To find a board certified plastic surgeon near you, use our Plastic Surgeon Locator.
Board certification is important when choosing a plastic surgeon because surgeons must meet strict standards before they can become board certified in plastic surgery. First, doctors must graduate from an accredited medical school and complete a plastic surgery residency program. Doctors are then not even eligible to sit for the plastic surgery board certification exam been until they have been in practice for at least two years. The board certification exam has both written and oral components. Doctors must pass both parts to become board certified in plastic surgery. The board certification process takes approximately 8 years following graduation from medical school.
Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon
Before choosing a plastic surgeon for breast augmentation, you should ask each candidate the following questions:
- Are you board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
- Do you think I will get good results from breast augmentation surgery?
- How many breast implant procedures have you done?
- Can you show me before and after breast augmentation photos?
- Where would I have my breast enhancement surgery? Is the facility accredited?
- What kind of anesthesia will I be given during my breast implant surgery and who will be giving it to me (ideally, an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist)?
- Does the facility where I’ll be having my breast augmentation procedure have monitoring devices and life-saving equipment available?
How to Check Your Plastic Surgeon’s Credentials
Prior to scheduling your breast enlargement procedure, contact your state medical board to make sure your plastic surgeon has an unrestricted medical license. Also ask if anyone has filed any complaints or malpractice suits against your surgeon.