Posted on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2005
NewBeauty.com

Choosing the Right Doctor: 10 Essentials

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To begin your search, make certain any doctor you consider for cosmetic medical treatment or any kind of plastic surgery unquestionably fits all these criteria.

1. The doctor is an active member of medical societies that relate to his or her specialty, and those with missions for public safety, ethics and excellence in practice.

2. The doctor is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

3. The doctor is practicing exclusively in the specialty in which he or she holds board certification. For example: Your dermatologist should not be performing breast surgery; your facial plastic surgeon should not perform body lifts; your eye doctor should not perform facelifts; and your gynecologist should not perform facial resurfacing or hair removal.

4. The doctor listens to your concerns and directly addresses them. The focus is on you and your stated goals. The conversation doesn't shift; the professionalism doesn't waiver.

5. The doctor performs all procedures that require more than a local (topical) anesthetic in accredited or licensed office-based or surgical facilities. Also make sure the doctor has clearly defined the anesthesia you will have and the credentials of the person who will administer it.

6. The doctor has performed the procedure you are interested in many times and can provide recent photographs of before-and-after results of actual patients. Look for your doctor to explain the outcomes and how they were achieved.

7. The doctor has hospital privileges at a local accredited hospital to perform the specific surgical procedure you are considering. If your local hospital will not allow the doctor to perform surgery on hospital property, don't even consider letting this doctor perform surgery on you.

8. The office is clean, orderly and the staff is respectful of your time and presence. The attention you are given is consistent. Your privacy is respected. You feel safe and welcomed.

9. You have checked with your state medical board that the doctor is licensed to practice in the state and has no prior or pending actions against him or her. Lawsuits abound, but only real negligence can jeopardize the status of one's medical license.

10. You would trust your life and your beauty to this doctor.

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