Choosing a physician for a cosmetic procedure can be quite a challenge. There are many articles available purporting to help you select the best physician. Unfortunately, there is no absolute criteria which can be used to select a physician. Even if you could select the best physician, each person heals differently and responds differently to medication so the results you experience may not be what others experience. These are a few tips which help to provide a starting point for selecting a cosmetic physician.
Certification
Training
Faculty Positions
Articles and Presentations
Hospital Privileges
Second Opinion
Though a physician is board certified, it does not necessarily indicate a proficiency in the procedure you are considering. There are many different boards which provide board certification. Some are nationally recognized and require oral and written examinations. Others require only a payment for inclusion. A good starting point to understanding board certification is the American Board of Medical Specialties web site.
Even though a physician is board certified, she should still be trained in the procedure you are considering. Training can take the form of formal courses in medical schools or weekend refresher courses. Be ware of doctors who received training only in a weekend course as this can be dangerous for doctors who are learning procedures outside their normal scope of practice.
Faculty appointments can be a good indicator of a physician who is committed to education and always staying at the forefront of technology. For some physicians, working at a medical school is a full time job while others may donate their time in return for an academic appointment.
Articles and presentations in peer reviewed journals and at national and international meetings can indicate a physician who has an interest in continuing education. For an article to be published in a peer reviewed journal, it must be approved by other medical doctors. These articles are of scientific value and indicate both a volume of patients necessary for a study and the effort of the physician to maintain timely techniques.
Ensuring that your doctor can admit you to a local hospital in case of emergency can be life saving. Admission privileges are not required for medical licensing. Unfortunately every procedure runs risks and if your surgeon does not have admitting privileges at a local hospital, you may be forced to be under the care of another physician if something happens a distance from your home.
Obtaining a second opinion is never a bad idea. If you do not feel comfortable with the doctor you choose, consider obtaining a second consultation. There are very few if any procedures which are performed by only one doctor.
These few criteria are meant as a starting point for selecting a doctor. There are many other factors, both tangible and intangible, which go into the decision. The decision is not an easy one to make - but it is yours to make.
D.J. Verret, MD is a facial plastic surgeon in the north Dallas suburb of Plano, Texas. Nothing here is to be construed as a substitute for evaluation by a physician. For a listing of web sites with best doctors and best doctors list .
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