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Our "I need a" series is a helpful guide to finding the care you need when you don't know where to start. Today, we’re learning how to find a plastic surgeon.
If you’re considering having plastic surgery—whether it’s a cosmetic procedure to enhance your self-esteem, restore your appearance and function after an injury or illness, or both—choosing your surgeon is a big decision. So, before you start your search, let’s answer some helpful questions.
What Does a Plastic Surgeon Do?
Plastic surgeons focus on procedures that improve the appearance or restore function to multiple areas of the body. Plastic surgeons benefit from a comprehensive understanding of different surgical subspecialties, which may include microvascular surgery to restore blood flow and maintain nerve sensation, craniofacial surgery for increased familiarity with the head and neck, and/or breast surgery.
Terms to Know
Plastic surgery typically falls into two main categories: cosmetic and reconstructive. But there are other terms that may be helpful for finding the right surgeon for your needs:
- Cosmetic plastic surgeons perform a variety of cosmetic surgeries, including breast augmentations, facelift, rhinoplasty (nose job), blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), and liposuction.
- Reconstructive plastic surgeons focus on procedures to help restore function and appearance affected by conditions like cancer or trauma. Reconstructive surgeons may work in direct collaboration with other surgeons, such as surgical oncologists.
- Orthoplastic surgeons combine the expertise of orthopedic surgery and plastic surgery to treat musculoskeletal conditions and correct defects or injuries.
- Craniofacial surgeons perform reconstructive procedures on the face and skull of infants, children and adults.
Some Otolaryngologists (Ear, nose, and throat, or ENT doctors) perform facial plastic and reconstructive surgery to improve both function and appearance. These doctors have not been trained in all aspects of plastic surgery, but many have done a dedicated facial plastics fellowship.
What Credentials Should I Look For?
It can be hard to find a surgeon by looking at credentials alone, but it’s a helpful place to start. Knowing that a surgeon has completed additional training or has been certified by a professional board is a good sign that they have the expertise you are looking for.
- Residency — Plastic surgeons may have general surgery residency training (then specialize with a plastic and reconstructive surgery fellowship), or they may train directly in an integrated plastic and reconstructive residency program that combines general surgical and specialized plastic surgery experiences together.
- Fellowship — Fellowship is additional, focused training after residency. A fellowship-trained plastic surgeon has completed a specialized training program under the supervision of an experienced surgeon.
- Board Certified — This voluntary process demonstrates that a surgeon has met rigorous standards set by their peers through a governing organization, or board. These boards are recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties and the American Medical Association.
- Plastic surgeons are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).
- Plastic surgeons are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).
- Professional Societies and Organizations — Membership groups like the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) indicate that a surgeon is active in their specialty’s clinical and research communities.
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) offers a helpful Find a Surgeon tool that lets you search by the plastic and reconstructive surgery subspecialty. The ACS is the world's largest organization of surgeons, and their comprehensive member database of board-certified surgeons is a great place to start looking.
The ASPS also offers a helpful search tool that can help you find a member plastic surgeon near you.
What Else is Important to Look For?
If you’re looking for reconstructive surgery for cancer, you might want to focus on designated cancer centers and academic medical centers. These multidisciplinary groups are more likely to be active in clinical trials, so you may have access to treatment options that aren’t available to the general public yet.
If you plan to have surgery to treat your cancer, you may be able to have your reconstructive surgery as part of your cancer procedure, reducing the number of surgeries you’ll need and your recovery time.
Combining your treatment with a reconstructive surgery is also an option for some orthopedic surgeries. You can search for ortho-plastic surgery programs to learn more.
Before and After
Aesthetics are the main focus of cosmetic procedures, so you may find it helpful to see examples of their work. Many surgeons offer before-and-after images of previous patients.
A Word About Top Doctor Awards
When searching for a doctor of any kind, you’ll probably come across advertisements for sites boasting Top Doctor lists, or you may find these awards mentioned in a surgeon’s profile. While many of these awards are legitimate and are based on peer-nominated candidates and vetted feedback, not all lists are created equal. Some are essentially lists intended to promote only the doctors who have paid for the privilege. If you use a Top Doctor list in your search, make sure that’s only part of your criteria.
Do They Take My Insurance?
Money might not seem important when your health is at stake, but surgery can be very expensive. Avoiding another stressful element can help you focus on your health. So verify that they accept your insurance, even if their website states they do. Nothing is more frustrating than finding a surgeon who's a great fit, only to learn that your insurance won't cover the procedure. Some insurance plans also require a referral, so talk to your primary doctor about what you'll need.
Most cosmetic procedures are considered elective surgery and usually are not covered by insurance. So keep that in mind when searching online, since you might consider more surgeons if you know that insurance won't be a factor.
Hospitals vs. Cosmetic Clinics
Some cosmetic procedures can be performed in an outpatient clinic setting, while more involved surgeries should only be performed in a hospital setting. For noninvasive and minimally invasive procedures, you may still want to consider the potential benefits of a hospital environment, such as access to emergency services in the event of a complication, or in-house services like a pharmacy and diagnostic radiology.
So I Found Some Surgeons I Feel Comfortable With… Now What?
It’s time to start making appointments. Reach out to your top choices for what’s called a surgical consultation, or consult. Skilled surgeons are in high demand, so keep in mind that sometimes it can take some time to get scheduled. When making the appointment, their care team will ask what you’re looking for, so be ready to explain what your needs are. But don't worry: you don't need to know exactly what surgery to ask for; the surgeon will be able to explain your options when you meet them.
During My Consultation, What Should I Ask?
In a word: everything. This meeting is your chance to learn about your surgical options, but it’s also your opportunity to learn about the surgeon: their approach, their demeanor, their experience, and their understanding of your condition. No question is silly or useless if it helps you feel more confident about the procedure. Bring notes if you’re concerned about remembering complex medical terms. Here are some helpful questions to consider:
- About the Surgeon
- How many surgeries have you performed? How many do you perform each year?
- Based on the procedure you would recommend for me, how many times have you performed that specific surgery?
- Do you only perform cosmetic or reconstructive surgeries?
- Have you done a plastic surgery fellowship? Do you have any board certifications?
- Who is part of your care team? What specialists do you work with?
- What professional societies do you belong to?
- Are you involved in clinical trials that I might be able to participate in?
- Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at showing results from patients you’ve operated on?
- About Cosmetic Procedures
- What will my procedure involve?
- What are the risks? What complications have you seen?
- Will I need to stay in the hospital? If so, for how long?
- How will I feel after my surgery?
- How much scarring will there be?
- Will I lose sensitivity in the area being treated?
- How long will the benefits last?
- For Reconstructive Procedures
- What type of procedure would you recommend for me?
- Are there minimally invasive strategies that can address my issue?
- Will I need more than one procedure?
- If I am awaiting treatment, do you work with a surgical oncologist or as part of an orthoplastics team? Can you perform my reconstructive procedure as part of my surgical treatment?
- How much will this reconstructive procedure help me?
Should I Get a Second Opinion?
Absolutely. Even if you think a surgeon is perfect for you, a second opinion can make you feel more confident about your decision. It can also help you become better educated about the procedure and your options. Second opinions can often be done with telehealth appointments, so they may not be as challenging to schedule.
🚩 Be wary of any surgeon that discourages you from getting a second opinion. An ethical surgeon will encourage you to get all the information you can and to consider every option.
Word of Mouth
Do you know anyone who has had the surgery performed by the surgeon you’re considering? It can be helpful to get feedback from someone who has been through the procedure and recovery process. Keep in mind that everyone’s health circumstances are unique, so their experience won’t be the same as yours. But speaking with others can help you feel better informed about the real-world results and can give you some insight into how the surgeon and their team treat their patients.
🚩 Word of mouth can also be a great way to find a surgeon that you might not have considered, especially if someone you know had a positive experience working with them. But make sure to then research the surgeon for yourself.
Online Reviews
Looking at online reviews or forums can also give you a sense of the experience other patients had while working with a specific surgeon. But it’s important to also remember that online reviews are often skewed towards patients that are unhappy with their results. And forums can be flooded with bots that make it harder to know which reviews are legitimate. So you should take these sources with a grain of salt.
What Other Factors Should I Consider?
The decision to have surgery is about you and your health, so you should consider what's important to you. If you’ve reduced your options to a few surgeons who have convinced you they will provide the best care possible, practical considerations may help you make the final decision. These include:
- Do you want a doctor that can perform a surgery at a hospital closer to home? Or is it worth it to travel for your procedure?
- For cosmetic procedures, do I want to be treated in a hospital setting or is an outpatient clinic a better choice for my needs?
- Do you want to work with a surgeon that has a relationship with your specialists, to make it easier to coordinate your care?
- Is finding an in-network surgeon a priority because of your health insurance?
- How urgent is your health issue? If you had to wait to schedule your surgery for an opening on a surgeon’s calendar, is it worth the wait?
- Am I able to pay for a procedure out of pocket if my insurance doesn’t cover it?
Once you have settled on a surgeon who can perform the procedure you need, where you want it, and when you want it, it’s time to focus on getting ready for your procedure. That means following all instructions your surgical team gives you.
Plastic surgery can provide an enormous boost to your self esteem and function. Choosing the right surgeon can help you look and feel like your best self.
Finding a Plastic Surgeon at Columbia
If you would like to learn more about your surgical options, get a second opinion, or find out if working with the Plastic Surgery team at Columbia is right for you, we’d love to hear from you. Call (212) 305-9612 or fill out our appointment request form.