I’m leery about getting plastic surgery abroad. I mean, how many people do you know who would rather buy a cheap home that costs you more to repair and maintain in the long term, as opposed to doing the smart thing at the outset and buying a new one? There are too many stories of botched surgeries, people being subjected to unnecessary “practice†surgeries, and who even knows what happens to the ones who go unreported. I don’t like the though of risking my life and looks to save a couple of thousand dollars by going to a cheap surgeon. Ultimately you get what you pay for, so it makes sense to choose a competent surgeon with a good reputation in the USA, even if he happens to charge more than some Mexican expert. If you choose a surgeon abroad, you can’t even sue them for a botched surgery.
The best way to research a surgeon is to ask family and friends for referrals, read up reviews on the internet, visit their website and look at their before and after photos. If you like what you see, schedule a consultation because that is the only way to see if you’re comfortable with the surgeon. Some of them charge for consultations, but a lot of good surgeons offer free consultations. Also find out if they call themselves a cosmetic surgeon or a plastic surgeon. It’s not the same thing. Anyone with a degree to practice medicine can call himself a cosmetic surgeon. But only a plastic surgeon who is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and licensed by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) can practice plastic surgery.
Plastic surgeons require over six years of surgical training and experience, three of which are spent specifically practicing plastic surgery. Find out if the surgeon has privileges to perform plastic surgery at an accredited hospital in his community. Ask to see more before and after photos while you’re there and speak to former patients about your experience. Ask lots of questions about the procedure you want and about post-operative care. You’ll find out if your doctor is really knowledgeable about the procedure and how much experience they have performing it. Trust your instincts. If you’re uncomfortable with the surgeon for any reason, look elsewhere. It might sound like a lot of groundwork, but it’s worth it and will save you a lot of grief after your surgery.
< Message edited by gianna -- 1/29/2009 8:14:45 PM >