One of the most important decisions that you will make is choosing your surgeon. There are several questions that you should ask at the time of your consultation to ensure that the person you are meeting with has the proper experience and credentials to perform your surgery.
1) Is the doctor a plastic surgeon?
To be a plastic surgeon, the doctor must have completed a five year residency program specifically in the field of plastic surgery at an accredited University.
2) Is the doctor certified by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in plastic surgery?
A plastic surgeon must have successfully completed examinations set by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, specifically in plastic surgery.
3) If the doctor performs surgery in a private surgical clinic, does the doctor also have privileges in a public hospital to perform the specific procedure that you are considering?
For a surgeon to be able to perform a procedure in a public hospital, the credentialing committee at that hospital will have satisfied themselves that the surgeon has been adequately trained in this area.
4) Does the surgeon have a special area of interest?
Although plastic surgeons are trained to perform surgery on all areas of the body, it is common for a surgeon to develop certain areas of particular expertise. It is important to ask if your surgeon regularly performs the procedure that you are considering.
5) Will the surgeon show you representative before and after photos of his/her patients to help you with your expectations of reasonable outcomes?
It is always important for a surgeon to show you a portfolio of before and after photographs of his/her own patients. This will help to provide you with a sense of what you can expect in terms of a reasonable outcome.
