Once you’ve dealt with the issue of board certification, it’s time to ask lots of questions and then look for answers that make you feel comfortable and make the most sense to you in light of the research you have done. Not all physicians will come up with the same game plan for your face. Each one has techniques he or she prefers, sometimes regardless of whether these actually represent the best or most current technology. That’s not necessarily bad. Some use the latest technology not because it is better or has proven more effective but in response to pressure from their elite clients, who expect or demand what’s new regardless of the risks.
Many doctors love to use computer imaging to “close the sale” on the cosmetic procedure they are recommending. A picture of your face or body is taken and scanned into a computer program, allowing the surgeon to then demonstrate how you would look if you were pulled a little here, tucked a little there, and lifted a little all over. As impressive as this is, it is only a computer image and not real life. It is a great tool for getting an idea of what you can expect, but it isn’t an exact blueprint, and real-life results are never the same. Don’t let this imaging be the deciding factor in your final decision.
One of the most important questions you can ask when interviewing a doctor is how often per month they perform the specific procedure or procedures you are considering. It is best, but not essential, to get a doctor who specializes, as opposed to a doctor who tries to do it all. If you want to go for Botox, it is probably better to find a physician who has done thousands of Botox injections than someone who only does a few every week.
When it comes to cosmetic surgery, it is imperative to ask how many surgeries the doctor performs in a day. If the doctor schedules more than three procedures a day, most likely another doctor or nurse will do the prep work and/or the finishing work. That may not mean poor results, but it does mean the doctor is not giving you his or her full attention.
Make sure the doctor you are consulting or want to work with will be the only doctor working on your face or body, and that he or she will never leave the operating room during your procedure. You would be shocked how often the doctor allows his assistant to do the surgery and how seldom the doctor may be present for the entire operation.
It is also valid to ask if the doctor charges for redos and touch-ups. Though it isn’t something doctors like to admit, going back in for fine-tuning or to correct mistakes is common, and you don’t want to be charged to have the doctor repair what you don’t like.
Be insistent about understanding every nuance of the postoperative procedure. Many complications can occur when the patient doesn’t realize her part in the healing process. For example, scar tissue can cause problems for a breast implant. One of the ways to minimize that risk is to keep your breasts tightly bound and your arms firmly at your side, with little to no movement and no lifting for four to seven days.