Posts Tagged ‘cosmetic surgeons’

What Makes a Good Plastic Surgeon?

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Style 32S Body Shaper Brief from Contour

If you look through the Yellow Pages under the heading “plastic surgeons,” you’ll probably find dozens to choose from. Look again under the heading “cosmetic surgeons,” and you’ll likely find several more. Trying to sort through these lists to find the best possible plastic surgeon for your cosmetic plastic surgery procedure or reconstructive procedure can be a daunting task. Here are some things to consider.

First of all, make sure that your cosmetic surgeon is board certified. Board certification is a step beyond medical school and residency, so it proves that your plastic surgeon has gone the extra mile to make sure he (or she) has received the proper training.

Next, Make sure your plastic surgeon of choice has experience with the type of procedure you’re undergoing. For example, if you’re having a tummy tuck and lipo, you’ll want to ask how many tummy tuck and lipo procedures your surgeon does each year. If it’s only a few, you may want to choose another surgeon.

Find out if the plastic surgeon you’re considering has a Web site or other social presence. Having a Web site or posting to social media sites won’t make someone a better plastic surgeon, but it will give you a place (or multiple places) to get more information about the surgeon’s background. For example, many plastic surgeons post information about their educational background and experience on their Web sites or on their Facebook or My Space pages. Web sites and social media sites are also a good place to look for patient testimonials and before and after photos.

Talk to your plastic surgeon candidates about what happens before, during, and after plastic surgery, including what type of post surgery support you will receive. Also ask if you’ll need to purchase any plastic surgery garments to be worn after cosmetic surgery. Post surgical compression garments help the surgical site to heal. Depending on what type of procedure you’re having, post plastic surgery, you’ll likely need one or more compression garments.

And finally, although price is certainly not the most important thing, you do need to choose a plastic surgeon who is within your price range. Many plastic surgeons offer payment plans if you do need to go a little over budget.

After Breast Implants

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

After Breast Implants

Don’t wait until the day of  your breast augmentation surgery to talk to your plastic surgeon about what will happen after breast implant surgery. If you don’t discuss your breast augmentation recovery with your cosmetic surgeon before the day of your surgery, you may find that you’re not fully prepared.

For example, most plastic surgeons will want you to wear a compression garment for a period of time immediately after breast implant surgery. And because these plastic surgery garments come in a variety of styles, it’s important to talk to your plastic surgeon about which type is best for you.

Cosmetic surgeons may have different preferences as to whether you should wear a breast augmentation bra or compression bra or an augmentation bandeau. Which one your plastic surgeon wants you to wear may depend on the type of incision, the shape and size of your breast implants, or whether you’re getting silicone implants or saline implants.

Other things you’ll want to discuss with your plastic surgeon before your breast implant surgery include pain control during your breast augmentation recovery, breast augmentation recovery time, and when you will be able to return to work and resume normal activities.

These are the types of decisions that will need to be made in advance, so talk to your plastic surgeon today and get ready for a smooth recovery.

Should My Cosmetic Surgeon Be on Facebook?

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

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Should you “like” your plastic surgeon on Facebook or “follow” his tweets on Twitter? Cosmetic surgeons are increasingly embracing technology by using social media to connect with their patients and to engage potential new patients. But is this really a good idea? Here are some reasons why it might be.

Social media sites allow plastic surgeons to create a more personal presence so that patients can get a better feel for who they are and what their philosophies are about certain practices or procedures. Now let’s examine some specific social media sites to see how they can help your cosmetic surgeon to communicate with you or to improve his or her practice.

If your plastic surgeon has a Facebook page, it’s likely that he or she has included some personal information, such as educational experience, board certification, and practice experience. Your cosmetic surgeon’s Facebook page may also include testimonials from satisfied patients and before and after procedure photos. A Facebook page is also a good place for your plastic surgeon to post messages about new procedures, changes in office hours, or information about new staff members.

A Twitter account will also allow your plastic surgeon to send brief updates about recent changes in practices or policies. Another good use that a plastic surgeon may have for a Twitter account is to post links to articles describing new innovations in plastic surgery. Your plastic surgeon may also use Twitter to inform patients about unexpected schedule openings, so you may be able to snag that last-minute appointment you’ve been waiting for.

LinkedIn is a good site for any professional. It will allow your plastic surgeon to link to other cosmetic surgeons, which provides your surgeon with access to consultations with other plastic surgery experts. LinkedIn also gives plastic surgeons an opportunity to share information with each other so that they can stay on top of what’s going on in their field.

YouTube is a good way for plastic surgeons to introduce themselves to potential new patients. An introductory video might include a brief description of the surgeon’s credentials and a virtual tour of the office. YouTube can also be a useful tool for showing video animations of procedures so you can see, in advance, what will happen during your plastic surgery procedure.

So go ahead and click the “like” button on Facebook or follow your plastic surgeon on Twitter. You might be glad you did.

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