How to find a qualified cosmetic surgeon you can trust, according to doctors
Poorly executed cosmetic procedures —like this botched Botox jab that left a TikTok user with one of her eyes drooping — can injure patients or leave them permanently scarred.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the requests for cosmetic procedures like Botox injections, fillers, and nose reshaping is on the rise. As patient demand increases, plastic surgeons should be properly vetted to help patients avoid harm or even death.
Doctors say you should make sure your surgeon is board-certified, has satisfied reviews from former patients, and has an extensive portfolio of successful surgeries, before booking a consultation.
If your doctor tries to tack on additional surgeries to the one you want— that's also a red flag, experts say.
Make sure your plastic surgeon is board-certified
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, it's crucial to ask if your surgeon has credentials, whether it be from the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the board of surgeons in the country you are traveling to for your procedure.
Without this certification, your surgeon may not have the medical knowledge to successfully perform the procedure you want or, under extreme circumstances, could be operating without a medical license illegally.
"When a doctor is a board-certified plastic surgeon, it ensures that doctor is extensively trained in both facial and body procedures, has learned how to prevent and handle emergencies that may arise during a procedure and has developed technical skill and aesthetic judgment," said Dr. Lisa Jacob, a plastic surgeon at Geisinger, said.
You can look up if your surgeon is board-certified at the American Board of Plastic Surgery's website.
Make sure the reviews are good and the surgeon has an extensive portfolio of successful procedures
In addition to having a board certification, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends looking through a doctor's portfolio before booking your appointment.
They should have good examples of before and after photos of the specific procedure you want so you can get a good idea of their work.
In addition to great before and after photos, they should have great reviews from former customers on their website. If you notice these are missing, you might need to do a little more digging to make sure they have a full list of satisfied customers.
You shouldn't feel like your surgeon is pushing procedures on you
Plastic surgeons aren't salesmen, they shouldn't be trying to sell you additional procedures you didn't ask about.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a surgeon trying to throw in a nose job with your breast implants for additional cost is a red flag.
You should feel comfortable with your surgeon and feel like they're working with you to address your insecurities rather than pointing out all of the features they personally would change.
"Ideally, you want to find a surgeon who will work with you to define your goals and provide you with realistic expectations for your cosmetic or reconstructive surgery," Dr. Graham Schwarz, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, told the Cleveland Clinic.