Choosing a Plastic Surgeon

Education & Credentials

Among the criteria you should look for are a solid academic background, board certification, and other achievements and professional affiliations. Education should include undergraduate and medical degrees, followed by additional residencies or fellowship training, specifically in the field of plastic surgery. When surgeons, such as Dr. Piazza have histories of achieving distinctions such as summa cum laude, “with honors,” or fellowship-trained, it’s a good sign that they have high expectations of themselves and their work. A good surgeon should make this information readily available in the form of a CV.

The surgeon should also be certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. These certifications show that the surgeons have undergone years of intensive study and practical experience and have proven through written and oral exams that he or she meets rigorous standards of competence.

It’s also a good sign if the surgeon is affiliated with respected hospitals and groups such as state medical associations and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. One important organization to look for is the American College of Surgeons. Members are referred to as “Fellows,” and the letters FACS (Fellow, American College of Surgeons) after a surgeon’s name mean the surgeon’s education and training, professional qualifications, surgical competence, and ethical conduct have passed rigorous evaluation and have been found consistent with the group’s high standards.

The surgeon should also be able to provide you with proof of certification or membership for these groups. For instance, Dr. Piazza is always glad to provide his board certification information for all of his Austin plastic surgery patients.

Experience With Your Procedure

Once those initial criteria are met, it’s wise to start researching more specific information about the procedure you want. Some surgeons, such as Dr. Piazza, offer a range of treatments for the face, breasts, and body, while others may have a broader or narrower focus.

It’s vital for a surgeon to have experience with not just your procedure of choice, but also with the specific options that you are interested in. You may want a certain breast augmentation incision or implant style, for instance, so finding out whether the doctor offers those options is important. A surgeon should be able to explain why he or she prefers certain techniques and products and what options would be best in your case.

A good way to know whether a surgeon has experience in a certain procedure before booking a consultation is by perusing the photo galleries most surgeons include on their websites. You should look for a variety of cases with patients of different body types and consistently beautiful results.