Just as the cosmetic surgery industry continues to expand at a steady pace, so do the numbers of surgeons available who claim skill and expertise in this potentially lucrative field of practice. Unlike conventional medical practitioners, a good cosmetic surgeon should also have a flair for aesthetics, as his work will involve the sculpting of a person’s body and features to achieve a certain ideal of beauty. Since having an elective procedure is a highly sensitive, personal decision for the individual who comes seeking it, selecting the right surgeon for the job is a very important part of the process.

If you are looking for a plastic surgeon, the first step is to determine the available options, depending on where you live. If you are fortunate, the best surgeons may be operating within your area, but some patients may have to take a long drive or buy a plane ticket to reach a qualified surgeon that will provide quality service. Using various directory resources, from the phone book to online directories, expand your range to at least two hundred miles from where you live, to develop a selection of sufficient size. In addition, inquire with your family and friends whether they are familiar with any cosmetic surgeons, or if they have had a cosmetic procedure done. Their perspective and personal experience will also be quite helpful in your decision, particularly if they were pleased with the results provided by any one doctor. Chances are, a doctor who performed splendidly on someone you know will be just as competent with you.

Once you have cast your net and come up with a decent-sized list of potential doctors, start checking into the background of each one. A doctor’s credentials should reflect a certain minimum standard of ability that has been duly tested by a credible association. In the United States, that association is the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the largest of its kind in the world, with counterparts in other countries throughout the globe. Only trust doctors who are members of this organization. Also, check out where the doctor has studied medicine, how long he has been in the practice, and in what fields of specialty his expertise lies. A nice website and flashy advertisements may be tempting, but hard information about the doctor is what matters most. Remember that photographs can easily be sourced from other sites or altered to suit the marketing needs of the doctor. This process should help you trim down the list to a select few.

The next step would be to call the office of the plastic surgeon and make all of your inquiries about the procedure that you would like to have performed. Request before and after photos, taking into consideration nonetheless how easy it can be to manipulate them, to give yourself a good impression of what to expect in general from the surgery. Important questions to ask are (a) if the surgical facility is duly accredited; (b) how many procedures of the type you desire the surgeon has performed; and (c) if there are any viable alternatives, surgical or otherwise, for the enhancement that you seek. Be aware of whether your questions are being answered clearly and precisely, or if the doctor seems to avoid giving direct responses.

If it is not inconvenient to travel to the surgeon’s office prior to an actual surgery, make the effort to visit his office for initial consultation. The state of the office, from its furnishings to its equipment, will reflect how professional the surgeon is and how dedicated he is to making his patients comfortable with the process. Armed with this and all the other knowledge you’ve accumulated, you should be able to select the best doctor for your individual needs.