Once you’ve decided plastic surgery may be right for you, you’ll need to find a qualified aesthetic plastic surgeon. But choosing the right aesthetic surgeon can be an overwhelming process. The first step is to know where to start your search.
Online Search
- Conduct a search using our verified find a surgeon feature. With this feature, you can filter surgeons by zip code, procedure (surgeon’s area of expertise), languages spoken, gender, years in practice, payment methods accepted, and the year the surgeon joined The Aesthetic Society. Plus, you can rest assured that we verified all surgeons to ensure they have the proper board-certification and the highest level of experience. If you set up an account, you can save surgeons to your patient portal, request a consultation, track your progress, and more.
- Another option is to head to www.abplasticsurgery.org, where you can search for surgeons board-certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery (the only accredited board-certification in the US) and filter surgeons by zip code.
- Be skeptical of what you find in a general online search. Some surgeons may advertise that they are “certified” or use creative marketing terms that imply a certain level of expertise. However, they may not have the proper qualifications.
Referrals
- Ask your general practitioner for a recommendation. If you like your doctor, he or she may be able to suggest surgeons with similar philosophies and styles.
- Ask friends, family, or coworkers who’ve recently gotten plastic surgery for recommendations. While this is a helpful first step, you should also check that the surgeon has the proper board-certification and schedule a consultation to ensure the surgeon is a good fit for you.
- If you know someone who recently got plastic surgery who lives far from you, ask what they liked or didn’t like about their surgeon. Then, you can look for those qualities in the surgeons you research.
Social Media
- Social media is a great place for inspiration. Many surgeons have a social presence where they post before & after pictures and other helpful information about their practice. While this can be an easy place to start, know that not all top-tier surgeons have a social presence.
- Don’t stop there. A surgeon may be a great marketer, but it doesn’t mean they are a great surgeon. If a surgeon piques your interest, be sure to check their credentials (Is the surgeon board-certified by ABPS? Does the surgeon practice at an accredited facility? Is he or she a member of The Aesthetic Society? etc.).
Plastic surgeons have various levels of qualifications, experience, and expertise, so it’s important you not only know where to look but also what to look for.
It may take some time to find a surgeon who is the right fit, so be patient and don’t rush the process. Try to identify at least three to five surgeons you like during this initial search, then conduct additional research to ensure they have all the qualifications you want in an aesthetic plastic surgeon before setting up a consultation.