Perhaps no aspect of your decision for cosmetic surgery is more critical than choosing the right doctor to perform the procedure. Despite the fact that cosmetic surgery is more predictable than ever before, it is still a serious undertaking. You need to research and have all the facts to make an informed choice.

Cosmetic surgery is a multi-faceted specialty involving not only cosmetic surgery specialists, but also other specialists, such as plastic surgeons, dermatologists, general surgeons, otolaryngologists, and dental surgeons (jaw surgery, etc.) who bring their talents and training to the field of cosmetic surgery for the particular procedure in which you're interested. This multitude of experience and training offers the highest quality of patient care for the specific procedure in which you are interested -- as no one primary medical background exclusively offers the best training for every cosmetic surgery procedure.

How can you find a well trained, qualified, experienced doctor who has specific training related to your procedure? To help give you guidance, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS), the nation's largest multidisciplinary medical organization that exclusively devotes its educational efforts to cosmetic surgery, has prepared this brochure to help you make an informed choice. This brochure can't answer all of your questions, but it will help guide you and give you questions to ask and qualifications to look for. The AACS also offers free educational brochures on individual cosmetic surgery procedures.

Qualified cosmetic surgeons will welcome your questions about their background and be pleased that you are concerned enough to ask. Here are guidelines to assist you in selecting a qualified cosmetic surgeon:

• Check the surgical experience of the surgeon you are considering. Does he or she specialize in the procedure(s) in which you are interested?
• How many procedures of this kind has the doctor done?
• How many procedures is the doctor currently performing per year?
• Before-and-after photographs can give you some indication of a surgeon's ability, although you must realize that they cannot be construed to guarantee the result you will achieve, as each patient is different.
• Make sure you are comfortable with the personal rapport between you and your surgeon. In addition, you should feel at ease with the staff. You should always feel that your concerns are being addressed.

Do not be satisfied with an incomplete answer from anyone.

Talk to your friends, family or others who have had cosmetic surgery for references to cosmetic surgeons who perform the procedure in which you're interested. Your family physician may also be of help, although they may be unfamiliar with cosmetic surgery. Other doctors or nurses may also be able to give advice. These are often good sources as you begin to create your list of candidates.

The AACS is also an excellent source of names. It provides a toll-free number that consumers can call to receive a list of cosmetic surgeons in their area and itemizes which procedures each doctor specifically performs.

The AACS' Cosmetic Surgery Information Service is 1-800-A.NEVV.YOU (263-9968). The information can be either read, faxed or mailed to you.

Paid advertising, such as the yellow pages, will list many cosmetic surgeons and often tells about their special interests or qualifications. Although this may be a place to start to look for names, keep in mind that doctors can say what they like in these ads, so it's smart to carefully check them out.

Board certification is one of the many yardsticks in determining a surgeon's qualifications. It is important to ask your doctor about his or her credentials and study them carefully. Of the professional societies, some are more specialized than others and have more stringent requirements than others. Check your doctor's professional society affiliation and call the society to find out what the requirements are for membership.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery is the nation's largest multidisciplinary medical organization that exclusively devotes its educational efforts to cosmetic surgery. Its member cosmetic surgeons are dedicated to advancing the art and science of cosmetic surgery and the highest standards of patient welfare and surgical excellence.

All fellows of the AACS have their initial certification by one of the member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), such as the American Boards of Dermatology, Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology and Plastic Surgery. The ABMS is an organization supported by the American Medical Association. This provides some assurance of formal training in the fundamentals of cosmetic surgery. All of these specialty boards require at least four years of residency training in plastic and/or cosmetic surgical procedures and provide a solid base for the doctor's skills.

Many of these board-certified physicians will then go on to complete the requirements to undergo the rigorous oral and written testing and scrutiny to become board certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, which has established a strict set of criteria to ensure experience and proficiency specifically in cosmetic surgery.

A physician certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery must: Cosmetic Surgery must:

This is an opportunity for both you and your cosmetic surgeon to discuss your interests in cosmetic surgery. It will also give you an opportunity to decide if this is the person you will choose to perform your procedure. You can evaluate skills and training, as well as his or her personal style and attitudes. You should feel comfortable with the surgeon.

During the consultation, you can also see the facility, discuss costs and have specific questions about your procedure answered. You may wish to make this same visit with your top two or three candidates and compare them all. With whom did you feel most comfortable and most confident? Although you may have to pay for the consultation, it may be considered an investment in a satisfactory outcome.

If you are in doubt about a surgeon's qualifications and experience, it may be wise to seek consultation with other surgeons.

Now that you've gotten the referrals, done your research, interviewed your candidates and compared your notes, you'll likely feel happier about your decision and your outcome. You've done your work and now it's time to let the cosmetic surgeons do theirs.

 This brochure is intended only as an introduction to these procedures. It should not be used to determine whether this is appropriate for you and should not be construed to guarantee the result. The decision to proceed should be made in consultation with your physician.