If you are looking for an ideal plastic surgeon, you may want to start with your primary care provider or the provider who advised you that plastic surgery is needed.  They might be able to help you find a great surgeon, particularly if they are the one who tells you that you need surgery.

Be sure to ask questions like, “Why are you referring me to this plastic surgeon?” If the response is “he accepts your insurance,” keep looking, but if the response is “when my husband wanted a surgeon, this is who we chose,” then, you have a high-quality referral.

Consult your doctor what kind of specialist they recommend if you are not sure what kind of surgeon you need. A general surgeon may perform certain operations, such as an appendectomy, while others need a specialist.

Finding a Plastic Surgeon

Be very mindful in seeking a board-certified surgeon who has been professionally trained in plastic surgery since graduating from a prestigious medical school and surgical residency program if you are contemplating elective surgery.

There are also cases of fraud by people claiming to be plastic surgeons, including real doctors who have never been trained in plastic surgery but offer cosmetic procedures, because of the lucrative nature of plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures.

Ask for recommendations from friends and relatives

Ask them about their surgeon if you are comfortable talking about the fact that you are going to have surgery and you know someone who has had a similar procedure. Should they suggest a friend who had the same operation to their surgeon? Were they satisfied with their surgery’s final outcome? Is their surgeon able to answer questions about them?

Your friend will tell you if they have been sufficiently prepared for the procedure and if they have obtained the appropriate information to make an informed decision. Don’t forget to inquire how they feel about the hospital where they conducted the surgery. You have another surgeon to think about if they give you a glowing review.

Find a support group

There might be a support group in your area or online if you’re getting surgery for a common condition. For referrals, this is a fantastic resource. You’re more than likely to get a range of views. Don’t ignore people who haven’t been satisfied with their surgeon or their performance. When assembling your list of surgeons, take this into account if the patient has a valid concern about their treatment.

Don’t be surprised if the surgeon who is recommended is in another part of the country if you need a procedure that is highly specialized. If your surgery is unusual, and you live near a major city, you do not have the option of remaining near your home for treatment.

Use your insurance company

Contact your insurance provider or email them to ask for a list of the plastic surgeons who accept your insurance locally. These lists are also accessible online on the website of an insurance provider. If a doctor is recommended by your family practitioner, be sure to request the list.

The list of surgeons may be limited if you are in a region with a small population. Try requesting a list for the nearest major city if your choices are too small to see if the number of possible surgeons increases.

Compare the names you’ve gotten from your family doctor, friends, family, and other tools to the insurance provider list until you get the list. Make a note of it if any of the surgeons who were recommended appear on your insurance list.

Make a note of it if any of the surgeons that were recommended appear on your insurance list. You will also want to request the list of your insurance provider if you have an elective operation that insurance does not pay for, such as cosmetic surgery, as it will help you create a list of doctors with which to operate.