Finding the right facial plastic surgeon or the right cosmetic surgeon can be a little overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re looking for. After all, trying to find someone you trust with the health and appearance of your face is kind of a big deal. Your face is how you’re recognized and its appearance has a big affect on how you feel about yourself and identify yourself to others. By reviewing some of these basic factors to look for you can pick the right plastic surgeon or cosmetic surgeon in Scottsdale that you feel most comfortable with and trust to take care of your plastic surgery needs.

Certification - The first thing you want to be certain of is whether or not the surgeon has been certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and that they’re currently in good standing with the board. You can do this by visiting the website www.plasticsurgery.org and check to see if the surgeon in question has had at least three years of training in general surgery and a good two years specifically of plastic surgery training before becoming a facial plastic surgeon. A good cosmetic surgeon will have also have passed strict examinations and perform up to the highest level of ethics. This is part of the reason you always hear the urging to find a surgeon who is “board certified”. For example, Scottsdale, AZ facial plastic surgeon Dr. Todd Hobgood is double board certified.

Designation - Another factor you want to keep in mind is that there is a difference between a facial plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon. Cosmetic surgeons may be dermatologists or even OBGYN’s or they may be ENT’s. If you’re curious about what the experience level and expertise of a specific doctor is, don’t be afraid to ask about it during your consultation. You want to make sure that if you’re receiving a face lift for example, that they have performed plenty of facelifts in the past and have a good record for satisfied customers.

Consultation - Make sure that a good portion of your consultation with your facial plastic surgeon or cosmetic surgeon is spent discussing the surgery process to you. This is a good time for you as a patient to ask all the questions you have regarding the surgery. Ask about anesthesia, about how long the procedure will take, about the healing process and review the expected results with you. The surgeon should make an effort to help you understand what you can reasonable expect from your plastic surgery results and give you specific advice regarding your personal health history and surgery.

Be cautious when it come to “bargains” that are offered by any facial plastic surgeon or cosmetic surgeon. Those who are truly skilled don’t need to try to lure patients in with heavily “discounted” services. Your face and your health is not something you want to compromise or risk, especially when it comes to something as precarious as facial surgery where a high level of skill and expertise is required.

Look at reviews online and see what “before and after” pictures you can find as well to give you some insight into what kind of results you can expect.