Good, Better, or Best: Where to Get Your Surgery Done

In a previous post, we discussed how to sort through all of the cosmetic surgeons out there to keep from being taken in by an inferior surgeon who has not been certified by the highest board in the field--the American Board of Plastic Surgeons. But even after you narrow down your list to those who have been qualified, you'll still have several possible choices. How do you pick the best out of those who remain? Here are some considerations to keep in mind.

1) Evaluate the Surgery Center. You don't want to just look at the doctor, but at the surgery center itself. Specifically, you want to be sure the systems in place that insure your safety during and following the surgery are of high quality. Your operating room and recovery room must be equipped to hospital standards. Find out if certified registered nurses stay with the center patients in the recovery room.

2) Ask About Anesthesia Options. Putting yourself under general anesthesia is literally putting your life in another person's hands--the hand of the man administering the anesthesia and monitoring vital signs. You must find out of the person in that role is qualified. Ideally, you should select board-certified anesthesiologists and anesthetists. Normally you're safe choosing those who are actively practicing at a nearby hospital since they would have the highest skill level if an emergency occurred.

3) Find Out if the Center is Accredited. In the best possible world, you'll get your labiaplasty or vaginaplasty done only at a center which is accredited through a respected accrediting agency. Ask about their accreditation. Then do some research on that accrediting agency. Look online. Find out if it is a respected agency or just some medical equivalent of a diploma mill.

4) Question, Question, Question. Some people feel awkward about asking a doctor too many questions about his qualifications; they feel it would be rude. But this is your body--and a whole lot of money--at stake here. So ask how any such procedures he or she has performed. Ask if they has been certified through ABPS (American Board of Plastic Surgeons). Ask if they has privileges with the hospital for performing the operation. And yes, you should even ask to see photos of labiaplasty or vaginaplasty patients before and after one of his procedures. A true professional will understand your questions--and your concerns.

5) Go Online. Having the world at your fingertips can be your best tool. Use it! You can find reviews of doctors, nurses and even surgery centers. Check out your doctor’s record for any mistakes in their history you deserve to know about such as disciplinary actions and malpractice suits. Remember even the seemingly most well informed doctor could have a hazy background. Look for patient ratings. If other patients showed satisfaction with a surgery center after being in your place, that is a good indicator of the quality of the center.

6) Get recommendations from your community. News travels fast on the quality of a doctor or center. Ask your friends, relatives, even co-workers how their experience was. Find out what their feelings were on the doctor, staff, facility and especially the results.