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Finding a trustworthy, qualified plastic surgeon might prove to be a more difficult task than you think. People use different ways to find the best plastic surgeon.

Local general hospital

Some people call the local hospital asking for a recommendation, hoping to be referred to the hospital’s most skilled plastic surgeon. In reality, however, the patient is usually just referred to the next name on the list. It should also be considered that it is rather unlikely to find a good plastic surgeon in the plastic surgery department of a general hospital. Of course, there will be some exceptions, but it is much more likely to find a sought-after specialist in a private specialized clinic for plastic surgery.

Personal recommendation

A personal recommendation by a friend or acquaintance may prove useful. If your friend was happy with the result of the treatment, then chances are that you will be, too.

Today also Internet forums may be visited for more information. Their abuse is however not to be excluded. It is a well recognized fact, that specialized forums are easily infiltrated on behalf of offerers of the same section with apparently neutral (fictitious) contributions to artificially create a positive opinion over themselves.

The family doctor 

Another possibility is to ask the family doctor, or any person in your circle of acquaintances who may be a medical professional. Keep in mind, however, that medical professionals know only the physicians at their own hospitals. Furthermore, such recommendations may be due more to a friendship between colleagues, and not to the degree of medical expertise of a particular physician.

Privacy 

Many patients prefer not to inform anyone of their acquaintance about their surgery plans, to protect their own privacy. In such cases it will obviously be difficult to receive a reliable recommendation.

Directory 

The yellow pages of the telephone book may be an alternative to a private recommendation. It will soon become apparent, however, that an enormous amount of advertising is done in the beauty business, sometimes misleading, because not always it reflects the reality behind.

Professional boards 

Many different professional boards exists in the sector of cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery in the USA (as in Europe and in other countries). A large selection of national and international boards of the aesthetic surgeons, plastic surgeons, and reconstructive surgeons is at the patient’s disposal. The most important board in the USA is the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery [ ASAPS ]. In England, the most important boards are the British Association of Plastic Surgeons and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. The two biggest associations in Germany are the Association of German Plastic Surgeons and The Association of German Aesthetic-Plastic Surgeons. In Switzerland: the Swiss society for plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. In Austria: the Austrian society for plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic surgery. In the Czech Republic: The Czech Association of Plastic Surgeons [ JEP ]. Some international associations are: International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, European Association of Plastic Surgeons [ EURAPS ], European Association for Cosmetic Surgery [ EACS ], international Society of Cosmetic Laser Surgery, European Society for Laser Aesthetic Surgery, International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery [ ISAPS ]. However, both national and international associations will rarely or never inform the prospective patient of the experience, reputation or possible specializations of their members. Usually information such as names or membership lists is withheld. In the best case,  one will be referred to a member of a particular association, whose hospital is close to the home of the inquirer.

 

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