Choosing which plastic surgeon you want to perform your liposuction is just as important as the decision to undergo the procedure itself. If you’re stumped about the qualities you should look for in a plastic surgeon, don’t worry. According to the experts, it’s not as difficult as you might think.

One of the first criteria to consider about a possible plastic surgeon is whether or not he is board certified in the field of plastic surgery. Board-certified plastic surgeons have a thorough knowledge of cosmetic procedures, including liposuction.

“Board-certified plastic surgeons are constantly doing research, improving their techniques and keeping themselves up to date in the industry. Among those, the experience and an aesthetic eye play a role in the choice of a good surgeon. Basically, you should go with a surgeon who is certified and whose results you find attractive,” says Alfredo Hoyos, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon from Colombia who has invented several plastic surgery procedures.

Getting Recommendations

Doing research online can help you find names of solid plastic surgeons who have performed procedures with proven results. However, word-of-mouth referrals from trusted friends, family members or health care professionals can also be useful.

“The advice from other health care professionals can be invaluable,” says Emily Pollard, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon from Bala Cynwyd, Pa. “Professionals can oftentimes offer you good guidance about plastic surgeons.”

Once you’ve done your research and zeroed in on a surgeon you think will meet your needs, then it’s time to schedule your initial consultation.

Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon

When you schedule a meeting with the plastic surgeon of your choice, you may want to consider bringing a list of important questions with you to the initial consultation. Because it can be difficult to remember everything you would like to speak with your surgeon about regarding your liposuction surgery, bringing a list of questions and concerns with you to the consultation can be helpful in making sure all of your questions are answered.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has provided a list of good questions for patients considering a cosmetic procedure such as liposuction to ask during an appointment. These questions include:

  • Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
  • Are you a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons?
  • Were you trained specifically in the field of plastic surgery?
  • How many years of plastic surgery training have you had?
  • Where and how will you perform my procedure?
  • What surgical technique is recommended for me?
  • What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?
  • Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for this procedure, and what results are reasonable for me?

The list can be viewed in its entirety at on the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ website, www.plasticsurgery.org.

Moving Forward

If you feel comfortable with the plastic surgeon you’ve selected and she answers your questions in a way that leaves you feeling at ease, you can begin the process of scheduling and preparing for your liposuction procedure.