If you're considering plastic surgery ...
No matter what type of plastic surgery you're considering, the most important factor in its success is the surgeon you choose.

How can you find a well-trained, qualified, experienced plastic surgeon? This information can help you make an informed choice. It was prepared by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), a professional society dedicated to quality care for plastic surgery patients through education, research, and the promotion of high professional standards.

YOUR FIRST STEP: GATHERING NAMES

In choosing a plastic surgeon, your first goal is to develop a list of good candidates. Where do you find them? Some sources are better than others.

Friends
If you know someone who's had a procedure like the one you're considering, talk to him or her about it. But don't decide on a surgeon based on one friend's experience. Every patient is unique, and so is every surgery; your results might be quite different from your friend's.

Doctors
Your family doctor may be able to recommend a plastic surgeon. Ask your doctor how many patients he or she has referred to this surgeon, and what feedback they offered later. Ask whether the doctor would send a family member to this plastic surgeon.

Nurses
If you know an operating room nurse -- or if you know someone who knows one -- you can probably get a well-informed opinion on surgeons he or she has worked with.

ASPS
The Plastic Surgery Information Service of the ASPS is an excellent source of names. Simply call the toll-free number, 1-800-635-0635, and leave your name, address and the procedure you're interested in. We'll send you the names of five plastic surgeons in your area who perform that procedure. Their membership in the ASPS means they're certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and members of the largest plastic surgery specialty organization in the U.S. You can show this list to a doctor you trust and ask if he or she has any recommendations. You can also check the list against the one you may have received from the hospital.

YOUR NEXT STEP: CHECKING CREDENTIALS

Once you've compiled a list of several doctors, you can start checking their credentials. While good credentials can't guarantee you a successful outcome, they can significantly increase the odds. You can obtain the following information from the directories mentioned above, hospitals and professional societies and the surgeons's office

Training
More important than where your surgeon went to school is the type of training he or she received. Has the surgeon completed an accredited residency program specifically in plastic surgery? Such a program includes two or three years of intensive training in the full spectrum of reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. While your plastic surgeon may choose to concentrate on a limited number of procedures, this comprehensive background gives a solid foundation to his or her skills.