HOW TO CHOOSE A QUALIFIED SURGEON...
Choosing the right cosmetic surgeon is the most important decision you make as your outcome is primarily dependent on your choice of plastic surgeon.
You shouldn't go to a doctor because he is cheap. You should go to a doctor because you trust him. It should be all about trust and patient safety.
The office consultation is the best way to evaluate the selection of your cosmetic surgeon. You need to be comfortable with him and also with his staff. If you feel that you are not ready for a consultation with Dr. Herve` Gentile you can arrange to have a complimentary consultation with our highly trained staff or better yet attend one of our seminars.
Although Dr. Herve` Gentile is among the most experienced cosmetic plastic surgeons and he is triple board certified, we recommend you do your homework. Believe it or not any doctor can call himself a plastic or cosmetic specialist...but is he indeed a trained plastic surgeon? For example gynecologists, family doctors, and all others are not trained in plastic surgery. Therefore it is incumbent on you to do your research...and you can start by checking your surgeon's credentials and board certification.
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is the agency, which governs specialty boards. They assure that surgeons certified in Plastic Surgery have received the appropriate training, passed rigorous exams and have demonstrated experience and competence in both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.
To see if a surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) you may call the ABMS at 1.866.275.2267 or check the web site at www.certifieddoctors.org or www.abms.org .
Members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS ) are among a select group of American Board of Plastic Surgeons specializing in cosmetic surgery of the face and body, who have been in practice for at least 8 years and have been researched and approved by their peers. You can check doctors for this membership by calling 1.888.ASAPS.11 or by visiting www.surgery.org and clicking on find a surgeon or Dr. Herve Gentile member. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons can be visited here as well as Dr. Herve Gentile .
Members of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery are even rarer and more exclusive. You can check membership by visiting www.isaps.org or click surgeon finder.
Plastic Surgery of the Head and Neck can also be performed by surgeons certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology who are Fellows of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Surgeons who also are certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery have obtained additional training and experience in facial plastic surgery (Dr. Herve` Gentile is certified by both boards). You can check their membership by visiting www.aafprs.org and their certification by visiting www.abfprs.org or here and certified Facial Plastic Surgeons Fellows.
It is important that your surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (this is why you will see fellow surgeons writing FACS after MD). The American College of Surgeons admits to its Fellowship only those surgeons whose professional activity is devoted to a surgical practice and who agree without compromise to practice the professional and ethical standards of the College. In evaluating the eligibility the College investigates very thoroughly the entire surgical practice as well the professional and ethical behavior of each applicant. This is another difficult step to climb for those who aspire to become the best physicians for providing care to our patients.
Also, be sure to check if the surgeon is included in the BEST DOCTORS IN AMERICA® list. To be included in their database as deserving Best Doctor status, the doctor must undergo a rigorous nomination and electoral process by his peer doctors and only the top 3 -5% of doctors in each specialty are chosen. The Best Doctors methodology is very impartial and strictly independent. The only way to be recognized as one of the Best Doctors in America® is for the doctor to earn high marks for clinical ability from his or her peers. Their website is http://www.bestdoctors.com/bd/experts.php. Dr. Gentile is among a few selected plastic surgeons in Texas to be included in the subspecialty of Body Cosmetic Surgery.
OTHER
HINTS:
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.....don’t be confused by other boards since many physicians are board certified but not necessarily in Plastic Surgery;
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.....don’t shop price… Doctors with few credentials or little experience will frequently cut costs in order to entice more patients;
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.....ask to talk to other patients;
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.....if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. No plastic surgeon can promise perfection…make sure you have realistic expectations and that you understand what your possible results are;
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.....make sure your surgeon has never been disciplined by any hospital or state medical board ( you can check the latter in Texas by visiting www.tsbme.state.tx.us/ click on Services for Consumers, then Licensure Verification );
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.....remember that the outcome of your surgery is primarily dependent on your choice of surgeon;
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.....ask whether your procedure is performed in an accredited office surgery center ... it is very important to investigate this since your own safety is the issue;
MAKE SURE you also check our FAQ for more on this subject as well as other important answers to your questions.
