When researching and shopping for cosmetic surgery, it is important that you ask tough questions because not all doctors are made equal.    You must become a strong interviewer.      Your #1 concerns should be safety, the surgical skill and credentials of the doctor.     Here are some questions Möcelle’s writers suggest you ask the doctor you are interviewing:

1.  Are you legally permitted to refer to yourself as a Plastic Surgeon?  This question will eliminate several doctors who unknown to the public are practicing cosmetic surgery but are not actual trained plastic surgeons.     After the interview, contact the Royal College ( www.royalcollege.ca) or call 1-800-668-3740 to verify.    (NOTE:   minor procedures such as hair transplant, EVLT & LASIK are often done under local anesthetics by GPs; some dermatologist and otolaryngologist may also have appropriate specialized training—when in doubt check with the medical college).

2.    Do you have hospital privileges to perform this specific procedure?  (meaning is he/she allowed to perform your plastic surgery procedure at a hospital—if hospitals won’t permit him or her to perform your procedure, then maybe  neither should you.   Should complications arise you want a doctor who can rush you to the hospital and have the same doctor care for you there).   After the interview contact the hospital to verify.

3.     Have you ever been disciplined by any medical board anywhere in the world?    This question will capture doctors who have been disciplined in other places then moved to Ontario to practice.    After the interview, visit the Ontario College’s website (www.cpso.on.ca) or call 1-800-268-7096 to verify their Ontario record is clean.

4.     How many procedures like mine have you performed in the past?  Even if the doctor is a plastic surgeon, if she/he lack sufficient experience performing your procedure, this may mean he/she does not yet have the surgical skill to achieve your desired results.  

5.      What percentage of the procedures you have performed been in “reconstructive” plastic surgery?   Many patients don’t know to ask this question, but a plastic surgeon who primarily does reconstructive plastic surgery on trauma victims or disfigured patients  is probably not the doctor you want to choose  —you want one whose expertise and primary focus is cosmetic plastic surgery on normal patients.  

6.      How many patients have you refused so far this year?    If the plastic surgeon rarely turns away patients and seem to think everyone is a candidate for surgery, then you probably should find another doctor.   Ask to call a few of their refused patients to verify.

7. Have any of your patients ever sued you or any clinic your work after you performed surgery  on them? (keep in mind some lawsuits may lack foundation; but a doctor who has been sued  by several patients may not be the one to go with).