The doctors at Boulder Plastic Surgery perform a wide range of cosmetic procedures designed to help people improve the way they look. These procedures range from in-office outpatient procedures like Botox facial injections to more extensive surgery. Learn more about what plastic surgeons do and how they get their training in today’s blog post.
Types of Procedures
Under the umbrella of plastic surgery, cosmetic surgeons perform many different types of procedures on many different parts of the body. Most people tend to think of procedures like breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, and weight reduction techniques like liposuction, but there’s quite a bit more. Plastic surgeons can help people by removing birth markets, moles, spider veins, and remove unwanted hair permanently.
How Plastic Surgeons Are Trained
Plastic surgeons are just like your family doctor or a surgeon at the hospital except they’ve taken plastic surgery as their specialty. First, they go to medical school, and then have to participate in a general residency program. Then they pick a specialty and spend a few more years in training.
How to Pick a Plastic Surgeon
When choosing a plastic surgeon, it pays to visit several different ones to see who you are most comfortable with. Make an appointment with the plastic surgeon to discuss what the doctor can do for you and see photographic evidence of their work. You should also note their certification, medical license, and contact the Colorado Department of Health to see if they are who they say they are and have no complaints against them.
Warning Signs
There are few warning signs to be wary of during your meeting with a doctor.
- Any doctor who tries to pressure or rush you into making a decision does not have your best interests at heart. Steer clear!
- While this can save costs, the body can only take so much. Be aware of doctors who want you to have many procedures done at the same time.
Board Certification
You also want to make sure the doctor you choose is board certified. This means the surgeon regularly takes tests and gets educated to make sure they know the latest surgical tests. After seeing their certification, you will want to confirm they are certified by one of three institutions:
- The American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery
- The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery