Tummy Tuck Plastic Surgeons

Finding a GOOD PLASTIC SURGEON for your Tummy Tuck and verifying his credentials is an important first step towards your own Tummy Tuck operation. These are the steps to finding a qualified "Tummy Tuck" (Abdominoplasty) Plastic Surgeon. I have included details of the research that I did to find a board certified cosmetic plastic surgeon in my area who specialized in Tummy Tuck cosmetic surgery.

Searching for a Tummy Tuck Plastic Surgeon

Ask for recommendations from your family doctor and friends.
Search the internet for listings of plastic surgeons.
Find Surgeons
Call the surgeons office to see if he specializes in Tummy Tuck operations.
Search the internet for any information.
Pay for at least one Medical Surgeon Physician Background Check Report. Get two reports from different online companies to get all of the information.
Check Doctor Quality
Bring a list of prepared questions to your Tummy Tuck consultation. If the surgeon does answer all of your questions look elsewhere.
Verify that the surgeon is board certified.
Verify that the surgeon specializes in Tummy Tuck operations.
It might be hard and embarrassing but ask the surgeon how many Tummy Tuck operations he has performed and if he ever had any dissatisfied patients. Also ask him if he ever had any legal judgments against him.
Look at the surgeons "Before and After" pictures of his patients and ask for references to call.

Check Hospital Ratings

A Tummy Tuck Plastic Surgeon needs to be board certified and should have at least 5 years of experience in his/her own practice. They should also stay up on all current information regarding their trade. This means continuing education to keep their cosmetic surgery skills up to par. Remember, qualified Tummy Tuck Plastic Surgeons that are in high demand, demand high prices.

Verifying Your TUMMY TUCK SURGEON'S Credentials

Is Your Doctor Board Certified?
To check to see if your plastic surgeon is really board certified visit the website of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). It's free. On the website you will be asked to register with your name and email address. They instantly send you a confirmation email which allows you access to check out your doctor.
To Verify Your Doctors Medical License.
Run a Google search using the keywords "your state medical license verification" (insert your state's name).
To Check on Your Doctors Credentials and Disciplinary Actions.
Run a Google search using the keywords "your state medical board" (insert your state's name).
To verify that your anesthesiologist is qualified to provide general anesthesia.
Go to the American Board of Anesthesiology website and click on the link "Verify a physician's Certification". The American Board of Anesthesiology examines and certifies physicians who complete an accredited program of anesthesiology training in the United States and voluntarily apply to the Board for certification or maintenance of certification.
To See if your Doctor is Permitted to perform care in a hospital or Clinic.
This information is usually provided in the paid Physician Background Reports. If you don't want to pay for a report, simply ask your doctor, then call the facility to verify (or check out the facility website).

Find and Compare Doctors - Allows consumers to compare doctors using selection criteria such as malpractice sanctions and specialized training.

I started my search by asking my family doctor for a recommendation and received a few names, but they were not really recommendations, just some names that some of his other patients had gone to. That didn't help me much so I turned to the internet. I began searching for a "board certified" plastic surgeon who specialized in Tummy Tuck operations. I was looking for an established (not too young) plastic surgeon with many years of practice and an excellent reputation. A local surgeon would be preferable. A long distance surgeon would involve added transportation costs, hotels, dog sitters, more time and would just make things too difficult. I got lucky and found a plastic surgeon in my city.

To check him out I searched the internet for anything I could find about him and his practice. I was particularly looking for the bad stuff (I wanting to stay away from any surgeon with any negative connotation). I also used two of those paid research companies that check out the backgrounds of surgeons and provide reports on their experience, education and to find if they ever had any legal actions filed against them. I also checked the local county records over the internet. Both paid reports indicated only good things about my plastic surgeon as well as his medical education and experiences. I could not find anything negative said about him. I drove by his office to get an impression or feeling and to check out his office facility. I then decided to make an appointment for an initial consultation (9/17/07).

Plastic Surgeon Background Checks

Any Legal Action or Professional Misconduct Against the Surgeon.
Verification of Surgeon's Board Certification Status
Review of Surgeon's Internship, Residency And Fellowship Training
Academic Appointments and Hospital/Faculty Appointments
Physicians/Surgeons Special Interests and Area of Expertise
The Medical School From Which Your Surgeon Graduated
Publications Written By The Physician
Awards Received By The Physician
Surgeon's Credential Overall Ratings Score

Tummy Tuck Feedback Messages

The following Reader Comments are relevant to the subject of this page.
To read all Tummy Tuck Feedback click here.

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Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 6:26 PM
Subject: Feedback Form

I really want to get a tummy tuck done but trying to find a good md that does payment plans is hard to find and i really want a good md that would not mess me up.
Debbie

Response - Debbie,

Finding a good plastic surgeon is a lot of hard work. Finding one that accepts payment plans is probably harder yet (though most will accept credit cards). Finding one that won't MESS YOU UP - well, you won't know that till after the surgery. That's the scary part and hardest part of it all. The "not knowing" how it will turn out. The only you can do is research your doctor thoroughly and make the best choice possible. Surgery is always a gamble and there are no guarantees.
Good luck.
Tanner

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