What is the most important thing you can do throughout the entire plastic surgery process?
Choose the right plastic surgeon.
There are many qualified plastic surgeons, and it’s important to have a conversation with your trusted surgeon about the safety measures and risks of a plastic surgery procedure. At the office of Dr. Linville, safety is always the number one concern. While all surgical procedures have some level of risk, those risks should be clearly outlined before you make your final surgery decision.
Plastic surgery can be safe depending on the quality and technique of the surgeon. Below, we will discuss some of the ways that you can ensure the safest possible experience with your procedure, as well as some pitfalls and risks to avoid.
Board-Certified Surgeons are the Only Option
The first thing you can do to make sure you will have a safe experience with your chosen plastic surgery procedure is to ensure that your surgeon of choice is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In many cases, a good quality plastic surgeon will be certified by more than one board.
In addition to the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Linville is also certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, and many more.
Tour the Facility
After visiting the surgeon’s website or learning more about the surgeon’s certifications, you can also take the time to learn about the surgeon’s office. Your surgery should take place somewhere that you feel comfortable, safe, and clean. It’s also important to find out whether your surgeon has hospital privileges, meaning that they are allowed to use equipment and facilities at a hospital.
This does not mean the surgery will take place in a hospital – it will more than likely take place right there in the surgeon’s office. What hospital privileges implies, however, is that the surgeon’s peers and colleagues can vet for their professionalism and quality.
Look at Previous Results
One of the biggest risks with cosmetic surgery specifically is the risk that the patient will be unhappy with their appearance after the procedure is complete. It’s imperative that you take a look at some of your chosen surgeon’s previous work to assess the quality and technique of their surgeries.
You can also ask your surgeon directly about their experience. They should be upfront and honest with you about their surgical history to help you feel confident that you’ve made the right choice.
Know the Risks
All surgical procedures come with risks. Anything that requires anesthesia or incisions poses some risks to the patient. Have an honest conversation with your surgeon beforehand to ensure that you are aware of all of the risks and you have weighed them against the benefits of getting your chosen procedure.
Some of the most common risks with any surgical procedure, including plastic surgery, include:
- Seroma
- Blood loss
- Hematoma
- Infection
- Organ damage
- Nerve damage
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Scarring
- Anesthesia complications
- Dissatisfaction with the results
Again, your surgeon will take the time to discuss all of these risks and other common complications that can possibly occur during your surgery. However, the rate of complications is incredibly low, with the success rate running higher than 99%.
Get a Safe and High-Quality Surgical Experience with Dr. Linville!
In 2017, Surgery.org reported that Americans spent over $6.5 billion on different plastic surgery procedures. Out of all of these surgeries, the rate of complications was incredibly low. A PubMed study showed that out of 26,032 studied cases of plastic surgery, the complication rate was less than 1%.
Ready to take the next step and talk with a board-certified surgeon about your plastic surgery options? Get in touch with Dr. Linville today! You can contact our office online or give us a call at (713) 300-2567 to schedule a consultation.