The choice to undergo plastic surgery is a big one – and a very personal one. While the ultimate goal is usually to improve your looks, you also want the surgical process to be a good experience. The provider you choose plays a key role in both parts.
So, how do you find a plastic surgeon you can trust? We suggest taking your time, exploring multiple options, and fully evaluating every provider on your list. Dig deeper and ask even more questions than you’d ask when buying a car or a home. At the end of the day, surgery affects your mind and body, so it’s important to choose a surgeon who makes you feel supported and empowered.
Qualities to Look For in a Plastic Surgeon
These days, most prospective patients begin the process of finding a plastic surgeon by searching online. Surely, this is a great way to create a preliminary list of practices to consider and to get a high-level overview of what each surgeon has to offer. But once you have a short list of surgeons you’re interested in, we suggest scheduling in-person consultations before you make your final decision. This gives you a chance to talk to each surgeon and “feel out,” more realistically, who seems like the best fit.
1. Board Certification
This is the absolute first thing to check for before you even add a surgeon to your list of possibilities. In some states, surgeons can market themselves as “cosmetic surgeons” or “plastic surgeons” without having completed a full residency in plastic surgery. Only those who are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery have completed a full residency, which involves more than 3,000 hours per year of direct training and supervision by licensed plastic surgeons.
Board certification ensures the surgeon is experienced not only in performing the full range of cosmetic procedures but also in managing the recovery period, dealing with any post-surgical complications, and carrying out necessary follow-ups.
Dr. DeMercurio is not just a board-certified plastic surgeon. He also completed a five-year General Surgery Residency, refined his techniques through a Hand Surgery and Microsurgery Fellowship, and has presented on topics related to body contouring and breast augmentation.
2. Experience and Specialization
There are so many different cosmetic procedures and approaches. As such, it’s important to choose a surgeon who has experience with the specific procedure or procedures you’re seeking. For example, if you’re struggling with sagging facial skin, you want a surgeon who performs hundreds of face lifts per year over someone who mostly does breast lifts. If you don’t see the procedure you’re seeking on a particular surgeon’s website, that’s probably not the surgeon for you.
At the Florida Center for Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. DeMercurio has experience with a wide range of surgical and non-surgical procedures. He’s always seeking to grow, learn, and improve. As such, he’s accumulated vast experience with a variety of surgeries, including face lifts, tummy tucks, breast augmentation, arm lifts, and more. You can see a full list of procedures we offer on our website.
3. Natural-Looking Results
Have you ever looked at someone and thought, “Wow, they’ve had work done.” In most cases, that’s what you don’t want. Instead, you want natural results. You want results that make you look younger and better rested, but still like yourself. When others look at you, they should think “She looks great!” not “She’s had surgery.”
The best way to tell whether a particular surgeon achieves natural results is to take a look yourself. Search “best plastic surgeon near me,” and see which surgeons are willing to share before and after photos online. If a surgeon doesn’t share before and afters, that’s a red flag in and of itself. Surgeons who are proud of their results are generally excited to show off their best work.
When viewing photos, consider how the results look on that person, not how they would look on you. Everyone has different proportions. If a surgeon seems able to consistently achieve proportional results on other patients, they can likely do the same for you.
After looking at the before and after photos side-by-side, cover the “before” photo. Looking at the “after” photo only, ask yourself, “Would I know this person had plastic surgery?“
Spend most of your time looking at photos of the procedure you’re considering, but also don’t be afraid to branch out. Looking at a variety of results can give you a better feel for a surgeon’s overall ability. For example, someone who is able to give patients natural-looking breasts, arms, waistlines, and eyelids likely has the skill and versatility to deliver equally stunning results for you, too.
4. Clear Communication
Here’s one of the best (and simplest) cosmetic surgery consultation tips we can offer: always schedule an in-person consultation. It gives you a chance to evaluate their communication style and make sure you find them supportive, empathetic, and clear. After surgery, you’ll be vulnerable as you navigate recovery and follow-ups. So, it’s important to work with someone you can trust to listen, empathize, and explain things clearly.
5. Willingness to Answer Questions
During the consultation, be sure to ask plenty of questions. Pay attention to how the surgeon answers. Do they explain the reasons behind their response, or do they brush you off and insist your concerns are not important? Do they use examples to make their explanations easier to understand? Do they use clear terminology you can understand and explain any medical terms that might be unclear?
Also, pay attention to the questions the surgeon asks you. As a board-certified plastic surgeon Florida residents can count on, Dr. DeMercurio always seeks to understand each patient’s unique needs and motivations. As such, he asks plenty of questions instead of making assumptions about the results you might want or your reasons for considering surgery. Asking questions and truly seeking to understand our patients allows our whole team to provide the highly personalized care that sets us apart.
Qualities to Avoid in a Plastic Surgeon
While you’re searching for plastic surgeons and scheduling consultations, there are, of course, a few “red flags” to look out for:
1. Overly Sales-Driven Assessments
This is a vibe that often stands out instantly once you know what you’re looking for. The surgeon comes into the room and, instead of listening to you or asking questions about your wants, begins pitching a specific surgery. It sounds like they’re following a rehearsed script and trying to talk you into a procedure they’ve already decided is the best for you – without even having taken the time to get to know you first.
After a sales-driven consultation, you may feel like you’re being pushed into the same generic approach that many other patients have accepted. At Dr. DeMercurio’s office, we take a far more personalized approach. Our motivation is never to “sell” a specific procedure to a certain number of patients. Rather, we listen to every patient and carefully craft a unique, personalized approach based on their individual goals, concerns, and motivations.
2. Rushed Consultations
Do you feel like the surgeon is trying to pack as much information as possible into a 10 or 15-minute consultation? Maybe you have questions, but feel like you can’t get a word in edgewise. You should never feel rushed or ignored during a consultation for plastic surgery. Rather, there should be ample time set aside for you to ask questions. Your surgeon should also be willing to slow down and explain, in more detail, anything that you don’t understand or want to explore more deeply. The focus should be on you – not on packing a certain amount of content into a defined period of time.
3. Lack of Transparency
Do you feel like you’re only being given surface-level explanations? Does the surgeon seem to be skirting around explaining why they’re suggesting a certain approach, or how they plan to achieve certain results? A lack of transparency should definitely raise eyebrows. Your surgeon should seem like an open book, not a black box! If something feels “off,” it probably is, so trust your instincts.
Hopefully, this guide has given you a better idea of how to choose a plastic surgeon. Above all else, we recommend choosing someone who is board-certified, offers natural results, communicates openly and honestly, and takes a personalized approach. Contact us if you’re looking for a plastic surgeon Ormond Beach residents can count on. We’d love to meet you and discuss how we can help.