Risky Business: Choosing Your Liposuction Surgeon

If you are considering getting liposuction performed, you may be nervous about all of the stories you have heard about surgeries gone wrong. There are many potential complications of liposuction, after all, it is a major surgery. But the truth is, complications and risks can be dramatically reduced if the surgery is performed by an experienced, qualified professional liposuction surgeon. Where can you find one of those and what do I ask him? Read on to find out how to choose your liposuction surgeon.

A liposuction procedure can be performed by a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon, although any licensed physician can perform a liposuction procedure as no training is required. You should always make sure to ask your doctor whether or not they have had specialized training in liposuction surgery.

Choosing the Right Doctor

The Food and Drug Registry is not able to recommend liposuction surgeon to perform liposuction. However, there are some guidelines you can follow when selecting you liposuction surgeon. First, make sure you ask your doctor questions about liposuction so that you better understand the procedure. Your liposuction surgeon should be able to answer all of your questions about the procedure, as well as any questions you might have about potential problems with liposuction. Don't feel embarrassed about asking a lot of questions—after all, you are paying for a service and the person you are talking to is someone that will be operating on you. You should also be a smart consumer. Don't pay attention to advertisements that imply or say that you will have a perfect body after liposuction.

Advertisements are supposed to endorse the product—they won't tell you about possible complications or whether the liposuction surgeon is qualified! Also, don't decide on a liposuction surgeon based solely on cost. You should explore several options before making a decision. Keep in mind that liposuction is expensive—and the more you pay, the higher quality of service you will receive. Finally, you should research liposuction surgeons in your area.

Ask Your Doctor

There are some important questions that you should make sure to ask your liposuction surgeon prior to the surgery. These questions include: What are the risks involved with a liposuction procedure? Were you trained in liposuction and where did you accomplish your liposuction training? What is your policy on a liposuction touch-up? Do you have certificates of training I can see? What result can I expect from a liposuction procedure? What type of recovery time should I expect from the liposuction? How much will the liposuction cost? How many liposuction procedures have you performed? Can I speak with a former liposuction patient that you surgically performed? How long does it take for most of your patients to recover following a liposuction? What different liposuction techniques are available?