Patient education
Choosing a plastic surgeon with care.
Credentials matter, but so do the surgical setting, communication, informed consent, recovery planning, and whether you feel free to make an unpressured decision.
01
Verify the physician
Confirm that the physician holds a current California license. Ask which board issued any advertised certification and verify it with the issuing board rather than relying on a logo or an official-sounding title.
02
Verify the surgical setting
Ask where the procedure would occur, which organization accredits or licenses that facility, who provides anesthesia, and what emergency-transfer process is available.
03
Discuss goals and alternatives
A useful consultation should cover anatomy, realistic goals, reasonable alternatives, limitations, scars, recovery, and why a proposed plan may or may not fit you.
04
Understand risk and follow-up
Ask about procedure-specific risks, warning signs, after-hours contact, follow-up visits, revision policies, and who will provide care if a concern develops.
05
Review results carefully
Before-and-after examples can help frame questions, but they cannot predict your outcome. Confirm that examples show the surgeon’s work and remember that individual results vary.
06
Take time to decide
Elective care should leave room for questions, a second opinion, and review of the complete written estimate. Urgency, guarantees, or pressure are reasons to pause.
This general educational checklist does not recommend a particular procedure or determine whether surgery is appropriate for you. Return to patient resources.