How to Find a Plastic Surgeon in Southlake (The Right Way)
Figuring out how to find a plastic surgeon in Southlake can be the difference between getting the results you want and ending up with an unnatural outcome. Yet with so many surgeons claiming to be “the best,” how do you actually choose the right one?
As experts in the field of plastic and cosmetic surgery, the team at Southlake Plastic Surgery has all the ins and outs you need to discover the perfect plastic surgeon for you. To help you find a plastic surgeon in Southlake the right way, we’ve created an in-depth guide to get you started.
What does a plastic surgeon do?
This may seem like an obvious answer, but you’d be surprised how many people misunderstand what plastic surgery really entails. Without that information, you can’t understand what a plastic surgeon does.
Firstly, plastic surgery is not just cosmetic.
Some people downplay the importance plastic surgery and believe it’s only meant for cosmetic purposes. The truth is, plastic surgery is much more than that. That’s why it’s important to understand all aspects of plastic surgery to find a plastic surgeon in Southlake.
As a broad definition, plastic surgery is a medical practice focused on repairing, reconstructing, or replacing different areas of the body. These areas include the:
- Skin
- Facial structures
- Hands
- Extremities
- Breasts
- Abdomen/back area
- External genitalia
- And more
So no, plastic surgery isn’t just about face lifts and breast augmentations (though they are definitely a plus!). Since plastic surgery encompasses different areas of practice, surgeons can choose to specialize in different practices.
To name a few:
Cranio-maxillofacial surgeon: focuses on issues that affect facial bones and the skull along with correlated soft tissue conditions (i.e. cleft lip and palate).
Microvascular surgeon: transfers tissue from one area to another while reestablishing proper blood supply.
Hand surgeon: treats musculoskeletal problems in the hands and arms (also combines orthopaedic surgical techniques).
Burn surgeon: works with a large team to provide extensive care for burn victims.
Cosmetic surgeon: utilizes specific surgical techniques to change body shape, alter facial structures, and/or rejuvenate areas affected by aging.
A plastic surgeon can choose to specialize in one of the above areas or train in multiple areas. Plus, it’s not uncommon for most plastic surgeons to have additional training in cosmetic surgery and/or aesthetic procedures.
When learning about how to find a plastic surgeon in Southlake, make sure you know what type of plastic surgeon you need. For example, if you want to get a breast lift, you may not be able to look for the same surgeon as someone who needs a cleft palate surgeon for a child.
What kind of training does a plastic surgeon need?
Education and training are key when it comes to finding the right plastic surgeon in Southlake. Plastic surgeons are doctors who need to have years of experience in the medical field, plus additional years of specialized training in plastic surgery.
General education and training
The minimum education/training requirements a plastic surgeon in Southlake must have include:
- Four-year bachelor’s degree (usually in a medical-related field such as biology or pre med)
- Doctorate of Medicine degree (you should always see an M.D. beside a doctor’s name)
- Residency in a related field
- Board certification (we’ll go into more depth about this later)
If a someone claims to be a surgeon but doesn’t have all of the above experience, then they simply aren’t qualified for the job. In extreme cases, such as black market surgeries, those “surgeons” aren’t surgeons at all. For your own safety, stay clear of these people (and procedures), no matter how low the price is.
Required residency program
Let’s delve into residency training for a moment. If you want to learn how to find a plastic surgeon in Southlake, you also want to have an idea of what kind of residency training differentiates an okay surgeon from a great one.
First you’ll want to make sure that your plastic surgeon has done a residency through an accredited program. Accreditation has to come one of these three organizations:
- Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
- The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
- The American Dental Association
There are two different ways a plastic surgeon can go through a residency program:
- Integrated program: An integrated program combines three years of general surgery and three years of plastic surgery.
- Independent program: An independent program usually starts with a five-year general surgery program, followed by a three-year plastic surgery program.
Plastic surgery versus cosmetic surgery
If you know you want to find a cosmetic plastic surgeon in Southlake, keep in mind that plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery are not necessarily the same thing. Remember, there are different practices that fall into the general category of plastic surgery, with cosmetic surgery being one of them.
Here’s what some plastic surgeons won’t tell you (but we will!):
Just because someone is technically a plastic surgeon doesn’t mean they have cosmetic experience.
Many plastic surgeons will choose to get further training in cosmetic surgery, but not all. So when searching for a plastic surgeon for a cosmetic procedure, make sure you ask how much experience they have in that particular field.
Rather than trying to treat or fix medical conditions, cosmetic surgery focuses solely on making the face and body more aesthetically pleasing to the patient. Because of this, cosmetic surgery is known as elective surgery. This could impact how much your insurance is willing to cover for the procedure, and it requires you to plan ahead of time for different expenses.
Right now, there are no residency programs in the U.S. geared only toward cosmetic surgery. That means surgeons who are serious about cosmetic surgery will gain additional training after their residency program. For example, one of our surgeons at Southlake Plastic Surgery, Dr. Wan, completed an aesthetic surgery fellowship to ensure he received a more in-depth training in cosmetic surgery.
Common types of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures
Cosmetic procedures are also different from other plastic surgery procedures and require more specialized techniques. That means learning how to find a plastic surgeon in Southlake includes figuring out which procedure(s) you want.
Types of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures:
- Breast Enhancement
- Facial Contouring
- Facial/Skin rejuvenation
- Body contouring
Below are the most common procedures in each category. Keep in mind, though, that there is a huge variety of cosmetic procedures available, so be sure to do all the research you need to feel comfortable and informed going into your plastic surgeon’s office.
Breast enhancement
Breast augmentation: Using silicone or saline implants, breast implants can not only enlarge, but also shape and contour the breasts.
Breast reduction: A breast reduction removes excess fat and tissue from the breasts.
Breast lift: A breast lift tightens tissue to treat sagging breasts.
Breast reconstruction: For women who’ve had a mastectomy or lumpectomy, breast reconstruction rebuilds the breasts with either implants or a patient’s own fat.
Facial contouring
Chin augmentation: With a chin augmentation, a plastic surgeon can correct facial symmetry using implants.
Rhinoplasty: Also known as the infamous “nose job,” a rhinoplasty reshapes the tissue and cartilage of the nose.
Which Facial Surgery in Southlake Should I Consider?→
Facial/skin rejuvenation
Eyelid surgery: When a full face-lift isn’t quite needed, an eyelid surgery is a great way to reduce skin laxity, wrinkles, and droopy eyes.
Facial and skin rejuvenation procedures also include “lift” procedures that treat skin laxity in different areas. These include:
Body contouring
Liposuction: Liposuction uses a cannula to suck out unwanted fat on different areas of the body.
Fat grafting: Fat grafting is a liposuction procedure that takes fat from one area of the body and transfers it to another.
Tummy tuck: Also known as an abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck is a major surgical procedure that eliminates excess skin and loose tissue from the stomach and tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall.
Mommy makeover: A mommy makeover is a combination of different surgical procedures (and medspa treatments) to help a woman “bounce back” after childbirth.
Gynecomastia: When a man experiences excess breast tissue, gynecomastia removes unwanted tissue via liposuction.
Tips on how to find a plastic surgeon in Southlake
Once you’ve made the big decision on which procedure you want, here are a few things to consider when trying to find a plastic surgeon in Southlake.
Check if the plastic surgeon is board certified
We don’t just mean board certified in anything. You want to find a plastic surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Most people don’t realize that you don’t have to be board certified to perform cosmetic procedures, but a surgeon who cares about becoming the best will take on the extra training.
At Southlake Plastic Surgery, both of our plastic surgeons are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. So with us, you know you’re getting the best service each time.
Ask about a surgeon’s experience
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. A simple, “how many procedures have you performed?” can give you quick insight on how much experience a surgeon has.
We can’t give you some magic number for how many procedures is optimal, but the key is to find someone who performs the procedure you want regularly.
Look at before and after pictures
First off, if you find a plastic surgeon in Southlake who doesn’t showcase before and after pictures, turn away and find someone else. Surgery is a big deal, and if you don’t know what kind of results a surgeon achieves, what’s the point?
Before and afters also allow you to understand a surgeon’s aesthetic preferences. Not everyone likes the same thing, and different surgeons have different styles. To get the results you’re after, you’ll want to find someone whose style matches your own.
Get to know the staff and facility
Your plastic surgeon is only one aspect of your overall surgery experience. Remember, customer service matters. It shows that the staff cares about you, giving you peace that they’ll do the procedure correctly the first time.
In addition to a friendly staff, the kind of facility you go to is crucial. For surgeries, you want to make sure the facility is certified and accredited. At Southlake Plastic Surgery, our surgical center is certified by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), which is the gold standard in accreditation.
Learn more about how to find a plastic surgeon in Southlake with Southlake Plastic Surgery.
If you ever want to know more about how to find a plastic surgeon in Southlake, our expert team is here to help. We are an award-winning facility that always puts the needs of our patients first, ensuring that you get the answers you’re looking for.
Ready to get started?
We also perform a variety of plastic surgery procedures to get you closer to your aesthetic goals. Use our virtual consultation tool to discover the best next steps or contact us today for more information!
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