How To Choose A Plastic Surgeon
Plastic surgery has advanced in techniques and safety in recent years. Keeping your face and body looking fresh, well-shaped and beautiful can now be more affordable and less invasive than a few years ago. For these reasons, women and men feel more comfortable today with the idea of improving their appearance and boosting their confidence with plastic surgery.
Procedures like liposuction, tummy tuck, breast augmentation and anti-wrinkle treatments are some of the most popular aesthetic surgeries worldwide. Yet, since the results of plastic surgery are life-changing in most cases, choosing an experienced and trusted cosmetic surgeon is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life.
To help you research and select your plastic surgeon, the European Institute of Plastic Surgery in Cyprus, Greece and Malta has put together a list of facts to consider and questions to ask, as you evaluate your options.
1. Find a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon.
Before you schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon, ensure that he/she holds the proper medical credentials. For example, Dr. Stavrou is a board-certified plastic surgeon by the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery (EBOPRAS), and also a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
Board certification allows patients to ensure that their doctor meets high-level safety requirements and has the medical skills required for performing a specific type of plastic surgery.
EBOPRAS and ASPS are leading and well-respected organizations in the EU and US respectively, with plastic surgeons undergoing continuous medical training and meeting top-level patient safety standards to maintain their membership. Other rigorous standards for qualifying for an ASPS membership include:
- Board certification
- Complete at least six years of surgical training following medical school with a minimum of three years of plastic surgery residency training
- Pass comprehensive oral and written exams
- Graduate from an accredited medical school
- Complete continuing medical education, including patient safety, each year
- Perform surgery in accredited, state-licensed, or Medicare-certified surgical facilities.
Ask your plastic surgeon about his involvement in writing, researching or teaching about the procedure you consider undergoing, to understand if he/she is updated on new plastic surgery techniques and technology.
2. Find Out About Plastic Surgeon’s Experience
Specialized training in plastic surgery and academic experience is important when picking a plastic surgeon. What’s equally essential, though, is to make sure that your physician has extensive experience performing the type of surgery you are interested in.
Each area of cosmetic surgery requires a different skill set. For instance, the nose job procedure that has to operate on the bone, cartilage and breathing passages is quite different from a breast lift, which involves changes to the soft tissue.
Ask the plastic surgeon how many times per week he/she performs this type of procedure. Having performed many surgeries of this type over a number of years will help ensure that the surgeon stays in practice and has the up-to-date skills needed.
3. Check Before & After Photos
Compare “before and after” results for the procedure you want. Most plastic surgeons keep a file of “before & after” pictures, which they often upload on their social media accounts too. Are you happy with what you see?
4. Ask Many Questions During the Initial Consultation
Always book a consultation before making the final decision. Here are some questions you can ask during your first meeting with the doctor:
- What qualifications and training do you have?
- How many procedures of this type do you perform every week?
- Are you a member of a professional association for plastic surgery?
- Who will look after you when the procedure is over?
- What technology & methods do you use for this procedure?
- Can the surgery be customized?
- Where will the surgery be performed?
- What are the most common complications of this surgery?
- How will the procedure be performed?
- How long will it take?
- How long will the results last?
- How long will recovery take?
- How much will it cost?
5. Find A Plastic Surgeon Who Cares About You
The surgeon you choose must be concerned about your wellness and feelings. They should be caring, empathetic, compassionate, and available for you when you truly need them. Hence, feeling comfortable with your plastic surgeon is essential.
Dr. Stavrou always tries to create a relationship with his patients that is both professional and personal. His dedication to his patients is complete and honest, driven by his goal to fulfill all their expectations.
Meet Dr. Stavrou & read his bio & qualifications.
Learn how our plastic surgery in Cyprus can help you! Read more details on how to become a plastic surgeon.
Dr Stavrou is a board-certified and highly experienced plastic surgeon in Cyprus, Greece and Malta, with a keen interest in informing patients about the latest updates on reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery.
- University of Athens Medical School
- Residency in Plastic Surgery at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Assistant Professor, St George’s, University of London / Medical School at the University of Nicosia
- Honorary Tutor at the University of Cardiff, School of Medicine, UK
- MSc with Distinction in “Wound Healing and Tissue Repair”, University of Cardiff, School of Medicine, U.K
- Fellow of the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery (EBOPRAS)
- International Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
- ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support) Instructor
- Fellowship in “Advanced Aesthetic Surgery” from the Melbourne Institute of Plastic Surgery – Monash University, Australia
- Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
- Brow Lift
- Chin Augmentation
- Facelift
- Facial Cancer Treatment
- Neck Lift
- Otoplasty
- Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)
