A:  In my book, Change Your Looks, Change Your Life, I discuss the transformative power of cosmetic procedures and detail the steps one should take in finding a doctor and deciding on procedures. As for finding a doctor, the best recommendation you can get comes from a friend who has had work done by a doctor he or she swears by. Most of my patients come to me via word-of-mouth. If you don’t know anyone who can give you a first-hand testimonial, ask the surgeon whether you can talk to some former patients.

A:  Your doctor should be board-certified. The most prestigious certification comes from the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), whose members are qualified to perform reconstructive and plastic surgery as well as aesthetic or cosmetic surgery.  A few other associations and societies are highly creditable, and membership in one or more of them is evidence that your surgeon shares its high professional standards. I belong to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), which accepts only board-certified plastic surgeons who submit cases to prove they have performed substantial cosmetic work; other groups with rigorous standards are the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Fellows of the American College of Surgeons. You should also consider the accreditation of your doctor’s hospital, even if your procedure is performed in the surgeon’s own facility, since hospital privileges are regularly scrutinized.

A:  Not only board-certified surgeons are qualified to perform cosmetic procedures. A dermatologist might perform laser skin resurfacing, for example, a procedure he or she can be licensed for after a short course – and if he performs the procedure frequently he may be excellent. You should exercise caution though, in such cases, and consider whether your doctor will be able to handle complications during the procedure or the healing process.

A:  Any procedure, whether it’s an injection or a laser treatment, has potential side effects. You should consider whether the facility can handle complications.  A board-certified plastic surgeon has had years of training in the handling and sculpting of skin tissue and its healing, and may be the best qualified to handle the unexpected. Weigh the risks.

A:  You don’t just want a good doctor, you want a partner who listens to your concerns and fills you with reassurance.  A good partner will include you in the decision-making, and lay out your options (surgical and non-surgical.) I try to spend roughly a full hour during a consultation with my patients.  Taking photographs is also an important part of consultation. Finally, honest doctors, in answering relevant questions, will tell you frankly about risks and complications. If all you hear is good news and unmitigated success from a surgeon, then you have to question whether the surgeon is being straight with you.