Although plastic surgery is usually a voluntary choice, you should treat it as seriously as any other medical procedure. Here are some thoughts on selecting a plastic surgeon.

If you were to be told you needed surgery to resolve a medical issue, you would take some basic steps. You would want to know exactly what was involved, the possible results and the risks of going ahead. In most cases, you would also want to get a second opinion, particularly if there were significant risks associated with the surgery. If a specialist were doing the surgery, you would undoubtedly want to know about their qualifications before agreeing to the procedure. Although plastic surgery is an elective surgery, you should treat it the same way.

The decision to improve your appearance through elective surgery should not be taken lightly. As with any surgery, you should consult with at least two plastic surgeons to get a full understanding of your options, the potential results and any risks. In making the final choice, there are some basic questions you should get answers to:

1. Is the plastic surgeon board certified? Board certification is a sign the surgeon has undergone significant training and continues to do so. You can confirm certification for any plastic surgeon by calling the American Board of Plastic Surgery at 866-275-2267.

2. Has the surgeon perform the surgery on previous occasions? If so, how many times?

3. Assuming the surgeon has done the surgery before, do they have before and after pictures?

4. What are the possible results from the surgery including potential risks?

5. Where will the surgery be performed and does the surgeon have privileges at a hospital?

6. As odd as this question may sound, will the surgeon actually perform the entire surgery? Some surgeons will allow assisting physicians to take active roles.

As with any surgery, you want a plastic surgeon that is highly qualified and experienced. Surgery is a serious matter, so do not shop by price.

Ricardo de Silva is with PlasticSurgeonPractices.com a directory of plastic surgeons.