What You Need To Know Before Cosmetic Surgery

Online, December 18, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Planning on going under the knife? Before that trip to the plastic surgeon, there are a few tips that every patient should read.

The number of cosmetic procedures in the U.S. is increasing every day, which means safety should be a number one factor for every doctor. To ensure that the appointment is with a trustworthy doctor, check his/her board certification. The American Board of Medical Specialties or the American Board of Plastic Surgery should certify each individual doctor.

After that, check the facility's accreditation. Each office-based facility should have a public safety record. However, the number of non-accredited surgical facilities is surprising.

While at the doctor's office, ask specific questions about his/her experience in the medical field. After that, narrow down the questions to be tailored to the particular procedure. Ask educated questions about current and new medical procedures. The doctor should be staying up to date on everything cosmetic surgery related, so this shouldn't be a problem.

Some side affects of plastic surgery include swelling, bruising, bleeding and numbness. Before the procedure, ask the doctor how long it should take for the body to recover from a particular procedure. Also ask if there is a minimally invasive form of the surgery to help reduce the cutting and effect on overall healing time.

Stop smoking several weeks before the surgery. Most doctors will not perform on patients who smoke, so cutting the habit ahead of time will help keep off of it after the surgery. Smoking greatly increases the risk of complications with certain procedures, so be sure to ask the doctor about this factor.

After the surgery is finished, maintaining a certain level of health is critical to get the best results.

Small procedures come with smaller risks. On the other hand, larger procedures come with higher risks, so ensuring that the doctor is up to the challenge is a major factor in the plastic surgery process.