What should I look for in a plastic surgeon?

Checkable facts over self-description

Look for things you can check yourself instead of things a clinic says about itself. The useful tools are questions that turn a claim into something you can verify.

Claims worth checking

Start with the words a practice uses about itself, such as "experienced," "natural results," or "no downtime." Quote each one and ask what it is based on. Ask for the surgeon's credentials and confirm them with the organization that issued them instead of relying on the practice's own page. Ask how many times the surgeon has done the exact procedure you want, and how the before and after photos were taken, including whether the lighting and angles match. Ask what the written quote includes and what it leaves out.

Reading to do before you book

Before the first consultation, read the plastic surgery society's guide on how to find a plastic surgeon so you can compare its advice with your own list. Read the same society's page on what a facelift costs so you can read a quote line by line. The same society's post on finding the right plastic surgeon for you is a second list to set beside your own questions before you book.

Choosing on what you verified

Your choice should rest on what you verified and on how well the surgeon answered your questions in person.