Cosmetic surgery procedures require considerable medical and surgical skill to achieve natural-looking results that complement each patient’s body type and anatomy, while addressing their aesthetic concerns.

The decision to get plastic surgery is a very personal choice, and it requires you to seriously weigh several key factors before you commit. A well-done surgery will improve your quality of life in a variety of ways, while one that doesn’t meet your standards could leave you even more dissatisfied with your appearance than you were before you underwent the procedure.

So how can you be sure you are making the right choice for you? Here is a helpful guide to some of the most essential factors to look for when you are deciding who will perform your plastic surgery.

Research, Research, Research

As you are weighing the decision to get plastic surgery, you should do plenty of homework to help you select the best cosmetic surgeon to meet your needs. Going into a surgical procedure without first arming yourself with all the necessary knowledge about your doctor, their team, their clinic and the type of surgery you want to get is setting yourself up to have a sub-par experience.

Remember, a successful cosmetic surgery is an investment in yourself. Everyone has different reasons to want to change something about the way they look, and most patients dream of getting surgery for years before they finally decide to take the plunge. You owe it to yourself to find the best surgeon to meet your needs.

The Top 8 Qualities to Look for in a Plastic Surgeon
You should go into surgery with complete confidence in the cosmetic surgeon you choose. How can you reach that point? Here are the top 8 qualities your aesthetic plastic surgeon should have.

• Board Certification
  First and foremost, you should make sure any surgeon who makes it to your “short list” is board certified. Achieving board-certified status is the best indicator that a surgeon has fully committed to providing the highest standards of care and ethics in medicine. Though not all doctors take the extra step of earning board certification, the best ones do.

  Becoming board certified requires completing a series of exhaustive exams, as well as continuing training courses that help a surgeon stay current with the latest surgical techniques and cutting-edge medical advancements. Dr. Gregory Lynam, founder of Richmond Surgical Arts, is the only board-certified plastic and maxillofacial surgeon in Richmond, Virginia. In addition to earning board certification, Dr. Lynam has also completed extensive training and fellowships to hone his skills as a cosmetic surgeon.

• Experience With Your Desired Procedure
  Cosmetic surgery is a highly diverse field, and doctors who choose to enter this challenging, yet rewarding, profession have many specialties to choose from. Even a highly qualified surgeon with thousands of hours of practice may not have experience in your desired procedure, so you should never just assume all cosmetic surgeons offer the same things.

  There may also be significant variation in the way two different surgeons approach procedures such as a breast augmentation or eyebrow lift, so it’s always best to ask how often the surgeon performs the procedure – or set of procedures – you have your heart set on getting.

• The Facility Where Your Surgery Will Take Place
  Though most cosmetic surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wonder about where the doctor will perform your surgery. Ask to tour the facility before your surgery to make sure it is clean and modern, and has up-to-date equipment. Though qualified cosmetic surgeons take every measure to ensure safety while performing surgery, in the rare event that something goes wrong, you don’t want your health to be at risk.

  At Richmond Surgical Arts, we conduct all our surgical procedures at the nearby Stony Point Surgery Center, a fully accredited surgical facility that specializes in outpatient surgery.

• Aesthetic Approach
  The best way to ensure that you will be pleased with the results of your cosmetic surgery is to choose a surgeon who has helped patients achieve outcomes like the ones you’re aiming for. As you’re interviewing surgeons, look at before-and-after photos of patients who have gotten the same procedure you’re planning to get, and make sure you and the doctor are on the same page when it comes to what you want. Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself!
• Reviews and References
  Reading online reviews is one good way to determine if previous patients are willing to vouch for the quality of care they received, but you should also ask your potential doctor if they can provide you with references you can contact for yourself. Speaking with real people is the best way to feel confident in the surgeon of your choice.
• Honesty and Integrity
  A pre-surgical consultation is your opportunity to ask any questions you have about the surgery, the risks, the recovery, the practice or the doctor. This conversation should be a completely honest, two-way dialogue between you and the doctor. If the doctor provides vague or unclear answers, or seems reluctant to answer your questions, you may want to look elsewhere. The best cosmetic surgeons are also excellent listeners who make their patients feel valued and taken seriously.
• A Friendly Demeanor
  Cosmetic surgery isn’t just a physical experience, but an emotional one. A caring surgeon and staff will help make the entire process much more comfortable. Look for a surgeon whose personality is compatible with yours. Even if a surgeon has a lot of experience, that doesn’t mean they are the best fit to do your procedure. You want to choose a surgeon who communicates proactively with you and is committed to patient satisfaction. The best surgeon will be a partner who can help you plan every step of your cosmetic surgery journey.
• Post-Operative Care
  Excellent surgical care does not stop on the day you go home from the surgical facility. For the best healing, we will send you home with detailed instructions for how you should care for your incisions or surgical site, and we will also ask you to make follow-up appointments to determine your progress. If you don’t have a trusted family member or friend who can take care of your needs in the days following your surgery, ask us to put you in touch with a qualified nurse who can pick you up from the surgery center, take you to your hotel or home and care for you for the first night or two after your procedure.

Schedule a Consultation With Dr. Lynam

For the best cosmetic surgery experience in Richmond, Virginia, contact Richmond Surgical Arts today. We are proud to offer a range of procedures to help our patients look and feel like their best selves. Request your consultation today!