Deciding on a Cosmetic Surgeon for Breast Enlargement

Breast enlargement is now a common surgical procedure and in fact one of the most common forms of cosmetic surgery carried out around the world today. Often this type of surgery is elective, such as to increase the size or fullness of natural breasts, though sometimes it can be reconstructive, such as to rebuild the breast after a mastectomy. Whatever the reason for breast enlargement surgery, a woman will need to feel confident in her surgeon to truly believe that the procedure will be a success. Deciding on a cosmetic surgeon for breast enlargement may seem like a tough job, but there are some basic areas that should be researched to help with this choice.

Cosmetic Surgery Qualification

Individuals who carry out cosmetic surgeries must have specialist training in these procedures. Checking qualifications can encompass looking at a doctor's certificates, contacting the body that awarded the certificates and checking in with the General Medical Council (GMC) to make sure that the doctor is registered. Women seeking surgery for breast enhancement can also check a surgeon's qualifications by decoding the initials following his or her name. MBBS and MBChB both stand for Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery. Surgical qualifications include FRCS, FRCS(Ed), FRCS(Glas) and FRCSI. These letters all stand for Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons then Edinburgh, Glasgow and Ireland. A specialist qualification that also might be denoted is the Specialist Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in England who has passed examinations specific to plastic surgery. This qualification is often abbreviated as FRCSPlast. Doctors from other countries will of course not have these specific qualifications, but must be registered with the GMC in order to practice. The GMC Specialist Register of plastic surgery is probably the best determinant as those who are not on this special register can not call themselves plastic surgeons.

Experience with Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is a specific form of plastic surgery so women should also be careful to investigate a qualified surgeon's experience with this procedure. Asking a surgeon questions about the implants to be used, about natural breast health, the steps of the procedure, how best to prepare and what to expect in recovery are all important for finding out more about his or her technical knowledge, but asking straight out how many of breast enlargements have been performed, how many breast enlargements have been successful and how many breast enlargements have had complications is also critical. Only by hearing these statistics can a woman truly begin to understand a surgeon's track record in this area.

Membership in Professional Organisations

Membership in professional organisations is another way to determine if a cosmetic surgeon is a good choice for a specific individual. If a surgeon belongs to no professional organisations then this should serve as a warning to prospective patients. Common organisations for cosmetic surgeons include the British Association of Plastic Surgeons, British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons and the British Association of Cosmetic Surgeons. However, membership to such organisations does not necessarily reflect a surgeon's qualifications so checking on all aspects of a surgeon's training and experience remains critical.