How to choose your surgeon

It is very important to do thorough research before choosing your surgeon. All doctors registered in the UK should be listed by the General Medical Council http://www.gmc-uk.org/register . Surgeons who have been trained in Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery and have passed the necessary examinations are listed as having Specialist Registration in Plastic Surgery. All Surgeons performing Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery in the UK should have Specialist Registration.

There are a number of organisations regulating the quality of Plastic and Cosmetic surgery in the UK. These include The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons http://www.baaps.org.uk/ and The British Association of Plastic Surgeons http://www.baps.org.uk. The later organisation covers all areas of Plastic Surgery including Burns, trauma and Reconstruction and its members are often Plastic Surgeons also work mainly in the NHS.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery concentrates on Cosmetic Surgery specifically. Members of the association are required to:

• Have demonstrated that they have been specifically trained in Cosmetic Surgery
• Attend regular training meetings
• Submit yearly audit figures to the Association

The best way of choosing a Surgeon is often by personal recommendation. In fact most of the best facial rejuvenation surgeons receive most, if not all, of their work this way and never advertise or market their services. The difficulty with this approach is that most people who have had facial rejuvenation surgery are understandably reluctant to tell their circle of friends, family and colleagues. In fact research has shown that most people who have had surgery tell between 1-2 people.

If a personal recommendation is not available it is especially important that you gain as much information about the procedure as possible. Most Surgeons who specialise in facial rejuvenation will be able to provide:

• Detailed information leaflets about the procedure.
• Before and after pictures of patients who have undergone surgery.
• Data on how many of each procedure they perform a year.
• Analysis of the outcome of these procedures.
• Contact information of previous patients who have recently undergone surgery.

Facial rejuvenation surgery is a relatively specialised area of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery and is not performed by all Surgeons. It is therefore important to check whether your surgeon specialises in this area.

Most reputable Surgeons would actively encourage you to talk or meet patients who have recently undergone similar procedures. This provides you with a first hand account of what's involved and the likely recovery period. The decision to undergo surgery is a difficult one and many people find it reassuring to talk to someone who has recently been through a similar process.

History of facial rejuvenation surgery

Varieties of face lift

Varieties of incisions

Other procedures performed with face lifts

Tags & Keywords : facelift surgery , plastic surgery , cosmetic surgery