Choosing the Right Plastic Surgeon for You

[My Bariatric Life 764]

How does the massive weight loss patient choose the right plastic surgeon? After all, we present a much more challenging case than women seeking plastic surgery whom had never been morbidly obese. Add to that, there are no rigorous requirements and certification for a sub-specialty in bariatric plastic surgery. What is a patient to do?

Choosing a plastic surgeon after weight loss is an important personal decision. Someone told me that you do not buy a procedure, you buy a plastic surgeon (Read: Understanding Post-Bariatric Plastic Surgery). I completely get that now, having gone through a total body contouring and facelift, but it wasn’t always that way.

When I was beginning my plastic surgery after massive weight loss, I did not understand just how much obesity had deformed my body. It was later made clear to me that I was a much more challenging case than women seeking plastic surgery whom had never been morbidly obese. Add to that, I was more prone to complications during surgery and recovery owing to my former health conditions (diabetes, hypertension, etc).

Dr. Joseph F. Capella underscores the inherent challenge, “Many surgeons have come through their training not having been exposed to post-bariatric body contouring. Because of that these surgeries are not considered traditional procedures, in the sense that they’ve been honed over decades like many of the other plastic surgery procedures. And so what plastic surgeons may do is use these more traditional procedures and apply them to the post-bariatric patient, which often will lead to sub-optimal results.”

How does the massive weight loss patient choose the right plastic surgeon? After all, while there is rigorous training, and requirements for a plastic surgeon to become certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, just as there are for a bariatric surgeon to become certified by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, there are no rigorous requirements and certification for a sub-specialty in bariatric plastic surgery. What is a patient to do?

Dr. Capella recommends “For each of the procedures you’re considering, ask the plastic surgeon: How often do you do them and how many have you done? The doctor should make other patients readily available to you who have had these plastic surgeries done. And, of course, the doctor should have a wide array of images to show you of hopefully body types that are similar to yours.”

My additional advice:

Travel out of state if you must to find a plastic surgeon who specializes in the massive weight loss patient’s special needs.

With all due respect to patients who travel outside the country for their surgery, selecting a plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery is an essential step to ensure the best training and credentials.

I have corresponded with too many bariatric patients who’ve had complications after plastic surgery and had their surgeons ignore them. Don’t let this happen to you. Be sure that your surgeon will be responsive 24/7 during the many weeks and months of recovery, come what may.

Of course, all of us gathered here on BariatricPal understand the value of connecting on the Plastic Surgery Forum with patients who candidly share their surgical experiences and discuss their plastic surgeons. Be sure to tap into this very valuable resource.

Last but not least, personal compatibility is an essential element in the patient-physician relationship. You must feel comfortable talking to your plastic surgeon about all of your concerns. And you must have that sense of trust that s/he has your highest good as top priority no matter what may come.

The bottom line: Plastic surgery should be a life-changing experience for the better. For further reading, I highly suggest my article “18 Insider Tips for Plastic Surgery.”

Living larger than ever,

My Bariatric Life