When you’re considering having breast augmentation, one of the first things you’ll need to decide on is which surgeon will perform your procedure. With so many surgeons available, how exactly do you choose the best surgeon for breast augmentation? We’ve outlined a few tips you can follow to make sure you have the highest quality surgeon doing your surgery.
Make sure the surgeon and the hospital are registered for breast augmentation
To make sure you’ll find the best breast surgeon, you’ll have to make sure they are qualified to perform cosmetic surgery. Your surgeon should be registered with the GMC. The GMC website will allow you to check a doctors registration status. This will let you know whether or not the surgeon is qualified to practice breast augmentation within the UK.
You will also need to check the clinic or hospital the surgeon works at, and whether or not they are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). You can either use the CQC website to find the registration or request the registration certificate directly from the clinic or hospital. CQC recommends that you do not undertake surgery within the UK with a clinic that is not registered.
The CQC website will also give you access to the clinic or hospital’s latest inspection report, which can help to give you an idea about the clinic and how well they run and operate.
Research the surgeon
Once you know they are registered, it’s time to find out more about them. Generally, there will be a wealth of information available about your surgeon online. You should be able to find what qualifications they have and what procedures they are qualified to practice. Some surgeons may even publish their employment history, as well as journal articles they have published. Look to see if there are any reviews about the surgeon, particularly if there are any negative reviews. This will help you to get a good understanding of the surgeon, how experienced they are, and what impression previous patients have with the surgeon.
Have a consultation with the surgeon
Prior to undergoing your breast augmentation, you will be required to have a consultation. However, at some clinics, this consultation will take place with a sales representative, who will give you more information about the surgery and book your surgery. This means that you may not actually meet your surgeon until the day of your procedure. This can often appear impersonal and make patients feel uncomfortable.
Before your surgery, it is best to ensure you go to a clinic where you are able to attend a consultation with the surgeon who will be performing your procedure. This will give you the opportunity to not only find out more about the breast augmentation but find out more about the surgeon, their history and their qualifications. You can even request before and after photographs, which will allow you to get an idea of the quality of their work and whether or not they have performed this procedure before.
Ask questions about your breast augmentation procedure
A legitimate surgeon will be able to give you thorough details about your procedure – they won’t just want to take your money and never talk to you again. A good surgeon will never pressure you into doing a surgery and will not make you feel rushed into making a decision.
Before surgery, make sure you know the answer to questions such as:
- How long will the procedure take
- What anaesthetic will you be administered
- Will they be the surgeon performing the breast augmentation on the day
- How long will the recovery take
- What risks are there with the surgery
- How often do they have complications, and what do they do about complications
- Is aftercare included in the cost
- Will you see the surgeon or nurses during the aftercare period
It is important to have a good understanding of the recovery period and aftercare, as some clinics may not include aftercare in their initial advertised costs. If something does go wrong, you want to be reassured that the same surgeon will be able to treat you, and you won’t have to seek revision surgery at another clinic.
If you are unhappy with the answers to any of these questions, or the surgeon dismisses any of these questions, it may be best to reconsider whether or not you are comfortable having breast augmentation surgery with this particular surgeon and clinic.
If you are interested in breast augmentation, Centre for Surgery are breast experts. Contact us today to find out more information, or to book a consultation with one of our surgeons.