Were you specially trained in the field of plastic surgery?
Training records behind a plastic surgeon's title
A plastic surgeon's training is a record of residency followed by specialty training. It tells you who will be operating and how closely their background matches your procedure.
From residency to specialty training
Each stage of that pathway leaves its own record. Training and board certification differ from one surgeon to the next, and a title alone does not tell you what a surgeon does day to day. Find out which stages the surgeon completed, and confirm them with an outside source.
How to check training
Ask about the specific procedure. Ask how often the surgeon performs your procedure, such as ear pinning. A university health system describes ear pinning, also called otoplasty, which gives you a baseline to ask informed questions against.
Use the professional society. A national plastic surgery society has a page called The Procedure. It helps you learn what the operation involves so that you can ask questions that test the surgeon's depth.
Confirm outside the office. Check the surgeon's board certification and state license with the issuing bodies rather than relying only on the practice website.
Board and state records for training claims
- Write down three questions about training and experience.
- Verify the answers with the certifying board and the state.
- Repeat this with each surgeon you consider, including any in the Issaquah area.
A track record you can check
Look for a long track record you can check, and ask how complications and revisions are handled. Over many years, that history tells you more than a single consultation can.