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Plastic Surgery

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Choosing a Cosmetic Surgeon

Confidence and trust are essential in putting yourself under the care of a cosmetic surgeon. As such, it is important that you consider several options, as many as necessary before you really feel comfortable with your choice. There are enough cosmetic surgeons in the Washington, D.C. area that good enough should never be good enough.

A doctor should encourage you to discuss your expectations and answer all your questions. You should feel comfortable discussing every aspect of the plastic surgery, from your reasons for getting cosmetic surgery to the actual operation to the cost. If you have any reservations, find another surgeon.

Your doctor should treat you as an individual, not another one in a series of procedures. During the initial consultation, you should feel a connection with your surgeon, and if you don't move on.

Your surgeon should explain to you all the risks involved in the procedure, and give you a realistic set of expectations for your results. If your surgeon seems to be making outrageous promises, do not trust them. Cosmetic surgery can sometimes achieve miraculous results, but it is not magic.

Although referrals from friends, relatives, or doctors should definitely be regarded highly, they should not create a feeling of obligation. You need to choose a surgeon you feel comfortable with, and a doctor who is right for someone else may not be right for you. It might also help if you have done some preliminary research on the variations of your procedure, so you can ask your doctor about his or her comfort level with different approaches or aspects of the procedure that are appropriate to your case.

Thoroughly research your prospective surgeon's website. Find out his or her qualifications, including the length and type of training, any certifications, and any membership in professional organizations, especially positions that demonstrate respect by other members of the cosmetic surgery community. Even before scheduling your consultation, look at before and after photos of patients who have had the same surgery you are considering. Do the results seem appropriate to each case, or is there a certain uniformity to them? During a phone consultation, ask your surgeon some questions to make sure you want to come in for a face-to-face consultation.

Finally, there are some questions you should make sure to ask a cosmetic surgeon before you decide to work with him or her, a complete list is available here.

Make sure your doctor's answers instill you with confidence. The doctor should be answering honestly, not telling you what he or she thinks you want to hear.

You can begin your search for a cosmetic surgeon by arranging a free, initial consultation with Dr. Desman in Northern Virginia.

Call 703-924-3144 to schedule a free in-office consultation or to set up a free telephone consultation.

Our goal is to provide you with the highest quality cosmetic surgery care in the Northern Virginia and Washington DC region. Dr. Desman is committed to serving you through advanced training, dedication to perfection and unmatched personal care.