Michael D. Manuel, M.D.
Jana K. Cole, M.D.
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| Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery |
| Tel: 907-563-2002 Fax: 907-562-7628 |
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How to
Select a Qualified Surgeon: |
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| Office Location |
| Credentials |
When considering surgery of
any type, the most important decision you can make and the one that will have the greatest
impact on the results of your surgery will be the choice of the surgeon. You should
explore all resources available to you to help you make this all-important decision. Take
your time, ask questions and expect answers.
Factors such as training and experience as well as patient
satisfaction are more important than office location, hospital affiliation, gender or
schedule availability. |
| Procedures |
| Physician
Selection |
| Request
Info |
| FAQ |
| Before
your visit |
Step 1: Acquire Names of Qualified Surgeons.
Ask your family doctor, ob-gyn, internist or others you
may know in the medical community. Ask which surgeon would be chosen to treat their family
and friends. Ask friends who may have had a similar procedure or experience with any of the
surgeons. Be careful not to assume that your results will be the same as your
friend’s, as everyone is unique. Call the local hospital to request names of
board-certified plastic surgeons in the community who can perform the procedure you are
considering.
ASPS, the American
Society of Plastic Surgeons is an excellent source of names. They
can be reached via the net or by calling: 1-800-635-0635.
ASAPS, the American
Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons is an association of Plastic Surgeons
specializing in aesthetic surgery. They also can be accessed via the net or by calling:
1-888-272-7711.
Step 2: Check Credentials
Training- the quality of training rather
than the school attended is the most important. Check for completion of an accredited
Plastic Surgery residency. This includes a MINIMUM of two years devoted entirely to the
study of plastic surgery. Many programs require only 6-12 months and are considered by
many to be inadequate.
Board Certification- Plastic surgeons who
perform aesthetic and reconstructive procedures are highly trained in their specialty. To
become board certified in plastic surgery, doctors must complete from five to seven years
of postgraduate medical training. After graduation from medical school, they must have
thorough grounding in general surgery (at least three years), and two to three years
further study at a plastic surgery training center approved by the Residency Review
Committee in Plastic Surgery.
Any licensed doctor may call himself a plastic surgeon.
However, voluntary board certification is a singular indication of a doctor’s plastic
surgery expertise. In addition to requiring the educational background described above,
the American Board of Plastic Surgery (the ONLY Plastic Surgery board recognized by the
AMA) demands that certified physicians pass rigorous oral and written examinations
covering all plastic surgery procedures. Evaluated by panels of distinguished examiners,
only the highest qualified doctors are awarded board certification. The American Society
of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (ASPRS) is an organization of more am 5,000 board
certified plastic surgeons in the United States and Canada.
Hospital Privileges- All qualified
surgeons who perform operations in their office will (and must) have privileges to perform
those procedures in a hospital. Lack of privileges can be a sign of an impending problem.
If you develop a surgical complication that requires admission to a hospital, your surgeon
must be available and LEGALLY ABLE to treat you in the hospital environment. Lack of
hospital privileges also implies a lack of peer oversight and review of the quality of
your surgeon’s ability. BEWARE!
Professional Societies- Find out the
Quality of the organizations of which your surgeon is a member. There are many societies
without the rigorous admission requirements demanded of organizations such as ASPRS and
ASAPS. Get names, make calls and check out the requirements for admission to the
organization.
Final Step: The Consultation
Contact the office and arrange an initial consultation. You should feel comfortable
with all aspects of the office and staff. Ask questions about fees, about policies
regarding after hour doctor call coverage, and the treatment of complications (including
fees and location of treatment). Compare personalities. Look for complete, honest,
knowledgeable answers to your questions. Operative procedures should be explained to your
satisfaction and written information should be available to you to take home and read.
Write your questions down prior to the visit to ensure that all may be answered.
Alternative treatments should be discussed and risks explained to your satisfaction.
Remember, the final decision must be yours. Don't be talked into treatments you don't feel
comfortable with or about which you feel uninformed. The goal of both the patient and
surgeon should be a safe, effective solution to the problem or condition