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Before you have liposuction, there are a number of important steps to take to ensure both your safety and satisfaction with the procedure. The decision to have cosmetic surgery is not one to be taken lightly. Because of this, there are some tough questions you should always ask your liposuction surgeon. Some of these questions related directly to the skills, experience and qualifications of your doctor. Other questions relate to the procedure itself. By understanding these important factors and asking the following questions of your doctor, you can help ensure that your liposuction experience is a good one.
1. Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
Perhaps the most important question you can ask relates directly to your doctor's qualifications. In some cases, doctors perform procedures that are outside of their specialty area. In order to be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a doctor must complete an additional residency that typically lasts between six to eight years. This rigorous training helps ensure that your doctor has the skills, qualifications and experience to provide the best possible results.
2. What are your safety and success rates?
Once you are sure your doctor has the knowledge, credentials and experience to perform your liposuction surgery, you should inquire about his or her safety record and success rates. While your doctor may not be able to provide exact number, you should be given a fairly accurate estimate of your doctor's safety record. Additionally, your doctor should be able to give details on past patient successes, as well as difficulties or complications that have affected previous patients.
3. How much experience do you have performing this procedure?
Another important question to ask relates directly to the number of times your doctor has performed liposuction in the past. All doctors perform a variety of procedures, which means that your doctor may have more experience with certain types of surgeries. You want to be certain that your doctor performs liposuction procedures regularly. If a potential surgeon only performs liposuction occasionally, you may want to look for a doctor that specializes in this type of surgery.
4. How long will the recovery process take?
In addition to knowing how qualified your doctor is, you also need to have a solid understanding of the liposuction procedure itself. You will need to plan for the days and weeks following your surgery, which is why it is so important to talk to your doctor about the recover process. Your doctor should provide clear guidelines about how long it will be before you can return to normal activities, how much post-operative pain you will experience and how much care you will need after the procedure.
5. What results can I expect?
While there are never any exact guarantees with cosmetic procedures, your liposuction surgeon should be able to give you an indication of the type of results you can expect. Discuss this carefully with your doctor prior to the surgery. If your doctor promises results that seem unrealistic, then they probably are. Skilled and experienced doctors will be more conservative in their estimates.
Laser eye surgery might be your answer to a world without glasses or contacts. But as with all surgical procedures, Lasik carries some risk. You want to be confident in your doctor and comfortable with the procedure. Learn some tough questions to ask your Lasik surgeon to ensure that laser eye surgery is the best decision for you.
Ask for Your Lasik Surgeon's Qualifications
Much of your success with laser eye surgery relies on having a good Lasik surgeon. A well-practiced surgeon has been performing laser eye surgery for at least three years. Find out which refractive procedures are most commonly carried out, and the frequency with which they are performed. A qualified professional should have completed at least 500 refractive procedures in recent years.
Ask Your Lasik Surgeon About the Success Rate
Find out how many Lasik patients have achieved at least 20/40 vision, as well as, a success percentage for 20/20 vision or better. According to the Quality Standards Advisory Committee (QSAC) the national average success rate for 20/40 vision is 90 percent, 65 percent for 20/20. If your Lasik surgeon states percentages well-exceeding the national norm, ask for a follow up with evidence. Keep in mind, these percentages represent an average success rate and are not the answer to your individual success with Lasik surgery.
You will also want to find out the percentage of patients that have had complications six months after Lasik surgery; the national norm is three percent. Again, if the doctor claims a spotless record, ask for evidence.
Ask About the Number of Patients Your Lasik Surgeon has Denied
Because a number of people simply cannot qualify for laser eye surgery due to age and health conditions, among other considerations, you are looking for evidence of rejection. You want to be sure that your Lasik surgeon follows standard practice for selecting patients. The amount may vary for each doctor, but should be greater than zero.
Ask About Lasik Equipment
Look for a surgeon whose equipment is approved by the FDA. Check the doctor's answers by learning about typical equipment uses and verify that your procedure is appropriate for that equipment. Equipment use may not directly correlate with FDA standards, but the equipment itself needs to be approved.
Ask if Lasik is Right for You
Your doctor can provide a professional opinion about your candidacy for refractive eye surgery after a proper consultation and medical eye exam. Among many considerations, the surgeon will need to verify that you are at least 18, have a healthy medical history and have not experienced fluctuations in your vision for the past 12 months. DocShop.com can provide some insight into how your doctor evaluates laser eye surgery candidacy.
Ask Questions About Risks and Complications
Your doctor will explain that all surgical procedures involve a certain level of risk. Results are not guaranteed and may not last. Ask the Lasik surgeon to identify complications you may be at risk for based on your medical history and the condition of your eyes. Some patients experience double vision, glares and halos, among other possible complications. Lasik surgery can also cause dry eyes and inflammation. If complications do not subside within six months, it may be necessary to have an additional, corrective procedure.
What is Lasik Surgery and Recovery Like?
Laser eye surgery is an outpatient procedure. Your Lasik surgeon will provide you with details about the procedure, the recovery process, as well as, a list of post-operative directions. Most patients report minimal discomfort, which usually subsides hours following the procedure. Your vision may improve up to 90 percent the day following the surgery. But expect to experience periodic fluctuations in vision and sensitivity to light.
Your Lasik surgeon will outline ways to care for your eyes following the procedure. Highlights on the list include the need for protective eye wear, prescription eye drops and rest. While healing depends on the person, most patients find that they can return to work the day following the procedure.
Ask Your Lasik Surgeon About Financing Options