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How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon

Nothing is more critical to the outcomes of your plastic surgery procedure than the skill and experience of the surgeon whom you select. According to Charlotte plastic surgeon Dr. Erik Miles, finding a board-certified plastic surgeon with vast experience in your desired procedure is essential to achieving the results you dream of.   He believes the following tips can enhance your search for an exceptional surgeon:

Check their Qualifications

The most important factor when selecting a plastic surgeon is to ensure they are qualified to perform your desired procedure. Your surgeon should have the training they need to deliver exceptional results and earn your confidence and trust.

A dependable way to know that your surgeon is properly trained and experienced in plastic surgery is to check for board-certification – specifically, certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  This can be verified at their website, https://www.abplasticsurgery.org.   This certification assures you that a surgeon has received the appropriate education, sought out extra training in their field, passed rigorous examinations of their knowledge, adheres to strict safety and ethics codes and maintains their knowledge and skills through continuing education.  Believe it or not, there are many “fake” boards that simply exist to allow many unqualified physicians to appear adequately credentialed to practice plastic surgery.  Physicians of any specialty often take weekend classes taught by other non-plastic surgeons to obtain these misleading qualifications.  Membership in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is another way to ensure that your surgeon is properly trained and credentialed.

Get a Feel for their Sense of Artistry

Every plastic surgeon, including our own Charlotte plastic surgeon, has a unique idea of what looks aesthetically pleasing. It is crucial that you select a surgeon whose sense of artistry aligns with your own. A valuable way to ensure this is to look through the surgeon’s before-and-after photo or video gallery, which features previous patients. Would you be happy with the results you see in these photos or videos?

While looking through the gallery, be sure to look for patients who have a similar anatomy as you – whether it is similar facial features or a similar body or breast shape. This will help you get the clearest idea of whether you would be happy with a surgeon’s results.

Read Patient Reviews

In the search for a reputable surgeon, it is often helpful to hear what other patients have to say about their experience.  Patient reviews are an excellent way to do this.  These can be found on Google, RealSelf, and other sites.  Postoperative patient comments are also posted on Dr. Miles’ website.

You might even have a friend or acquaintance who has been a patient of Dr. Miles that you can speak with.  Dr. Miles has an outstanding reputation in the community and encourages patients to do their homework.  Dr. Miles routinely makes arrangements for new patients to speak with existing patients in a candid way about their experience.  Many patients also come to our office after being referred by other healthcare providers.  Most healthcare professionals are very happy to make a recommendation to our office.  Dr. Miles even has many doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals as patients.

Don’t Forget about “Soft Skills”

Once you have a short list of surgeons, you should schedule a few in-person consultations to get a sense of each surgeon’s approach to patient care.

In addition to being qualified and skilled, your surgeon should be personable and have certain “soft skills.” You should feel comfortable with your surgeon and confident in their abilities. Ultimately, you should find someone who is caring, compassionate and empathetic. Your surgeon should listen to your goals and communicate clearly about what is and isn’t possible. Your surgeon should also be accessible and available to you if you have questions about plastic surgery (if it’s your first procedure, you most likely will!).  Dr. Miles spends a great deal of time with every patient and is personally involved with all phases of care.    In fact, every patient is given Dr. Miles personal cell phone number prior to surgery!

Meet Dr. Erik Miles Today

To schedule a consultation with leading Charlotte plastic surgeon Erik Miles, please call or email our practice today. Dr. Miles looks forward to meeting you and helping you achieve your aesthetic goals.