Choosing a surgeon

Aunque la mayoría de nuestro material informativo se encuentra en alemán e inglés, estamos "operando" y traducindo nuestra presentación en la Internet en lengua española. La consultación médica puede ser efectuada en español.

Muchas gracias por su paciencia.

Aesthetic Surgery is voluntary
As with any surgery, the single most important factor in the success of aesthetic plastic surgery is the surgeon you select. Do not take this responsibility lightly. Conduct your own research to verify the surgeon's training and experience; then weigh your decision carefully. 

There are a number of ways to evaluate which surgeon is right for you. Check for certification by the VDPC (Vereinigung der Deutschen Plastischen Chirurgen), which means the surgeon has undergone an approved plastic surgery residency of at least  six years. Remember that in Germany and many other countries, it is legal for any physician who holds a medical license, with or without surgical training, to advertise as an aesthetic or cosmetic surgeon. That's why understanding board certification is so important for the prospective patient.

If there is confusion about a surgeon's board certification, you may consult the VDPC or affiliated associations. Due to limitations following the reform of the German Health System, physicians from other medical specialties such as general practitioners, gynecologists, ear-nose and throat specialists and even dermatologists try to practice aesthetic surgery - often without appropriate surgical training and without prior experience in this field. Try to be cautious if you cannot find the specialty title of the doctor, if in doubt, just ask for it. 

The title you should look for is "Facharzt für Plastische Chirurgie" or "Specialist in Plastic Surgery". These titles are not to be used by physicians who have not had the adequate full specialist-training. Talk candidly with the surgeon. After you have checked the credentials of a plastic surgeon, you should make an appointment for an initial consultation. During this consultation, the surgeon will examine  you, explain the operation and may give you literature describing preoperative considerations and postoperative care. You should feel comfortable discussing your expectations and questioning your surgeon on any aspect of the surgery. A qualified and reputable plastic surgeon will be happy to answer your questions and to inform you of the possible risks and side effects associated with surgery. If you don't feel comfortable or if you are not sure, whether this surgeon is what you expected, it might be a good idea to have more consultations with 2 or 3 other surgeons. May be you will have to put in a bit more effort, but you should be certain to be in "safe and caring" hands!

Even a Specialist in Plastic Surgery should have a longstanding experience with aesthetic operations. To make sure you find the right surgeon it is relevant to ask the following questions whithout feeling intrusive:

• since when does the surgeon perform these operations?
• how many of these operations has the surgeon performed already?
• does he mainly do aesthetic procedures or is his main interest in another field (reconstructive or hand surgery etc.)?
• can he show you photographs of other patients who underwent surgery with him or her and who had successful operations? Does he have before-and-after photographs? (These can be a hint to the qualification of the surgeon, but don't base your selection just on a couple of pictures.)
• what kind of specialist-training has he had, does he have certificates?

Don't be too enthusiastic about computer-simulations. They represent only "toys" and cannot guarantee a definite postoperative result. It might be convenient to play around with these programs but don't forget that there are many factors influencing the outcome of an operation such as wound healing, scar formation, skin quality etc. You may end up not looking the way you looked like on the screen!

It is important to remember that aesthetic plastic surgery molds and reshapes living tissue, and the results are not absolutely predictable. No surgeon can offer risk free surgery or guarantee a perfect result.

The results achieved in some aesthetic surgical procedures, such as surgery of the nose, ears and chin, are permanent. In others, particularly those that diminish the effects of aging, results may be long lasting but are not permanent. Plastic surgery may be able to turn back the clock but will not stop it from running.

The ideal candidate for aesthetic plastic surgery is an individual who recognizes a specific area in which his or her appearance could be improved and has a strong personal desire to make a change. Many people choose aesthetic surgery to give themselves added confidence in the workplace, a psychological boost after a lifestyle change or simply to help them look as young as they feel. Whatever your reasons for choosing aesthetic plastic surgery, it is important to have realistic expectations. Often, improving a feature of your face or body will make you feel good about yourself, and that can have a positive impact in many areas of your life. Having aesthetic surgery is not, however, a guarantee of happiness or better relationships with others. Surgery can enhance your appearance; the rest is up to you. 

What is Plastic Surgery?
Plastic Surgery is not a development of the 20th century. Highly sophisticated techniques were employed as early as the 6. century A.D. when surgeons in India described an operation to reconstruct defects of the nose and there is historical proof, that during the reign of the Roman Empire doctors used plastic surgery to treat defects of the skin. Rather slowly was the delicate art of plastic and aesthetic surgery diffused and over centuries much of it even seemed forgotten. A new approach was made in Germany during the 19th century after which this specialty of surgery began to become more and more popular. The reconstruction of form and function drew attention from the public not only then but even more today. This highly specialized surgical discipline often finds itself spread out amongst many other different lines of surgery, which does not account for the complexity of the subject.