Today, patients have the benefit of being able to do as much research as they want before their first consultation with their physician or specialist. If you’re on the hunt for the best plastic surgeon in Chicago, you will want to gather a bit of information about the procedures you’re considering, as well as your prospective plastic surgeon.

 

When researching your plastic surgeon, you’ll typically find information about their education, training and experience on their website. However, you’ll probably learn a lot more about them by looking at their past results with patients and reading their patients’ own words.

Here are a few tips to get you going:

1. Check out before and after photos

Most plastic surgeons maintain a gallery of before and after photos of some of their patients on their website. They may also provide additional photos upon request during your consultation. If these photos are unavailable, or very few are provided for the procedure you want, that should be a red flag. When viewing the pictures, look for patients with the same physical attributes as yours. As an example, if you want a breast augmentation, look for photos of patients who had the same procedure to ensure the surgeon can get remarkable, consistent results.

 2. Review testimonials

Reading about the experiences of actual patients in their own words can provide you with invaluable insights about a surgeon. You may find several testimonials on the surgeon’s own website, but there are also independent review websites such as realself.com. After reading through these testimonials, you will get a good picture of what it’s like to work with the surgeon, plus some additional information on their bedside manner.

 3. Seek recommendations

One of the best (and quickest) ways to find a plastic surgeon in Chicago is through recommendations. You may ask family, friends, or colleagues, but keep in mind that they need to have had direct experience with the plastic surgeon in question for their recommendation to carry much weight. When you do find a recommendation, you may still want to do some background research on the practice, especially the before and after photos posted on their website.

 4. Check the surgeon’s credentials

Great photos and glowing testimonials are signs that you have found a good match, but that’s not always enough. Be sure to always confirm a surgeon’s credentials before booking an appointment with them. It is worth noting that while some surgeons may claim to be board-certified, the organizations certifying them may not be recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Make sure the surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), as this is the only officially recognized certification by the ABMS.  Surgeons certified by this board have satisfied the rigorous education, training, and experience requirements and passed the ABPS exam.

 

When looking for the right plastic surgery Chicago practice for your procedure, it helps to review the experiences of past patients, but remember to also listen to your instincts. Finding a plastic surgeon you can trust can be the difference between a procedure gone wrong and a wonderful new look, so take your time and do your homework well.