Five Warning Signs of an Unqualified Plastic Surgeon

Jacksonville plastic surgeons Dr. Roberto Garcia and Dr. Phillip Garcia see many patients who come to them after a consultation - or worse - a procedure botched by another doctor. Often, the warning signs were there all along. But many who are exploring cosmetic surgery options for the first time may be unaware of what to look for. So, the Drs. Garcia share their top tip-offs of unqualified or under-qualified plastic surgeons.

1. No board certification: Several top plastic surgery-related boards certify surgeons who meet or exceed set standards. If a physician has no certifications, and particularly if he's been in practice for several years, look elsewhere.

2. No hospital privileges: Hospitals heavily screen physicians, allowing privileges only those with the right training and skill. If a physician has no such privileges, it may be a sign that local hospitals question his ability - and so should you. Some plastic surgeons, like Jacksonville's Drs. Garcia, have their own office-based surgery suites. Be sure to check their safety records and certification or accreditation. Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery is North Florida's only office-based surgery suite certified by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Organizations.

3. Giving you the hard-sell: The best plastic surgeons and the savviest patients know that cosmetic surgery is a team effort. Though the surgeon should be the one to decide whether a patient is an appropriate candidate for a particular procedure and be able to suggest alte
ative approaches, a hard-sell on more surgery than a patient truly wants is a surefire red flag.

4. Promising the moon: If a plastic surgeon guarantees any particular plastic surgery result, make a run for it. Study the procedure you're considering thoroughly, so that you go into your consultation with a solid knowledge of what the procedure will or won't accomplish. And understand that multiple factors play into plastic surgery results - there are no guarantees.

5. Lawsuits and bad reviews: This is one to be particularly mindful of. Many of the bad reviews you see online may well be planted by competitors, though the practice is unethical at best, even illegal. Also, a malpractice lawsuit filed against a surgeon doesn't necessarily mean that the surgeon is incompetent. Many such suits are filed by those who have unrealistic goals and simply aren't happy with their results. But if surgeon has only negative results with no positive testimonials (or great before-after photos) and has been sued more than five times, consider going elsewhere.

To schedule a consultation with one of the top plastic surgeons in Jacksonville, contact Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery at 904-247-8522.