Patrick Hudson MD, FACS

When you travel a long distance to have cosmetic surgery, choosing a doctor is not very different from choosing one in your home town. You just need to be a lot more careful! There are many things you need to ask and find out about before you decide.

For a start, what is the surgeon's background? Is the doctor Board Certified in Plastic Surgery or is he or she a Dermatologist or Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon? Any doctor may be trained to do all or some aspects of cosmetic plastic surgery. In the United States this often means Board Certification in Plastic Surgery.

Is the doctor even a doctor, as recognized in your country or most developed countries? Remember that in some countries it is quite easy for a poorly trained or even untrained doctor to set up an office.

Does the surgeon belong to any organizations? Surgeons often belong to many societies and organizations. Many are really "clubs" or social arenas and have no relationship to the surgeon‘s skills and training. Many national societies require a minimum standard of training. They also enforce ethical standards. In the United States this society is the ASPS (The American Society of Plastic Surgeons).

Does the surgeon speak your language fluently or can a translator be found easily? Communication is important so that you can express your needs clearly and understand the operation and its risks.

What is the surgeon's cultural and racial background? Make certain you feel comfortable with this.

Is the surgeon a man, or a woman? Again make certain you are comfortable with this.

What is the surgeons experience? It goes without saying that you do not want to travel thousands of miles to see a surgeon and who has only done the operation a handful of times.