Which Doctor to Consult for Breast Reduction?

How to Choose the Right Doctor for Breast Reduction?

You need to find a plastic or cosmetic surgeon who-

• Is board certified and specializes in breast reduction surgery.
• Has ample experience in treating patients.
• Practices at a hospital/clinic which is reputed.
• Accepts health insurance.
• Makes you feel comfortable about asking questions and clears your doubts.

To find such a surgeon, you can follow the tips below.

1: Ask Friends and Family for Referrals

Start by creating a list of potential surgeons near you. To create the list, you should first ask your family, friends, and healthcare providers. This will help you narrow the list of plastic and cosmetic surgeons.

If you don’t have any referrals, start by doing an online search and listing the surgeons whose ratings and reputations are good.

2: Research About the Surgeon’s Credentials & Experience

The next step is to research the surgeon’s credentials, including his/her educational qualifications, training, fellowships, board certifications, and practical experience. You can check the surgeon’s practice license and registration number from the Indian Medical Register to ensure that the surgeon is certified by the government.

Also, ensure that the surgeon has no history of malpractice claims and disciplinary actions. If such claims or actions exist against the plastic or cosmetic surgeon, consider another surgeon for breast reduction.

3: Surgeon’s Experience, Skills, & Specialization

When choosing a surgeon for breast reduction, prefer someone with around 8 to 10 years of experience performing the surgery. The more experience the surgeon has, the better his/her skills and expertise will be. With years of practice, most surgeons gain ample knowledge to identify and mitigate the risks and complications associated with the procedure.

Another thing that you can consider is the surgeon’s specialization. It will be better if you choose a surgeon who specializes in breast surgery or breast reduction surgery specifically. This will ensure that the surgeon delivers the desired results and you will be satisfied.

4: Examine the Hospital

Each surgeon is affiliated with a hospital or runs his/her own practice. Do not forget to check the hospital or clinic’s reputation, quality of care, staff, and availability of technology.

Each of these aspects is equally important in determining how you will be treated at the medical facility. The center’s reputation tells a lot about the satisfaction rate of the patients while getting treatment there. And the reputation is made by the quality of care provided at the hospital, how the patients are treated by the medical and non-medical staff, and whether the center has the latest technology available.

So, keep these things in mind-

• The treatment center should be clean and hygienic and adhere to standard safety protocols.
• The hospital staff should be professional, caring, supportive, and empathetic toward the patients.
• The hospital should invest in the USFDA-approved latest diagnostic and surgical technologies to provide optimal care.

If a treatment center falls short in the quality of care offered, ask the surgeon if he/she can operate at a different center. Otherwise, choose another reliable plastic or cosmetic surgeon associated with a well-reputed facility.

5: Have a Consultation with the Surgeon

The next step is to schedule a consultation with the surgeon and ask him/her as many questions as possible. But don’t go unprepared for the consultation. It will be best if you learn about the breast reduction procedure and prepare a list of questions to gather ample information.

Some questions to ask the surgeon are given below-

• What are your certifications and experience?
• Do you specialize in breast reduction surgery?
• How many breast reduction surgeries have you performed?
• To what extent the breast size can be reduced?
• What are the common risks and complications, and how will you mitigate them?
• What can I do to improve the results of breast reduction?
• How long will the recovery be?
• Can health insurance cover the cost of breast reduction surgery?

During the consultation, observe the way the surgeon communicates with you. A good surgeon should always be calm and collected while answering the patient’s queries. If you don’t feel comfortable while talking to the surgeon and he/she makes you feel rushed to proceed with the surgery, it might indicate that the surgeon doesn’t have your best interest in mind. It will be better if you consult another plastic or cosmetic surgeon and see if he/she better meets your criteria.

6: Patient Reviews & Testimonials

You can easily find reviews and testimonials given by previous patients on the hospital’s website and other platforms. Invest your time in reading these reviews as they reflect the experience those patients had while getting treatment under the surgeon’s care.

This includes the experience related to appointment booking, consultations, waiting time, hospital/clinic environment, the staff’s behavior, and the services available. The feedback tells whether the hospital or clinic lives up to the patient’s expectations.

You will find positive and negative reviews about the surgeon and the hospital/clinic. Review them with a bit of healthy skepticism and trust your instincts.