How can I find out if a surgeon is properly trained and qualified to perform my surgery?

Your first stop when researching a plastic surgeon is the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Their website will let you search plastic surgeons by geographic area and their particular speciality.

Besides training and qualification, what other factors should I look for when selecting a surgeon?

When you have your consultation with your surgeon, you should take note of how you feel in his or her office, and how the surgeon responds to your questions. He or she should thoroughly answer your questions and make you feel at ease.

Your surgeon should specialize in your particular procedure. He or she should have an extensive "before and after" photograph collection that you can review.

What questions should I ask the surgeon during my consultation?

This list of questions is by no means complete, but is a great start:

1) How long has the surgeon been doing breast augmentation?

2) Has the plastic surgeon ever had his/her medical malpractice insurance denied or revoked?

3) How many breast augmentation surgeries has the doctor performed?

4) Do the impalnts come with a warranty?

5) How long does the actual surgery take?

6) What are my incision choices? What do you recommend for minimal scarring?

7) What will my recovery be like?

8) Are my goals realistic?

9) Are there any other questions that patients ask that I have missed?

10) Where will the procedure be performed - in a clinic or hospital?

11) What are the risks involved with anesthesia?

Are there any particular "red flags" that I should look for when conducting my research on potential surgeons?