Finding right PS

[kim11]

I'm having two consults with PS's for breast augmentation.
One was rated top doc by other docs in Col, Ohio, but has
a formal action on State Medical Board regarding medical education certification. He does alot of reconstruction also
and I liked him. THe other is rated highly and her surgical
centre was rated No. 1. If that consult goes well how do
I decide which one has a better history if I don't know
any women who have had procedures with either?

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

The business of rating docs or surgery centers can often be bogus and based on marketing fees paid by physicians to the institutions that are doing the ratings.  Not that there can't be excellent surgeons rated, but the critieria for being included in the rated lists I find specious.

The factors I would look for include public information about where the physicians were trained, how long they have been in practice, and recommendations by other local (primary care) physicians in your area who you already know and trust. Often physicians will allow you to speak with patients previously treated by them, but they will clearly give you names of patients they know are already satisfied with their outcomes.  The other obvious criertia is board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (they have a web site).  Finally, I would use the rapport you experience with the surgeon at your consultation visit.

[RS-FL]

That's a really tough one!  First, I applaud you for doing a lot of research.  I had to pick between two top surgeons.  One was $2,000 more than the other.  That guy had a DUI charge on his file.  It was 8 years ago.  I did a lot of talking around and while both ahd good reps, and I really liked both of them -- they both spent 45 mins. answering my questions, I decided on going with the guy with the DUI.  Here's why....

While a lot of poeple had gone to the non-DUI guy, I didn't know of that many people that had been to him recently (within the last five years).  My guy was a few years younger.  I'm not sure that really mattered.  I dont mind a cocktail or two myself so figured I'd let him go on the DUI thing.

Another reason I picked my guy was because he works at an independent outpaitent surgery center.  While the surgery centers that are owned by PS are nice, I wanted seperation between surgeon and facility.  This is going to sound like Im a sue happy person, and I'm not but if, godforbid, anything went wrong -- I wanted there to be deep pockets on both sides of the fence.  If your PS owns their surg center, there's only one person to sue -- if it's indep. there's two.

As for the Education citation -- you could look at it in two ways.  A) he's so busy, he doesn't have time for stupid classes that are pretty much boonedoggle anyhow OR  B) if he neglects soemthign as simple as continuing education, what else is he neglecting?

ON AN IMPORTANT FINAL NOTE, do as much research on your ansthesiologist as you are doing on your PS.  For those crucial hours/minutes, your life is in their hands.  Find out who practices at te place where you'll be having your surgery -- you can even put in a request for a certain doc as long as they have priviledges there.

Best of luck.  I'm sure you'll make a good decision.