Deciding to have any type of cosmetic procedure or treatment is a huge decision. Not only are you spending your hard earned money; you are putting your physical health and looks in the hands of another person. It requires trust and confidence in your doctor. For some people this trust has broken down and that is something you want to avoid at all costs.

We have all read the scare stories in the media. People have travelled to foreign countries for procedures that have been poorly carried out, left them ill or harmed and they have had no redress. Whether you are having your treatment in your own country or you are travelling to take advantage of cheaper prices, you need to do your homework before you make your choice of doctor. Be diligent and it will pay off.

Talk to your current doctor

The first thing you should do is check with own doctor that you are healthy enough to have the procedure you want to have. He or she may be able to point you in the right direction for a list of reputable surgeons in the local area or even overseas.

Fact check

Once you have made a short list of surgeons or clinics, you should do as much checking as possible before you agree to go ahead. You might consider the following:

• Check the qualifications of the doctor to ensure they are genuine. There are a number of international registration services that will list the doctor in their country.
• Get all details of the procedure such as the full cost, the aftercare and how long it will take.
• Visit the clinic or hospital if at all possible to make sure it meets your expectations in terms of patient care and facilities.

Reviews

Try to find reviews online for both the procedure and the doctor you are choosing. Your doctor should be willing to pass on details of previous clients (if they agree) so you have a physical person to talk to before you proceed.

Your consultation

Your first meeting with your doctor is the opportunity for you to make your final decision. You should never feel rushed or talked into it and you must feel comfortable before you proceed. This may mean that you go home and think about it for a few days. Your doctor should be perfectly happy for you to do this.

How do you feel?

The fact is that your final decision will be based on all of the above and a simple indefinable “feeling”. This may be that you like the doctor, you get on with them, the staff were friendly, the clinic seemed nice and you just felt it was right. This gut feeling may be your best weapon against having a procedure that turns out wrong.

There are no guarantees when it comes to cosmetic surgery or procedures. However, your chances of choosing the very best surgeon for you are improved by a huge margin if you work hard to find the right doctor.