15 Apr 2025
Achieving a superior result with any aesthetic procedure starts with choosing the right plastic surgeon. You want someone with considerable training, years of experience, and ongoing education. It is critical that whoever you see is not only up-to-date on the latest techniques and practices but also has put in the time to hone his or her craft. For a great result, you need someone with exemplary technical skills and a keen artistic eye. One of the fastest and easiest ways to guarantee that you are seeing someone with this kind of in-depth training is to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Why Choosing a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon in Boston Matters
Ideally, you want to see a plastic surgeon, such as myself, who is Board-Certified. Why? Because it is truly a shortcut to excellence. To become board-certified, a plastic surgeon must first have at least 6 years of surgical training. This includes a 6-year residency in plastic surgery. In addition, he or she must then pass a very rigorous set of written and oral exams administered by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Furthermore, in order to keep up board certification, the surgeon has to commit to ongoing education and re-certification. What this means for you is that you are in the hands of someone with the skill, training, and technique to deliver the safe, excellent result that you desire.
Look at Before & After Photos
Aesthetic procedures are fundamentally about restoring and/or rejuvenating your appearance, so visuals matter. This is where the internet can be such a great educational tool. Investigate any potential surgeon’s website and look at the before & after photos for your procedure of interest. There are a couple of things to keep in mind when looking at these:
- Is the angle the same in both photos?
- Does the patient wear makeup only in the “after” photo?
- Is the lighting different in the “after” photo?
In a perfect world, all the external factors in the two photos should be the same so that you can really see the difference that the procedure itself made, not be tricked by filters and/or lighting. In addition to photos, if you know anyone who has seen this surgeon for any procedure, ask them about the experience. Did the surgeon:
- Listen closely
- Take the time to answer all questions
- Conduct a physical exam
- Explain the treatment plan in detail, including recovery
- Give a breakdown of what to expect in terms of cost
Why It’s Important to See a Plastic Surgeon for Injectables
If your procedure of interest is non-surgical, you may be wondering why you need to see a plastic surgeon instead of going to a med spa. Let’s use injectables as an example since a neurotoxin like Botox® or dermal fillers procedure is often the gateway into facial rejuvenation. At Boston Center for Plastic Surgery (BCFPS), we have an entire team that includes plastic surgeons, cosmetic dermatologists, and aestheticians, offering you the full range of options from non-surgical to minimally invasive to surgical. Since a med spa can only perform certain non-surgical procedures, those are the only things on the menu, whether one is the right option for best delivering your desired outcome or not. Even if you are someone who may never want a surgical procedure, it is important to understand your options and have an honest conversation about what any procedure can and cannot achieve.
Without all the information, how can you expect to make the right decision?
To find out more about any surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Leonard Miller at the Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, contact us today or call (617) 402- 2768 to schedule a consultation at his Boston or Brookline offices.
