Five Tips to Finding the Right Plastic Surgeon in San Diego

1. Find a surgeon who insists on discussing all your options.

When many people make the decision to pursue cosmetic surgery, they a) aren't exactly sure what they want; or b) aren't aware of all the options available for surgically improving one's appearance. That calls for a plastic surgeon that can provide you with tips on all the latest techniques and technology in use and be straightforward on cost and effect.

2. Find a surgeon who will help you decide exactly what you want.

The decision to seek aesthetic surgery or physical alteration of any kind is a big one. Many people are simply unhappy with the way they look and may not be sure just what "fix" will make them happy.

That's why a good cosmetic plastic surgeon is both physician and counselor. A frank discussion with a medical figure that can be trusted helps many people find the focus they need on the improvements they want.

3. Would you prefer a female surgeon?

If so, there are plenty to be found in San Diego. Cosmetic surgery has become a socially acceptable, mainstream option that middle class women can afford. More and more female medical school graduates are moving into the field and becoming board certified plastic surgeons.

If it's easier discussing cosmetic surgery with a female friend than with a husband or boyfriend, the odds are pretty good that you'd be more comfortable with a female plastic surgeon. There are some cosmetic surgery centers today that are run solely by women for women.

4. The best research may be through networking.

Enough people have pursued cosmetic surgery and other, less intrusive spa treatments that there should be a number of friends or friends of friends that you can consult. Find out how the decision making process worked for three or four people who may had the same general interests as you.

Why did they choose a facial lift over botox? What's the best way to develop a comprehensive price comparison? And most important, get some detail on what the thought process was in selecting a plastic surgeon, clinic or service center.

5. Make sure your surgeon is willing to discuss all the effects.

If you're considering breast augmentation, your surgeon needs to explain what maintenance those implants might require five or ten years from now. If you're exploring the use of botox, your surgeon should be honest about how long it lasts and how often it can be repeated.

Your plastic surgeon should volunteer this sort of information. If you have to ask, you might consider finding someone who is straightforward about both the limitations and the long term impact of cosmetic surgery.

By Mary Hart

Four Features that Make Houston a Great Plastic Surgery Center

1. For Once, the Big City is Convenient

Houston's economy has a broad industrial base in the energy, manufacturing, aeronautics, and technology; only New York City is home to more Fortune 500 headquarters. It is the largest city in Texas and fourth largest in the United States. Unlike New York, however, it is very much a horizontal urban area - the city itself spreads over 600 square miles and the metro area at least twice that.

That means that outlying areas are going to have a complete array of commercial services. The Baylor College of Medicine is affiliated with the Children's Hospital and Clinic in the city; in nearby Sugar Land is the West Houston Medical Center and the Sugar Land Medical Center; the Texas Medical Center is a teaching hospital and clinic in town; and as the city spreads out so do the pockets of medical service.

2. Appearance Counts

Houston is a cosmopolitan city with its own arts and cultural scene and a large, affluent business community. The wealth and immensity of the place has helped set a standard for appearance that rivals California's Santa Barbara or Orange County. Women in Houston dress well and take great care with their appearance. That means the facilities area available to maintain and enhance personal appearance, and that they are available throughout a large area.

3. Acceptance

Cosmetic surgery in many of Houston's communities is a given. There is little or no social stigma attached to surgical improvements; Houston's plastic surgeons are an established and accepted part of the city's social structure. The impact of this sort of acceptability is that it draws accomplished professionals. A large, wealthy city where cosmetic surgery is a mainstream procedure is enticing to professionals entering the cosmetic enhancement professions.

Another critical element of social acceptance is the opportunity to network. Talk with women who have sought cosmetic surgery or outpatient treatments and get treatment recommendations as well as reputations for established practitioners.

4. Competition

Houston's large consumer base for cosmetic surgery has resulted in a large body of professionals to provide services. That has led to healthy competition, because it has forced competition among the professionals that keeps prices under control and that results in an interesting variety of treatment options.

Houston is known for its day spas with every degree of luxury and an astonishing array of physical improvement services. Often cosmetic plastic surgeons are affiliated with these facilities. The result is that you can walk through the entire range of cosmetic improvement options, from spa treatments to full surgical lifts. One stop shopping is a luxury in itself.

By Mary Hart