Use your doctor's referral as a starting point. Your primary care physician may recommend a surgeon that he or she has chosen many times for this surgery. There's a good chance he or she knows the doctor or that they're buddies. "She's excellent," your doctor may affirm, and in fact, this physician may be an excellent surgeon.
But you can't just fly on that alone, especially if the surgery is a highly complex one. Your smart-patient detective job is to find out if this is the most excellent surgeon you can choose for this particular operation. Ask your doctor for a few names, and investigate each.
Also, aside from asking your regular doctor to point you to the maestro of this surgery, doing Internet research can help you locate a hyper-specialized surgeon. You just have to hope that one works at your hospital, or you might be planning a road trip.
A good way to find a highly specialized surgeon is to look in medical studies.
Use your doctor's referral as a starting point. Your primary care
physician may recommend a surgeon that he or she has chosen many
times for this surgery. There's a good chance he or she knows the
doctor or that they're buddies. "She's excellent,"...
More
Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Use your doctor's referral as a starting point. Your primary care physician may recommend a surgeon that he or she has chosen many times for this surgery. There's a good chance he or she knows the doctor or that they're buddies. "She's excellent," your doctor may affirm, and in fact, this physician may be an excellent surgeon.
Find out more about this book: YOU: The Smart Patient: An Insider's Handbook for Getting the Best Treatmen...
Dr. Stuart Linder answered:Not only must your surgeon be Board certified in the specific type of surgery you will need, but finding a "specialist" is equally as important. For example, not all Plastic surgeons specialize in the same face or body part. If you are looking to have elective breast revision surgery, find a specialist who performs that reconstruction every week of the year. Get referrals from your primary physician and feel free to surf the internet reviewing credible websites and doctors. Make 2 if not 3 consultations before making your final decision.Not only must your surgeon be Board certified in the specific type of surgery you will need, but finding a "specialist" is equally as important. For example, not all Plastic surgeons specialize in the same face or body part. If you are looking to... More
