Choosing the surgeon to perform the procedure is the second in importance only to deciding to have the surgery.

First, always use a surgeon who is board certified by the ABPS (American Board of Plastic Surgery).

Board certification is an official recognition that the surgeon has met all requirements to specialize in the practice of Plastic Surgery. It requires training in the specialty for a prescribed period of time, as well as passing rigorous board examinations before being recognized as "Board Certified".

To determine if a physician is board certified, you can consult the website of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).

It is important to also know that the facility the surgeon intends to use is approved. The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF) sets the rules and standards for accrediting facilities. In the area of Plastic Surgery, this accreditation procedure is a joint effort between the AAAASF and the ABPS.

With improvements in procedures, many plastic surgeons equip their offices to perform certain procedures "in house."

While the best choice may not be the least expensive choice, the safest choice is always the best. When choosing a surgeon the patient should consider the surgeons credentials as described above, but should ask several key questions: 1.) Does the surgeon limit the amount of liposuction to less than 4 liters of fat and fluid to be removed per day? (2)Will the surgeon schedule another procedure no sooner than one month after the first if multiple procedures are necessary? (3) Will the surgeon avoid doing any unrelated procedures at the same time as the liposuction? And, (4) will the surgeon limit the number of areas on which the procedure is performed on a single day?

Although there is no sub-specialty recognition for liposuction, experience in the procedure is irreplaceable and should be examined by the patient when interviewing a prospective surgeon.

Patients should always be mindful that while a surgeon may refuse to do a procedure on any particular person, the patient also has a right to refuse a particular surgeon.

Choosing a surgeon who is a volunteer member of the faculty of a medical school, means that surgeon is likely to be familiar with the most recent techniques and developments in the field.

We can classify the concerns of a patient in choosing a surgeon to five areas:

1) Technical qualifications of the surgeon: licensed and board certified in the specialty? Is he trained in liposuction?

2) What are the experiences of his previous patients?

3) Does the surgeon have any previous problems: disciplined; malpractice suits; lost privileges at any hospital or other facility; had a liposuction patient die within a month after the procedure?

4) Informed Consent Issues: Has the surgeon been forthcoming in describing the procedure and risks as well as advising the patient what he/she is consenting to be performed and by whom?

5) Other staff and facilities: Who is going to assist the surgeon and are they, as well as the facility trained and prepared for emergencies that could arise?