Are you considering cosmetic Surgery? Have you done your homework properly? Do you understand fully what is involved and what the costs will be? Do you know how to choose a surgeon? The following information provides some valuable guidelines but the rest is up to you! Choosing a surgeon can be difficult. As a starting point, ensure that your surgeon is a plastic surgeon, registered as a specialist and preferably a member of the national association. Please note:
In South Africa the surgeon should be registered as a plastic surgeon with the Health Professions Council and be a member of the Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons of South Africa (APRSSA). Become informed Discuss the procedure in depth, educate yourself so you know what you are talking about, ask questions, look at photographs of his/her previous work and talk to past patients. Do your sums and most importantly find a surgeon who seems to understand you and with whom you feel comfortable. There is no good way to judge the surgeon's artistry as working on patients is a completely different medium from anything else. Your choice of surgeon should be honest, easy to communicate with and able to put you at ease. You are dealing, after all, with surgery on your own body or face. You need to see a range of before and after pictures and have the confidence that you have chosen someone who has done the job before and can do the job again in a competent and consistent manner. Cosmetic surgery is expensive. Prices may vary considerably according to the surgeon but greater or lesser prices do not necessarily mean better or worse surgeons. It is important that you consult your surgeon for his prices and remember to ask for all costs, especially if hospitalisation is required. Prices -  Please discuss with your surgeon - visit www.plasticsurgeons.co.za for more about how to select a surgeon. It has been deemed illegal to compare or fix prices for elective surgery. It is important to discuss an estimate of costs carefully with your surgeon before embarking on a procedure. Overall costs may include the surgical fee, hospital and anaesthetic costs, cost of pathology or prostheses.