When choosing a plastic surgeon in San Diego, you’ll have no shortage of options. So how do you know you’re picking the best possible surgeon for your procedure? There are a few ways you can ensure that you’re getting the optimum care before you even schedule an appointment.
Board Certification
Your surgeon should be board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Although this may sound like common sense, the truth is that any medical doctor is allowed by law to perform cosmetic surgery procedures. A board-certified plastic surgeon, however, will have undergone several years of post-doctoral training in plastic surgery techniques. This additional training and the accompanying certification process means that board-certified plastic surgeons have advanced skills that can help to make your procedure a success.
Experience Counts
To many patients, it may seem like overkill to check a surgeon’s credentials in such detail for a seemingly simple procedure such as liposuction. Who would you rather trust with your appearance, though: someone who has devoted his or her career to plastic surgery care, or a doctor who performs cosmetic procedures only occasionally?
No matter how straightforward a surgical procedure may seem, it takes an experienced eye to know how to direct the tools and deploy the techniques. A board-certified plastic surgeon in San Diego with years in the field understands how subtle variations in techniques can create dramatically enhanced results. Other doctors simply don’t have the same level of experiential judgment.
Before you choose any surgeon for your procedure, go to www.plasticsurgery.org, the website of the ABPS. There you can get a list of all the doctors who have earned board-certification in your area. After all, you only have one body. You want to make sure it’s in the best and most qualified hands.
Dr. Alexander received his Medical Degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, one of the country’s first medical schools, and then had five years of intensive general surgery training at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, serving as chief resident in 1993-1994. There he was one of two residents honored “Outstanding Teacher” by the Whitehead Society.
After becoming Board Certified in General Surgery, Dr. Alexander attended the University of California San Francisco, one of the premiere Plastic Surgery programs in the United States. There he completed two additional years of residency training in Plastic Surgery. Dr. Alexander is double board certified in Surgery and Plastic Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Alexander specializes in facial rejuvenation, and was the first surgeon in California to perform the QuickLift,™ a revolutionary surgical procedure that takes years off the face with less downtime than traditional facelifts. He is a specialist in chemical peels and laser surgery and was selected to author the chapter “Facial Resurfacing” in Plastic Surgery, the premiere textbook of the specialty. He also specializes in facial cancer reconstruction and endoscopic, minimally-invasive procedures, publishing his own original research about endoscopic plastic surgery. He lectures in medical forums and has presented his results at both national and international surgical meetings.
