Finding the best breast augmentation surgeon, like finding any doctor who’s right for you, is a matter of patience. You’ll research local MDs in your area, read their reviews and finally set up meetings with them to see if they’re the ones you’re looking for — and then you start again, doing it all over from scratch. But when it comes to your health, that’s just the way it has to be. After all, you wouldn’t want someone you don’t trust or feel uncomfortable with.

You want to feel confident with breast augmentation surgeons before you trust them to make their incisions. But even if you like multiple candidates, there can only be one who actually performs the surgery. Having breast implants is a lifetime investment — even if the actual implants need a bit of work down the line. That’s why it’s crucial that you choose the right doctor from the get-go. Here’s what you should keep in mind.

The Certification

Simply put, ask to see your surgeon’s credentials. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons offers membership to surgeons who meet rigorous standards, as do the American Board of Plastic Surgeons and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. All surgeons must have completed six years of surgical training after med school with at least three years devoted to a plastic surgery residency. And the education shouldn’t end there, either. Every year, surgeons should re-up via patient safety medical education courses. Inquire about these certifications to make sure your doc is up to standard.

The Consultation

Gossip magazines love to run side-by-side comparisons when it comes to celebrity breast augmentations, but you shouldn’t use those as a reliable indicator of the procedure’s success. Meet with a doctor and have him or her go over the specifics of the surgery with you, and during that meeting, have him or her show you past success stories. Then, the surgeon should examine your breast and take detailed measurements of their size, shape, firmness and even nipple placement. This is all to help the surgeon gauge a better idea of the kind of surgery you’d benefit from.

The Decision

Once you feel good about a particular surgeon and feel confident with breast augmentation in general, it’s time to book the date of your procedure. Patients often couple an implant surgery with a breast lift procedure (in order to help restore the shape of sagging breasts), but this is totally optional. What you’ll be scheduling is a breast augmentation, and it’s important to know that most insurance providers won’t cover that because it’s an elective procedure. However, there may be some financing options available through your surgeon’s office, so don’t forget to inquire about those.

Whether you’re opting for silicone or saline breast implants, a breast lift or just an augmentation, it’s crucial to your future happiness that you pick a surgeon you trust. You have to feel confident with breast augmentation, and the quickest way to make that happen is through a qualified surgeon you feel good about. Now you know everything you need to about the planning. It might be time to ask a doctor exactly what the surgery entails. This is a great source for more: www.fountainofyouth.com