When the time comes for a person to make a choice about having an elective surgery, it is important to make sure that you are choosing the right doctor. These days there is an overwhelming amount of information available online which can be both good or bad and even true or false.

Understandably this can become confusing, however, it is in your best interest to do your due diligence and decipher the information and determine what is real and what is not.

For example, there are many doctors who have not obtained necessary board certifications or just simply lack the training, skill, and expertise, to be able to perform certain procedures, yet they continue to do so with disregard for anyone and everyone. The results are usually the same, a horror story which tarnishes the reputation of the procedure itself.

This only emphasizes ones NEED to do the proper research and seek out a doctor with true credentials and certifications, coupled with a history of successful surgeries.

Many times patients will read a one line review whether it be good or bad, or true or false, and base their entire decision on this one line, failing to realize that often times reviews are not actually written by real patients.

Look at pictures! It isn’t just a cliché when people say “A picture is worth a thousand words”, it’s the truth. Does your doctor have pictures on his/her website showing off some of their work? These photos are evidence. Take them and compare them to other photos on the web, whose work is better?

Call your doctor’s office; is the staff professional, friendly and knowledgeable? Visit the office as well. Does the doctor display his/her credentials? Does he/she have time for you or are they rushing you out the door? Did they answer all of your questions with a degree of knowledge? Ask if you may speak with a patient that had the same procedure. Did you leave with a feeling of calmness and comfort in the fact that this is the doctor for you?

It is of utmost importance that you stay informed and make a well thought out, confident decision as to which doctor is best for you! Do your research. Visit, call, and read, after all, don’t you want what’s best for your body?