What are the minimal criteria you should look for ?
There are three things that your cosmetic surgeon should have. If any of these are missing look elsewhere!
First American Board of Plastic Surgery certification makes sure that your surgeon has had the proper training and has passed several difficult exams.Second,being a member of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery is the single most important fact you should check for. Third membership in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons is desirable.
The requirements for membership in the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) are designed to encourage application by trained and experienced plastic surgeons who concentrate their practices in performing cosmetic plastic surgery of the face and the entire body. ASAPS membership remains an exclusive privilege for those surgeons who possess the necessary qualifications. Only about one-quarter of all American Board of Plastic Surgery certified surgeons have been accepted into ASAPS membership. Physicians who have been trained in specialties other than plastic surgery are not eligible for membership in ASAPS.
We are pleased to report that Dr. Gouverne is again listed with “Best Doctors in America”. This honor is bestowed on specialist deemed outstanding by other doctors. In 1996 Dr. Gouverne was named to "The Best Doctors in America". Click here or here to learn more about this honor.
Should I look for pictures of his results?
Yes! Plastic surgeons love to "show off" what they can do. It is no secret that they will select their best work. You should be impressed by these. If marginal results are shown or no pictures at all, it should raise a big red flag! Don't accept any lame reasons for this. Check multiple sites and compare the work. This is a positive site run by a patient. Photographs are contributed by patients and physicians. Good, but more importantly, also some mediocre results are shown.
What should I watch out for?
In Texas anyone can call himself or herself a plastic surgeon. Any medical person with a State License can advertise himself as a cosmetic surgeon. An OB doctor, a family practice doctor, a dentist or a dermatologist can perform cosmetic surgery in their offices.
They use a number of different fancy organizations to impress credentials on the unsuspecting public. Watch out for Buzz words such as “Cosmetic surgery Board”,” Facial Cosmetic Surgery Board”,”Occuloplastic Board”. None of these are official boards that a hospital would accept, and neither should you!
How should you choose a plastic surgeon?
Cosmetic surgery is a very personal decision and one that should require significant consideration and investigation. Although Dr. Gouverne is among the more experienced plastic surgeons , we strongly encourage you to do your homework when selecting your plastic surgeon. With that in mind, we’d like to give some tips on how to find a qualified surgeon.
Gather Names
When selecting your plastic surgeon, develop a list of
good candidates. Where do you find them? Some sources are better
than others.
Friends.
If you know of someone who’s had a procedure similar to the one
you’re considering, talk to that person. We wouldn’t encourage you
to make a decision based exclusively on one friend’s experience.
Every patient is unique, as is every surgery. Your results might
be quite different from your friend's.
Doctors.
Your primary care physican or family doctor may be able to recommend
a plastic surgeon. Ask your doctor how many patients he or she has
referred to this surgeon. Ultimately ask them if he’d refer someone
in his family to this surgeon.
Nurses.
If you know an operating room nurse, or know someone who knows one,
you can probably get a well-informed opinion on plastic surgeons
with whom she has worked.
Hospitals.
Call a respected hospital in your community and ask for board certified
plastic surgeons on staff. Be sure to ask for the names of doctors
who have privileges to do the particular procedure you’re considering.
Keep in mind, some plastic surgeons like ourselves have operating
rooms within their office. Two hospitals in the Corpus Christi area
are;
Special Directories.
You can find the names of board certified plastic surgeons, listed
by city and state, in two reference books at most public libraries.
They are titled "The Directory of Medical Specialists"
and "The Compendium of Certified Medical Specialists."
Or you can call 1-800-776-2378.
Credentials
Once you’ve compiled your list of surgeons, we recommend you start
checking their credentials. While good credentials can’t guarantee
you a good outcome, they can significantly increase the odds. You
can obtain a surgeon's credentials from the directories mentioned
above, hospitals, professional societies and the surgeon’s office.
More important than where your surgeon went to school is the type of training he or she has received. It’s a fact any licensed M.D. can legally perform cosmetic plastic surgery. As a matter of fact, there are many physicians practicing plastic surgery who have received their formal training in another specialty. Look for certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), or call 1-800-776-CERT. This credential assures you the doctor has completed the following:
Consultation
Once you’ve narrowed your list down to two or three potential surgeons,
we encourage you to visit them for an initial consultation. This
will give you the best opportunity to compare the doctors' personalities,
their opinions on the procedure you’re interested in, their fees
and their responses to your questions.You are making a lifelong
investment in yourself, and you should feel comfortable with everyone
who will be involved in your surgery. Please know most consultations
are not free and the fee is usually not refunded if you choose not
to proceed with surgery. We strongly encourage you to ask as many
questions as you like, regardless of how trivial you think they
are. You might even consider writing your questions on paper and
bringing it to your consultation.
Below, please find some general things to look for during your paid consultation.
Make Your Choice
If you received your surgeon’s name from a credible source,
checked out his credentials, are satisfied with the initial consultation,
and have realistic expectations, chances are very likely you’ll
be satisfied with the outcome of your procedure.
Why We Think You Should Select Us As Your Plastic
Surgeon
We perform all cosmetic procedures in our own dedicated cosmetic
surgical center, and have devoted the majority of our efforts to
"cosmetic surgery." We provide our own full anesthesia and recovery
support. We feel this ensures the security, privacy and confidentiality
you might prefer when choosing to have a procedure performed. We
are the Coastal Bends largest cosmetic surgery practice, and our
size rivals some of Dallas’ and Houston’s best plastic surgery practices.
We offer only qualified and certified plastic surgeons. Although there are more than 16 plastic surgeons listed in the Corpus Christi Yellow Pages, only three are Board Certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, and are members of the prestigious American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.
In addition, we run a very successful financing program that can help meet your own individual situation. Whether you choose to utilize your local bank, or one of our three different loan options with low interest rates, we will make sure cost never stands in the way of helping you look and feel your best.
After you have checked all references and completed your consultation, we are confident that you will choose our practice for your cosmetic surgery needs. We look forward to welcoming you to our family of patients.