There are thousands of plastic surgeons operating in the United States and if you are considering plastic surgery, you need to find the right one. Here are a few suggested ways to find the right cosmetic surgeon for yourself or a friend.

Get a Recommendation from a Friend

You may have friends or acquaintances who have had plastic surgery, such as breast augmentation or liposuction, or who have visited a plastic surgeon for aesthetic treatments, such as laser therapy.

If they were happy with their plastic surgeon, you may be too. If they were unhappy with the results of their procedure, that will also be important to know. If you don’t have any friends who have had plastic surgery, your friends may know someone who has and you might want to ask around anyway.

Get a Recommendation from your Hair Stylist

Your hair stylist may be a good person to ask. Cosmetologists are in the beauty business and skilled at assessing beauty treatments. They are also in a unique position to have seen firsthand before and after results of the surgery.

They can tell you a lot about what cosmetic surgeons to go to for any type of procedure. Hair dressers and manicurists spend a lot of time talking to their clients and any type of plastic surgeon visit will certainly have been a topic of conversation.

Though they may not be able to tell you who had what type of procedure, they will probably be able to give you the entire story – good and bad. Other people who work at a spa or salon are also good sources of information, such as makeup artists and massage therapists. Getting a recommendation for a plastic surgeon from a spa or salon is an excellent way to find the right doctor for plastic surgery.

Get a Recommendation from your Primary Physician

Though cosmetic surgery is certainly not your primary care doctor’s specialty, he or she may know of a good cosmetic surgeon in your area. He may have other patients who have had plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedures and will have seen the before and after results first hand as he examines the patient.

A lot of physicians also have friends who are doctors and he may personally know of a great plastic surgeon. In that case, he will be able to assure the integrity as well as the skill and experience of the cosmetic surgeon he recommends. Most physicians would never refer a patient to a doctor that they considered to be inferior so you can trust in any recommendation you get from your personal doctor.

Whichever way you choose to find plastic surgeons, it will be important to have a thorough consultation with the doctor. You should be prepared to discuss the procedure and to look at before and after photos of the plastic surgery you are considering. You should also ensure that the plastic surgeon you are going to use is board certified and that he or she operates in a licensed medical facility capable of emergency care.