You must ensure that your surgeon has completed sufficient training in the specialty of plastic surgery. When you see the term “board certified” remember that all boards are not the same; look very closely at which board has certified the surgeon. One main way to verify this is to confirm that your surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Plastic surgeons that are also members in certain plastic surgery societies will show high ethics and good character. Such groups are the ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons) and ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). These are very prestigious groups which you should look at when considering a plastic surgeon. In addition, I would consult with several until you find one you are comfortable with. The surgeon should be able to show you some good before and after photos and explain everything in a simple, clear manner. A good place to begin your search is the ASPS website which is www.plasticsurgery.org. Here you can find several surgeons in your area. You can also visit the ASAPS website which is www.surgery.org. If you do your research before your consultations, you will be able to ask better questions and get much more out of each consultation.