subject: Help Your Hands By Choosing A Good Hand Surgeon [print this page] If you're going to have hand surgery, there are lots of things you need to do to get prepared. By far the biggest decision you'll face is choosing a surgeon. Not every doctor is the same, in technique or quality.
Whether you can get the results you want or not depends on finding the right surgeon to do the job. The first and most important consideration is to look at their credentials.
Hand Surgeon Credentials
Anyone who wants to practice cosmetic surgery must be board certified. This means that they've undergone training and testing to make sure they understand how to operate. For each type of plastic surgery, there is another certification. You should find a professional who is trained especially to work on hands.
In many states, any board certified practitioner can perform any type of procedure. This means that a nose or face specialist could be doing your work on your hands! You don't want anyone but a serious hand surgeon to do your important operation.
Some doctors who are certified to work on hands only do so occasionally. They may have a practice that works on other parts of the body, and occasionally work on hands when necessary. You don't want to trust this essential part of your body to just anybody. Make sure you have an expert who does this kind of work often.
Communication Is Essential
Finding a hand surgeon you can communicate with is another important consideration. Most potential patients don't realize how important this is. You want a doctor you feel comfortable with.
One way to find out about their communication skills is to look at how they answer your questions. Do they give you vague answers, like it's a waste of their precious time to talk to you? Do they answer you in technical jargon that's way over your head? A good hand surgeon will answer all of your questions completely and in layman's terms that you can understand. A good medical practitioner over-explains and at the end, says, "Do you understand?"
Waiting Time
You need a doctor who has the time to make sure your procedure goes perfectly, and not a doctor who's surgery is always full.
For hand surgery, there are initial tests and examinations that must be done before the operation starts. There are also a number of follow-up appointments that are essential for your recovery. Your doctor should be willing to take the time and do a thorough job.
You don't want to trust your surgery to just anybody. This is one of the most important parts of your body. Choosing a good practitioner is the first step in making your operation a success.
