Questions To Ask The Plastic Surgeon
Serving San Francisco, San Jose, & Walnut Creek, California
A Checklist To Assist You In Evaluating A Surgeon
We hope you find our suggested list of questions useful in researching and evaluating a cosmetic surgeon or plastic surgeon. Our responses are included for your information.
- Is the doctor you're considering a board certified plastic surgeon?
- Does the plastic surgeon you're considering have demonstrated skill and an excellent sense of aesthetics?
- What level of cosmetic and plastic surgery education and training does the plastic surgeon have?
- How well does the plastic surgeon and staff listen to your needs?
- Does the plastic surgeon carefully consider your individual physical characteristics when suggesting a procedure?
- Is customer service a top priority for the plastic surgeon?
- Does the plastic surgeon have a high patient referral and retention rate?
- Does the plastic surgeon assure minimum discomfort and risk from the procedures?
- Does the plastic surgeon use board certified anesthetists and anesthesiologists?
- Do other plastic surgeons choose the doctor to perform surgeries on them?
- Does the plastic surgeon operate a private surgery facility?
- Does the plastic surgeon have surgical hospital privileges at several accredited medical institutions?
- Is the plastic surgeon active, recognized and prominent at a major medical center?
- Does the plastic surgeon train others in plastic surgery procedures?
- Has the plastic surgeon appeared in the media as an expert in the field of plastic surgery?
1) Is the doctor you're considering a board certified plastic surgeon (certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery)?
Many doctors with experience in other fields such as dermatology and otolaryngology (neck and throat specialists) perform certain surgical operations that are also performed by plastic surgeons. They may have skill in the plastic surgery procedures they are performing but they have not gone through the rigorous surgical training that a plastic surgeon goes through.
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon Dr. Randall Weil is not only certified as a plastic surgeon by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, but he is also a board certified general surgeon with 20 years of successful surgical experience.
The American Board of Medical Specialists is a national medical agency that oversees specialty boards. Only 24 out of 100 submissions (by medical boards) met their demanding educational and testing criteria. The American Board of Plastic Surgery is one of those. This board is the board that traditionally oversees certification and training of plastic surgeons.
You can call the ABMS to find out if your surgeon is certified at (866) 275-2267, or visit their Who's Certified search verification page.
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2) Does the plastic surgeon you're considering have demonstrated skill and an excellent sense of aesthetics?
As you will see when looking at our cosmetic surgery before and after photos on our cosmetic surgery Web site and in the office, Dr. Randall Weil has an extraordinary ability to create exceptional, natural looking results for his patients.
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3) What level of cosmetic and plastic surgery education and training does the plastic surgeon have?
Dr. Randall Weil has 18 years of professional education and training.
He originally trained as a general surgeon. That means he spent 4 years as an undergraduate, 4 years to get his M.D. degree, 1 year as a medical intern and 4 years as a surgical resident.
Once he decided to specialize in plastic surgery, he trained for 3 more years in that specialty. After practicing as a plastic surgeon for 7 years, he trained an additional 2 years in orthopedics.
This training gives him a high degree of understanding and skill in his field.
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4) How well does the doctor and staff listen to your needs?
Making a decision to have a plastic surgery procedure can be challenging. It is helpful to talk with someone who will not pressure you into an untimely decision, but instead will assist you in thinking about the pros and cons of cosmetic surgery.
When you visit our cosmetic surgery office for your complimentary cosmetic surgery consultation, you will find our entire cosmetic surgery staff to be warm, courteous and helpful. Dr. Randall Weil has a receptive interpersonal style and takes the time to listen and get to know. You can fully explain what you want to ensure that you get the best results possible. We strive to offer you an inviting and low-pressure office environment while always being available to answer your cosmetic surgery questions.
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5) Does the plastic surgeon carefully consider your individual physical characteristics when suggesting a procedure?
Dr. Randall Weil customizes his approach for each patient. He does not use the same techniques on everyone.
Instead, he considers your individual features and then makes both an aesthetic and professional judgment to ensure the best and most natural results possible for you. Sometimes he will even recommend against your having cosmetic surgery, if in his judgment you would not be satisfied with the results.
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6) Is customer service a top priority for the plastic surgeon?
Dr. Randall Weil and staff are dedicated to making sure that your experience is a very positive one.
We strive to provide our patients with outstanding service during all phases of patient care. In addition to providing exceptional results using the safest surgical procedures, our post surgery care is very thorough and you can be assured of attention to all your needs.
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7) Does the plastic surgeon have a high patient referral and retention rate?
Dr. Randall Weil's patients are so satisfied with the results they get that they often refer friends and family to him.
Over 50% of his patients have come back several times over the years for additional procedures. We invite you to review our plastic surgery patient testimonials.
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8) Does the plastic surgeon assure minimum discomfort and risk from the procedures?
Dr. Randall Weil uses the newest techniques for minimizing incisions, sutures and recovery time. He and his staff also make every effort to assure that patients are well educated in advance of the surgical procedures and are properly prepared.
Dr. Randall Weil sets very high standards for patient care, professional excellence and attention to detail. He uses the safest methods, not just the latest techniques.
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9) Does the plastic surgeon use board certified anesthetists and anesthesiologists?
The medical specialists who provide anesthesia for Dr. Randall Weil's patients are M.D.'s (anesthesiologists) and R.N.'s (anesthetists) who are board certified.
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10) Do other plastic surgeons choose the plastic surgeon to perform surgeries on them?
Plastic surgeons who know Dr. Randall Weil choose him to do their surgeries.
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11) Does the plastic surgeon operate a private surgery facility?
Dr. Randall Weil operates his own fully accredited surgical facility. The facility offers convenience, privacy as well as the most modern and advanced equipment and a fully certified and experienced staff.
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12) Does the plastic surgeon have surgical hospital privileges at several accredited medical institutions?
Dr. Randall Weil is approved to perform all procedures mentioned on the Web site at each hospital where he has surgery privileges including Seton Medical Center, St. Francis Memorial Hospital, California Pacific Medical Center, St. Mary's Medical Center and St. Luke's Hospital.
In order to get such privileges, doctors have to show that they have performed enough surgeries in the specialty that they want privileges for. A designated M.D. from the hospital is assigned to observe the doctor who wants privileges. The designated doctor evaluates the skill of the requesting doctor and must approve each type of operation or specialty for the requesting doctor.
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13) Is the plastic surgeon active, recognized and prominent at a major medical center?
Dr. Randall Weil has been the Chief of Plastic Surgery at St. Mary's Medical Center for over 10 years.
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14) Does the plastic surgeon train others in plastic surgery procedures?
Dr. Randall Weil has been training medical interns and students in basic and advanced techniques for over 10 years.
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15) Has the plastic surgeon appeared in the media as an expert in the field of plastic surgery (national television, local media and magazines)?
As an expert in plastic surgery, Dr. Randall Weil has appeared on national television on The Larry King Show (CNN) as well as The Maury Povich Show. In addition, he has appeared on local television on Dr. Dean Edell (ABC7 News), KPIX (channel 5) and KTVU (channel 2). He has appeared in the following publications: Shape, Self, Architectural Digest and the San Francisco Chronicle. Please visit Dr. Randall Weil's plastic surgery media appearances page for more information and video clips.
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Randall B. Weil M.D., F.A.C.S
San Francisco Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
909 Hyde St., Ste. 602, San Francisco, CA 94109 | 415-781-2081
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© 2008 Randall B. Weil M.D., F.A.C.S.