GENERAL INFORMATION: Choose a Plastic Surgeon Correction of Plastic Surgery Complications Medicolegal Consultation Preoperative Preparation for Laser and Cosmetics Payment Plans HOW TO CHOOSE A PLASTIC SURGEON Choosing a plastic surgeon is an important decision. Be sure that you have the whole story to make an informed selection. It is up to you to ask questions so that you can settle on which plastic surgeon is right.. Experienced surgeons will welcome your questions about their background and be eager to offer any crucial information. These are a small number of strategies to assist in selecting a competent cosmetic surgeon: Confirm the surgical experience of the surgeon under consideration. Does he or she specialize in the procedure in which you are interested? How many procedures of this kind has the doctor performed? Before-and-after photographs can give you some indication of a surgeon's ability, although you must realize they are not guarantees of the exact result you will attain. Request your doctor's credentials. If you are in doubt about a surgeon's qualifications and experience, it may be wise to request consultations with other surgeons. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons maintains a consumer information service on all of its members. For information regarding cosmetic surgery, log on to American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Remember that in your Yellow Pages and newspaper advertisements, any doctor can make claims that are often totally false and deceptive! Those advertising agencies have no power to either check or police the claims made by any of their advertisers. It is up to an intelligent consumer to verify any physicians' credentials with the recognized and approved agencies, such as the American Medical Association, the American Board of Medical Specialties, and the American College of Surgeons. Additionally log on to the National State Medical Board website to find out supplementary information about any doctor: Association of State Medical Board Executive Directors The American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery both certify Dr. Apesos. He is a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery; which has recognized him with the Certificate of Advanced Education in Cosmetic Surgery. Additionally, he is an active member of the American Society for Plastic Surgery, American Cleft-Palate Craniofacial Association, the American Medical Association and the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons. He is a past member of the Association of Academic Chairmen of Plastic Surgery. He has trained and certified for examination more than 28 plastic surgeons, serving as the Chairman of the Plastic Surgery Residency of Kettering Medical Center and Wright State University. Seven of his past students are in active practice as plastic surgeons in Ohio. The rest are scattered over the world from Madagascar to Hawaii and are members of the Kettering Medical Center Alumni Association.