Hand Surgery - Choosing a Doctor For Best Results

Hand injuries can be devastating, given the degree that each of us relies on them to perform the most basic of tasks. Hand surgery is a complicated procedure requiring training and experience. A hand surgeon must be able to skillfully and adequately reconstruct the skin, bone, nerves, tendons, and joints. Because this may require several operations to complete, patients must be committed to their recovery and aftercare.

While thousands of people undergo cosmetic procedure every year with positive results, choosing a doctor can be the most important way to ensure a successful outcome.

Here are some tips for success.

Personal interviews

Be sure to plan time to interview a selection of doctors and to spend enough time with each to ask some tough questions and evaluate your comfort level with them. Ask about the specific hand surgery procedure you need - find out how many of that type they have performed, how many they perform each year and what types of complications they have dealt with. They should be willing to provide patient references that you can contact.

Check their credentials

Once you have narrowed down your selection, the state medical board can confirm that your doctor of choice is licensed to practice in the state and provide a report of any settlements or records of disciplinary action.

A cosmetic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery has completed an education specifically in plastic procedure, beyond the minimum required to be licensed to practice medicine. For plastic surgeon, this entails at least five years of training with at least two of those specifically in plastic surgery plus continuing education to maintain certification. A patient can verify their surgeon's certification directly from the ABSP website.

Make sure you know where the hand surgery will be performed and that it is an accredited facility. The association that grants the accreditation can provide this confirmation. If not performed at a hospital, confirm that the doctor has hospital privileges at a nearby facility that will provide a place to take a patient in the event of complications.

Finally, the last deciding factor should be your own intuition. A cosmetic surgeon could be the most highly recommended in the state but if you don't feel at ease with him or her, it's probably best to keep looking. You'll need to have realistic expectations in regards to what hand surgery can and cannot accomplish.