When you make the decision to pursue plastic surgery, you may feel overwhelmed with the amount of information that’s out there. You’re likely finding all types of sources that are telling you different things, causing a complete information overload. Who do I listen to?
If your online research has left you with more questions than answers about cosmetic surgery in Tuscaloosa, allow us—an accredited female-owned plastic surgery practice in Tuscaloosa—to fill in some of the gaps for you. And as always, if you have other questions at the end of it, we’d be happy to pick up the phone.
What is cosmetic surgery?
Cosmetic surgery addresses appearance-related concerns, like excess fat, asymmetrical breasts, or sagging skin for example.
Plastic surgery encompasses cosmetic, but also includes reconstructive. Reconstructive surgery aims to repair the function of a part of your body, such as burns or facial trauma. Some plastic surgeons choose to focus more on cosmetic concerns, while others focus on reconstructive. Many surgeons decide to offer both types of surgery.
Our procedure offerings
When you decide on a specific procedure, it’s important to make sure the surgeon you’re researching has the expertise and experience to perform it.
Some cosmetic surgeons may specialize in facelifts, while others specialize in breast surgery. At Indian Hills Plastic Surgery, we offer a variety of surgical procedures that Dr. Wallace and our clinical team have a wealth of experience with.
Surgical procedure offerings:
- Breast augmentation
- Breast lift
- Breast reduction
- Excess skin removal surgery
- Mommy makeover
- Tummy tuck
- Liposuction
- Labiaplasty
- Facelift
Discover treatment options
If you know you’re unsatisfied with a part of your appearance but you aren’t necessarily sure what your options are for cosmetic surgery in Tuscaloosa, try using our free treatment matching tool. All you have to do is choose your concern areas and you’ll receive immediate treatment recommendations straight to your inbox.
Our expertise & what to ask your surgeon
Our founder and board-certified surgeon, Dr. Chelsea Wallace, earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Alabama, completed medical school at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) in Birmingham Alabama, and went on to complete her 6- year Plastic Surgery Residency at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY.
For as long as Dr. Wallace can remember, she has enjoyed supporting women and helping them reach their full potential. A lot of the time this lies in one’s self-confidence. When we’re not fully happy with our appearance, it takes a toll on us.
So, she decided to open up her own practice to devote her time and skills to helping women achieve their best selves. She also cares about giving people the knowledge they need to vet their surgeon and ensure they’re provided with expert care.
Just for your reference, this is what plastic surgeons need to be eligible for board-certification:
- Four-year bachelor’s degree
- Doctorate of Medicine degree
- Residency in an accredited program
- Board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery
- Continuous training/keeping up with certifications
Questions to ask your surgeon
Before receiving cosmetic surgery in Tuscaloosa, we recommend asking these questions:
- What are your credentials?
- Am I a candidate for this procedure?
- Who’s involved in the surgery?
- Do I have the option to stay overnight after surgery?
- How frequently do you perform this surgery?
- Who will I see for follow-up visits?
- What is the consultation process like?
More questions to ask your surgeon
Green flags to look for in cosmetic surgeons
Now that you have an idea of our expertise, we want to offer up a handful of green flags to look for when searching for cosmetic surgery in Tuscaloosa (these are really things you don’t want to do without).
Board-certification
You definitely don’t want to settle without a board-certified plastic surgeon! This board-certification gives your cosmetic surgeon the stamp of approval. They have years of experience and an official license to practice.
Check your surgeons board-certification status
Individualized care
Your concerns and goals for a procedure are undoubtedly different from anyone else’s. An accredited plastic surgeon will treat your procedure and goals as one-of-a-kind because they are! If you feel rushed, pressured, and not listened to, we recommend going to a different practice.
In-depth consultation process
Plastic surgery is a serious decision. A great practice will offer multiple consultation opportunities. The consultation shouldn’t be a one-and-done. At Indian Hills, we encourage our breast augmentation patients to come to multiple sessions to look at and feel different implant options and get all their questions answered.
Routine follow-ups
On the flip-side of having an in-depth consultation process, another green flag to look for is when a plastic surgeon offers routine follow-up appointments at no cost. Recovery is a vital part of the surgical process. At our practice, we see patients multiple times after their surgery to ensure a smooth recovery.
Before and after gallery
When you’re in search of cosmetic surgery in Tuscaloosa, you’re probably looking at a lot of before and after photos—as you should be! You definitely want to ensure the surgeon’s work aligns with your goals. Any credible practice will have a before and after gallery.
Transparent communication
A reputable plastic surgeon will be a transparent communicator. They won’t just tell you what you want to hear or operate in a transactional manner. At Indian Hills Plastic Surgery, this might mean we turn patients down for certain procedures, but only because we have your best interest at heart!
Our process
Hopefully you can take this information and research the different practices and learn about how their process might work. You may be looking for whether or not they offer a consultation, what the consultation process is like, the nature of your procedure, and how the post-procedure appointments work.
At Indian Hills, our process changes for each patient as well as each type of procedure we offer. Nonetheless, we want to give you a general overview of what to expect.
Consultation
Every treatment and procedure should always start with a consultation no matter where you go. How else is the surgeon going to understand your needs and goals? At our practice, this is an open conversation you’ll have with Dr. Wallace. We understand how vulnerable it can feel to talk about bodily and facial concerns. We’ve worked hard to cultivate a safe, comfortable space for patients to share anything with us.
Procedure
No matter what your procedure is, you can count on our team to educate and inform you on everything you need to know, answer all of your questions, and put you at ease in any way we can. Dr. Wallace will go over all the post-care and recovery information with you on several occasions to ensure you’re prepared to make a smooth recovery.
Follow-up
One of the most important parts of receiving plastic surgery is ensuring you’re recovering as expected. We like to meet with patients on a semi-regular basis (whatever schedule makes sense for their procedure) within the first year. This allows us to address any concerns a patient might have, answer any questions, and just overall ensure the surgical wounds are healing properly.
Pricing
Another big factor in the decision to get plastic surgery is the cost of your procedure. This will include anesthesia, the procedure itself, and a potential hospital stay. You’ll of course want to compare pricing before making any decisions. We value transparency in all aspects of our practice, and this includes the financials.
You’ll always know your total costs before committing to a procedure and even before coming in for a consultation. Submit a form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible with a price estimate.
We’re your experts for cosmetic surgery in Tuscaloosa
If you’re tired of your Google search results for “cosmetic surgery near me,” allow our team to provide you with all the answers you need! Whether you decide to undergo surgery soon or not, we hope you at least found some of our advice useful in your search.
However, if you’re ready to take the first step and talk to a reputable surgeon about your goals, reach out to Dr. Wallace and our team!
Questions?
We’d love to answer any questions you have.
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