Dr. Calvert is a board-certified plastic surgeon. His practice focuses on rhinoplasty, facelifts, breast surgery, and body contouring procedures. Dr. Calvert recommends you take these steps when researching and choosing a plastic surgeon.

• ASK FOR REFERRALS: Talk to your primary care doctor, family and friends, or patients you know who have had good plastic surgery experiences. The best referrals come from trusted sources.

• CHECK BOARD CERTIFICATION: Check the doctor's status of board certification in the field of plastic surgery at the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), www.abms.org
• INTERNET RESOURCES: The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is a great place to find a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area. The website is www.plasticsurgery.org
• SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS: Find out if your surgeon is a member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS); a plastic surgeon cannot be a member of this society unless he or she is board-certified.
• STATE LICENSING: Check with the state board of medicine to see if your physician is licensed in the state where you are planning your operation.
• HOSPITAL PRIVILEGES: Find out if your surgeon has privileges to perform your operation at the local hospital. If they do, it means that the medical staffing board of the hospital believes the surgeon is properly trained and credentialed to perform the operation you are having.
• MALPRACTICE HISTORY: Malpractice suits can be checked through a number of avenues, but may require that you make a trip to the county courthouse to check your doctor. Internet resources are robust in most states.
• TRAINING: Verify credentials and training.
• SPECIALTY PROCEDURES: Choose a surgeon known for the procedure you wish to have. Most plastic surgeons have several operations that are their favorite and that they are known for, consistently generating excellent results.
• MALPRACTICE COVERAGE: Verify malpractice insurance coverage. It is important to know if your surgeon has made a commitment to his patients by carrying some type of malpractice insurance.
• CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION: It is useful to know if your surgeon attends local and national meetings to keep up on the latest technology. A commitment to on-going education is a sign that your surgeon has not kicked back into relaxation mode.
• ADVERTISING: Advertising has become quite common for plastic surgeons, dermatologists, facial plastic surgeons, and anti-aging physicians of all types. The market is competitive and advertising is a way to spread the word. However, a large amount of advertising does not necessarily mean anything. You must still look at all of the items listed above and make your own judgment.

Further information can be found on Dr. Calvert's website at www.drcalvert.com