Things to Consider When Researching a Plastic Surgeon

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

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Hi Tyra, I really enjoy watching ANTM and your talkshow. You always have interesting topics that I can relate to in some way. Welll...let me begin telling u why I am sending this message. I am a 33yr old African-American woman and I'm married with 3 children. After seeing a picture of myself I was totally disguested with how I looked and I became very depressed. I decided to take action soon after I pulled myself together. I begin seeing a bariatrics specialist on 4/2/07 and I weighed in at 192 lbs. and to my surprise I found out I was obese and in danger of getting heart disease and diabetes. I am 5'7 and was in a size 14/15. I know I was fat but I didn't think obese. So for health issues and the welfare of my family I decided to make a change and get healthy. But as the weight comes off I am now seeing things that disguest me just as much as all the fat did. 1) I have stretchmarks from my upper thighs down to my knees. 2) My breast are so flat and saggy when I look at them they remind me of how those Baboon breast look like on that t.v show The Animal Planet....just skin hanging, my breast just look so horribly grotesque. I'm still embarresed to have sex w/o a shirt and covers on and I never let my husband feel or see my breast because they look horrible. He says he married me for me not the outter apperance, but come on; everyone likes to see beauty in some form. I have seriously considered getting a breast augmentation done in Tijuana because it cost much less then here in the states. I would like to know of a few

Posted by Gwendolyn 04/29/07 2:52 PM

i have had plastic surgery and as long as you do your homework and get to know your plastic surgeon and understand the operation you'll be fine. im very atheltic and i have no problems(i had breast augmentation on 1 side i was a size smaller) im so much more comfortable!! i had a hard time being comfortable in anything. But it is important if your young to give your body time to develop and accept yourself the way you are. But if you do decide just be smart and cautious!!! And remember plastic sugreons cant make you perfect they can just help/improve whatever it is you have a problem with.

Posted by Karen 04/25/07 10:11 PM

Hey Tyra, I have been thinking of getting butttock implants for a long time now, but I don't know what doctor to trust. Can you please help me find a surgeon in my area that has a lot of experience with this procedure? I live in Houston, Texas. Thanks.

Posted by Lili 04/19/07 7:20 PM

Hi Tyra, my name is Alejandra and I am going to be 24 on april 16 and my bithday wish is to get advise from you well this is my story,I had a baby 7 years ago I was only 16 at the time and I still graduated from hs but after my beautifu l angel was born my stomach was left with a lot of strecth marks I have never been in a two piece bikini because of my stomach I have tried everythig all cremes and I still don't find the answer please advise me should I do surgery and if I do how much will it cost and who can do it.I always look at other woman with their stomach out and I envy them please help me!!!!!this has also affected my sexual life bcause my husband always wants to see nude and I don't let him if he want to touch my stomach I move away if we have sex it has to be in the dark and without touching that part or I just don't take my shirt off recently he was asking for a separation because of this I really don't know what to do please help even my dauther calls my stomach the monster please help!!!!!!! thank you for time and have a great day love Ale

Posted by Alejandra Tufino 03/15/07 9:13 AM

Dear Tyra Banks, I don’t know where to start but I give it my all. I am hoping and praying some one will hear me. I have been writing and sending emails to some other talk shows that has the extreme make over but I don’t get any replies. But I don’t give up my faith to make my dreams come true. I try not to. Let me introduce myself, My name is Brenda, I am 40. I live in Stockton, Ca. I was born with multiple birth defects that I can not cover up. My appearance has caused me anguish in my life. I struggle through out my life with my self esteem. I have been made fun of by many people in my life. I hate people looking down at me, judging me, accusing me as handicapped because of the way I look. Being born different hurt me for succeeding in life. I am the one who is suffering, not no body else. No one knows how I feel inside until their in my shoes. I am so shameless of myself. When will it stop? When I was born I had an open spine, that doctors gave me 24 hours to live. The open spine was healed by god not the doctors. When I got a little older to walk, I had no problems walking, running. I thank the lord for healing my open spine. I had six toes, double jointed thumb, on the side of it had another figure growing or a bone. I didn’t have eye lids, tear ducks. The ears are small , canals narrow, webby neck as the doctors put it. I had so many surgeries when I was under 9 years old. Dr Beard and another dr. work together on my eyes back

Posted by Brenda 03/06/07 6:40 PM

dear tyra my name is keila i am 19 going on 20 and i am having problems with my butt i want it to be bigger i want a butt lift so i can have a nice size butt

Posted by keila 01/22/07 8:08 AM

Dear Tyra My name is Tifanee I am 15 years old about to be 16 I live in California I was born with one boob as I was a little girl it did not matter it was not till I was going in to J.R. high that the name calling start my class mates would call me names such as un-tit,biggie little,it would hurt I member going home and at night I would cry myself to sleep well most of my 7th grade year I would have to hear that at all most thr end of my 7th grade year two of my teacher took me to nordstroms to get a fake boob I would have to bra's with pockets on one side and i rememer being so happy when I went to school all the name calling stoped for a whail and now some how it starting up again since I have got a fake boob I have went though 2 the fake boob keeps on ripping the first time it rip was because I went swiming in it too much and so thats how the first one riped and the second one riped was becuase I sleeped in it becuase I was at my cousins house and at night I have to put my fake boob in a this holder for it and im just tierd of geting one each year because it rips I just want to a real one cause I feel like the fake boob is to hard for me to take care of so I was woundering if you can give me some advice please and thank you!!!! take care Tifanee

Posted by Tifanee 12/29/06 1:31 AM

Dear Tyra My name is Tifanee I am 15 years old about to be 16 I live in California I was born with one boob as I was a little girl it did not matter it was not till I was going in to J.R. high that the name calling start my class mates would call me names such as un-t$t,biggie little,it would hurt I member going home and at night I would cry myself to sleep well most of my 7th grade year I would have to hear that at all most thr end of my 7th grade year two of my teacher took me to nordstroms to get a fake boob I would have to bra's with pockets on one side and i rememer being so happy when I went to school all the name calling stoped for a whail and now some how it starting up again since I have got a fake boob I have went though 2 the fake boob keeps on ripping the first time it rip was because I went swiming in it too much and so thats how the first one riped and the second one riped was becuase I sleeped in it becuase I was at my cousins house and at night I have to put my fake boob in a this holder for it and im just tierd of geting one each year because it rips I just want to a real one cause I feel like the fake boob is to hard for me to take care of so I was woundering if you can give me some advice please and thank you!!!! take care Tifanee

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Posted by Michelle 12/08/06 8:16 AM

I have a problem that I am hoping you can help me with,...In 2003 I had surgery on my nose. This surgery was supposed to inprove my breathing and as an added bonus, inprove the shape of my nose. Well, two kids later I am still having problems breathing and the right side of my nose feels as if its collapsing. I now feel as if I have trust issues with doctors on this subject. My question to you is, do you know of anyone in the Washington D.C. area that you can recommend that will fix me but not break my pocket book in the process. I know that it may not be possible but I am not sure who else to ask. HELP!

Posted by Leia 12/07/06 2:05 PM

Hello Tyra, My name is Lashell and I live in charlotte, NC. I Read the comment entry that Charniece Wilson submitted and understand exactly what she is going through. I also have big breast and a small frame. She didn't say this but usually when people tell a black girl she is shaped like a white girl it means she have no booty. Which is a stereotype because I see white girls all the time at my college with more booty than me and makes me feel less than a black girl because we are suppose to be infamous for having big booties but not me. Tyra Im tired of dudes telling me I have a cute face and thats it. I thought about a breast reduction but I don't want any doctor cutting on my body. I just Had a baby and could use a tummy tuck to but I can do some crucnches for that but theres no exercise to remove fat from the breast. About my flat booty, Jeans with pockets does not work and there is other cute bottoms I would like to where. Tell Me tyra does butt shots exist I have to know cause I need some. Holla back

Posted by Lashell 12/07/06 10:19 AM

Hi Tyra, I've been reading all the different comments that are posted and this is a little different from the rest. I was born with a Large Hairy Birthmark on half of my back and around my neck. I had about 6 surgeries when I was born to remove the birthmark and was left with huge scarring. The doctors called it skin grafting, where parts of the skin is taken from other parts of the body. When I turned 5 I had to start kindergarten and stop with surgery altogether. What I'm asking is if you know of plastic surgeons who could possibly fix this and make it look better or am I scarred for life?

Posted by Sonia 12/06/06 5:55 PM

Tyra! I was in a car accident, and had 47 stitches in my face. It's been a year, and I've gone to meet with the plastic surgeon, but he keeps on moving my plastic surgury! I went to see him and in June, and he said to wait until Sept, then in Sept he said Oct, and now it's almost december, and i havent got a call to when my surgury is to be. I dont know what to do, i want my surgury now, i have low to no self confidence, i hate meeting new people, and going out with no makeup is out of the question! Should i think of going to a different plastic surgeon that will stick to his word??

Posted by heather 11/28/06 11:36 PM

Dear Tyra, My name is Charniece Wilson, I'm 15 years old, and I live in Memphis, Tn. I love your show and I watch it all the time. The reason I'm writing you this letter is because I have a huge problem. A problem that is in the way of me being who I really am, who I want to be, and the things I want to do. Everyday that I go to the mirror to put on my clothes I literally hate what I see. It's hard for me to love myself when I don't like myself. I have a lot of friends some good and some bad. The good friends try their best to help keep my spirit up. The bad ones are always bragging on how beautiful they are and tell me that I have a white girl shape (whatever that's suppose to mean). It bothers me a lot what people think of me even though I know that no one is perfect. It hurts me spiritually and emotionally, but by me being so strong I try not to let it bother me. But you can only smile for so long. When I look at myself all I see is what's on the outside. To me it's not beautiful and I always find myself wondering of all those beautiful friends you have why are you always labeled "the big girl." I hate being called fat so I tried everything from strict diets to complete starvation. Sometimes when I see some of my friends from back when I was younger they tell me "Girl you've gotten fat," I answer in "yeah I know". Then change the subject of the conversation. It hurts me so bad when I look at some of my younger pictures and I see how

Posted by Charniece 11/14/06 8:46 AM

Hi,Tyra I'am a 22 year old single mom of two beauitful girls who are six and one .I have a problem after having my babys it left me feeling ugly about myself .My stomch has nasty looking strech marks and I also have a tattoo of a sun that is now the size of my little girls head so please Tyra help me out I will send pictures help me feel like a woman again not like a monter. thanks !

Posted by chanell hernandez 11/08/06 3:57 PM