Reno and Lake Tahoe, Nevada – Plastic Surgeons James E. Murphy

Are you looking for a plastic surgeon? In most states, a licensed physician may perform cosmetic procedures without being board certified in plastic surgery. Just because a doctor is “board certified” does not mean he or she is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).

Many “cosmetic surgeons” say that they are board certified, but only the American Board of Plastic Surgery has traditionally overseen the training of a plastic surgeon. We strongly recommend that you take the time to identify which boards have certified your surgeon, and that you consider the amount of specialized training and experience your surgeon has performing your type of procedure. This includes the experience and ”hands-on training” in their specific residency and fellowship program, not just where they trained, as well as their experience post residency and in practice. Experience Matters…

To be board certified, a plastic surgeon must:

Graduate from an accredited medical school
Complete a minimum of five years of surgical training following medical school, including an accredited plastic surgery residency program for an additional two years.
Pass comprehensive oral and written exams

What Questions should you ask in choosing a surgeon?

What are the doctor’s credentials? Are there complaints against your doctor that are unaswered?

What is the doctor’s experience? How long has he/she been in this specific field, and how many of this kind of surgery has he performed?

Ask for referrals from friends. Keeping in mind to ask about like surgeries. If you are looking for a breast augmentation, you may not want to talk to someone that has had a facelift.

Before-and-after gallery of photographs. Make sure you look closely at your surgeon’s gallery, and you like what you see. This is usually their best work.

Where is the procedure performed? Is there a board certified anesthesiologist there for me? Is this performed in a certified, accredited facility?

Make sure you are confortable with the surgeon, your rapport with him, and also with his office staff.

What “red flags” should you look for?

A doctor that is impatient, rushes you, and does not answer all of your questions.
A doctor that is willing to combine several major procedures into one operation to save money and fees. Surgery is a major traumatic stressor on your body. You want to be as safe as can be, especially with an elective procedure.
A doctor that refuses to answer your questions, provide you with information, and one that makes you feel pressured to schedule.

In both aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. James E. Murphy is dedicated to providing quality patient care and achieving optimal results for his patients. Dr. Murphy has over 14 years of experience. Read his qualifications to gain peace of mind.