Making an informed decision

Choosing a doctor

If you're considering cosmetic surgery and looking for a doctor, your GP is a good place to start. A GP can provide independent advice and help you determine whether you should consult a cosmetic surgeon or another appropriately trained doctor. Your GP may also be aware of doctors practising beyond their skills and expertise.

Check qualifications
The Medical Council of New Zealand register will tell you whether a doctor is registered in New Zealand and what their qualifications are. Any conditions imposed on a doctor's practice will also be listed here.

Finding out more
Visit the websites of the new Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal and its predecessor the Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.

The tribunals are responsible for disciplining doctors; details of all the cases they hear are available online. If a doctor has been found guilty of a charge then their name will usually be published.

Deciding on treatment

Before you decide on treatment (surgical or non-surgical), make sure you have real answers to these questions:

• Is there more than one procedure or treatment option available?
• How long will the procedure take and how painful will it be?
• What complications might occur and how common are they?
• Where will the procedure be performed and will it be under general or local anaesthetic?
• What's the total cost of treatment?
• How long will it take to recover and what level of care will I require afterwards?
• Will there be any bruising, bleeding, swelling or scarring?
• Does the doctor have a nurse to assist? And is there full resuscitation equipment in the surgery?
• What can I do if I'm unhappy with the result? Can it be undone or corrected? What will this cost?

Case studies

Maria (not her real name) wanted to look her best on her wedding day so she gave Botox a go. She wisely had a trial run six months before the big day, and a second treatment closer to her wedding day. She was thrilled with the results and would love to have kept it up if it wasn't so expensive - Botox generally lasts 3 to 6 months and costs upwards of $250 per treatment.

Deb's experience wasn't so satisfying. She had an appendix scar revised, abdominal liposuction, and fat implanted into her cheeks - all under local anaesthetic. Deb describes the use of local anaesthetic as completely inadequate. Although happy with her cheek implants, Deb was not satisfied with the scar revision. She also thought her treatment was expensive at $6000, particularly with "theatre" charges when the procedure was carried out in the specialist's rooms and not in an operating theatre.