How did you know it was meant to be...

So, how did you know when you found your doctor that he or she was YOUR doc?
This is so very hard. Many of you read that my WLS offered to do my surgery for me as he is fellowshipped and does the surgery but isn't board cert. Hes a great WSL doc, but he isn't a PS and I just felt it wasn't right for me.

So I have met a lot of docs and also had phone and online consults. Its so hard to decide. It seems they all have a different approach. The cost range is crazy etc etc.

So, how did you know when you found the right one for you?

I'll start, and I look forward to reading other's responses. If I could choose any surgeon in the world, it would be a Brazilian-trained surgeon. I've researched surgery for years, and I believe that Brazil has some of the best (if not the best) surgeons in the world. Cosmetic surgery there is part of the culture. Even poverty-stricken people in Brazil save for surgery. 

Anyway, I knew that my first choice would be a Brazilian surgeon, at least for my facial work. However, when the U.S. dollar lost it's ground against other currency, it became more expensive to have surgery in Brazil than in the U.S., so I gave up on the idea. 

I also wanted a facial surgeon for my facial work. That was important to me. I consulted with several U.S. surgeons, but decided that I would only use them for body work. The U.S. facial specialists were somewhat out of my price range, or at least, were more expensive than I felt I wanted.

I kept researching, and ran across the surgeon *****cently did my facial surgery. He is Brazilian-trained, and a facial specialist. I could afford him. As soon as I booked with him, I KNEW that he was right for me. I just knew. I don't know how to explain it. I had my surgery on March 7, 2012, and my results get better by the hour. I'm thrilled. No complications, no problems. I could not be happier.

Yesterday, I booked a tummy tuck with a doctor in Pensacola for June 7th. She is the same doctor that I was scheduled with before my facelift in Costa Rica, but I cancelled with her to get the facelift. My quote with her was about to expire, so I booked and paid my deposit for a tummy tuck only. The cost will be 5,500 and will be done in a hospital with a one night stay. She's an expert with tummy tucks, and I have personally seen her work on several patients. I know she's right for me where tummy tucks are concerned. 

I don't know how to explain it, but when everything comes together and you find the right surgeon, you will know it. I'm not totally convinced that you've given up on the surgeon who is not board certified. I remember your posts about him, and I think he may still be a good option for you. At any rate, I hope you find your anwer very soon, as I can say from experience that is it wonderful to be on the recovery side of this journey!

I picked my doctor for several reasons. 
   1.  His outcomes are good.  I looked a pictures and liked his work. 
   2.  He has experience with WLS patients.  He knows the issues with our skin and our recovery needs.  I spent two nights in the hospital on the Bariatric ward so they were prepared for my nutritional needs.
   3.  After meeting with him, I was comfortable with the care I would get from him.  I don't need the best bedside rapport, but I wanted to feel like he would listen to me  and was concerned with me as a person, not a surgery.
   4.  He is board certified.  This was important to me.  I know doctors have to get experience somewhere, but when it came to a LBL I didn't want to be the learning case.  Mine was a 10 hour surgery (LBL, BL, & upper eyelid bleth) with over 1000 stitches around my body.  I wanted someone experienced.
   5.  He has partner that can be his "second" in long difficult surgeries.  His partner (his brother) is also board certified and they were trained in the same program.  Heaven forbid something happen to my PS, there is someone that could step up and help if needed. 

I had lower cost options available to me.  My PS was not the cheapest, but not the most expensive either.  He was worth the money for the right outcome for me.

Good luck with your research.  Be comfortable with who ever you pick.

Kay

Well first Patty and Jen from this site were so happy with his results, and I saw them first hand and I felt comfortable that they didn't have a single complaint. Second, I thought his prices were reasonable for being in the US in an affluent area.

Every single person in his office was happy, supportive and seemed to love their job. I've never been treated so well in my life. Their coordinator was so on top of things. Every single email, phone call and request was handled extremely promptly.

When I met Dr. Behmand he right away made me feel totally trusting, just instinctual not only as the nicest Dr. I've ever met, but just totally blind trust as his skill level. I did not even interview anyone else. I am a very rational, logical, analytical type, who normally does ton of research and makes decisions based on facts, not feelings.

But every once in a while my intuition just says loud and clear that this is just the right thing and the right person, and when my intuition yells at me like this, I listen. It was right on target.

I remember when I got out of surgery and I was screaming in pain and hysterical and they were trying to send me home as planned, the one thing I could see was Dr. B's face so clearly, and it was contorted in pain as if he could feel my pain, and felt so guilty.

It wasn't his fault and I felt so bad for him that he would feel guilt for my pain; I'm just a pain wimp and he did everything perfectly. But I was touched by how empathetic he was and the sheer empathy on his face. He then touched my arm gently as if to comfort me and offered to admit me to the hospital, which I immediately jumped on.

You know when you meet the right one.. you just feel it. I did not tell Dr. B how to do my nose.. I gave him an idea (narrower, shorter) but other than that I said I have no idea how to pick what would look good on me. You just do what you think is best.. and he made my nose a work of art.. totally perfect for my face.

Lame but I spent hours with a hand mirror looking at my nose, marveling at his handiwork. I have not been so interested in my body for some reason. It was as fantastic as I expected but the nose is SOOO cool and makes a big difference in my face, which I look at every day. I love my body but I'm infatuated with my nose and can't stop looking at it.

He made me look really natural, not plastic. I let him pick between two breast size implants.. of course he picked the more conservative one. I didn't give him a single instruction on my LBL. I couldn't be happier. Check out my pictures.. I think you'll see why. Amazing what he did with my raw material.. just amazing.