How To Choose the Right Plastic Surgeon for You

What Patients Should Look for When Choosing a Plastic Surgeon

Selecting a plastic surgeon is one of the most important decisions you will make on your aesthetic journey. The right surgeon offers not only technical skills but also relevant experience, high ethical standards, a strong record of safety, a commitment to excellence, price and service transparency, and a personalized approach to care. As you consider plastic surgery, you may want to have more than one consultation. As you go through your consultation you will want to observe the feel of the office, the mood of the staff, if you feel a connection with the surgeon, if the surgeon listens to your concerns, if the surgeon offers their opinion and advice (even if it contradicts what you want), if your surgeon offers you a realistic risk/benefit analysis, and how you felt while you were at the visit (comfortable, excited, anxious, scared, etc.).

It is a good sign if your surgeon explains various ways that you could approach your concerns and why one, or the other may be better for you.

It is a good sign if your surgeon is willing to take on hard cases or manage medical issues as this demonstrates confidence in their abilities and experience with challenging cases.

It is a good sign if your surgeon has privileges at a well-respected hospital or institution as this indicates that they have been through a thorough credentialling process and do not have any major red flags on their record.

It is a good sign if your surgeon tells you about complications in their patients, as it shows they have experience and that they are willing to be honest.

It is a good sign if your surgeon has numerous positive reviews, and a few neutral or bad reviews. No-one can make every patient happy, and patients are more likely to leave a review if they’re unhappy than happy. 100% positive reviews suggest that the reviews may not be real, or that the surgeon doesn’t treat many patients.

It is a good sign if a surgeon encourages you to take your time deciding and to consider getting multiple opinions. This demonstrates that they have confidence in their plan and reputation.

At your consultation you should feel empowered to ask as many questions as you like. Questions you should consider asking include:

-          Are there other procedures for this I might consider?

-          Why did you recommend this specific procedure for me?

-          Would you have recommended a different procedure to someone else?

-          Do you have any concerns specific to me about performing this procedure?

-          What complications or risks should I consider as I make my decision?

-          Do you have much experience managing complications of this procedure?

-          What happens if I have a complication and what might that cost?

-          If I were to have a serious complication, do you have privileges at a nearby hospital and would you manage my care if I required admission? If not, why not?

-          Can you show me before and after photos of your patients for this procedure?

-          Do you perform this procedure often?

-          Where do you perform your procedures or surgeries?

-          Tell me about the anesthesia staff.

-          Tell me about your training.

-          Tell me about your experience.

-          Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?

-          Have you ever been sued? What was the outcome?

-          Another surgeon told me XYZ, what do you think of that recommendation? Why is yours the same, or different?

-          Can you provide me with any patient references?

Board Certification and Why It Matters

Board certification is one of the clearest indicators of a surgeon’s training and commitment to patient safety. The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is the only board recognized to certify plastic surgeons in the full spectrum of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. Surgeons certified by the ABPS have completed a minimum of six years of surgical training with at least three of these years of training dedicated exclusively to plastic surgery, passed comprehensive examinations that include a 1-year review of all surgical cases performed, and uphold strict ethical and safety standards. Surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery also are required to perform annual continuing education and to recertify every ten years. Dr. Poppler is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Patients often don’t realize that many practitioners offering cosmetic procedures are not trained plastic surgeons. In the Treasure Valley alone, there are obstetrician/gynecologists, general surgeons, emergency medicine doctors, and general practitioners who have cosmetic practices and who offer cosmetic operations. Some of these doctors advertise that they are board certified, so it is important to ask which board certified them. Certification by the American Board of Surgery (General Surgery), the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, or the American Board of Emergency Medicine offers no reassurance that the provider is adequately trained to perform intricate plastic surgical operations.  There is a “board” that calls itself the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery that is not a recognized board by the American Board of Medical Specialties (the governing body that creates and monitors the quality of subspecialty boards like the American Board of Plastic Surgery). The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery has a fancy website and claims that its practitioners have undergone thorough training, but this is not true and their claims are not endorsed or verified by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

In Idaho it is also important to ensure that your provider is adequately trained to perform a procedure on you. Aestheticians, Nurses, and Nurse Practitioners can perform invasive surgical and non-surgical procedures in their offices or clinics legally. DO NOT ASSUME THAT SOMEONE IS QUALIFIED TO PERFORM A PROCEDURE JUST BECAUSE THEY OFFER IT. Standard training for these professions includes minimal or no surgical training. Physician Assistants can also perform invasive surgical or non-surgical procedures, but require an overseeing physician, who may or may not be physically present with them. It is important to ask who their overseeing physician is, and what are the qualifications of their overseeing physician.

Experience and Specialized Training

Experience directly influences your surgeon’s judgment, aesthetic outcomes, and complication management. Many years of practice provides reassurance that your surgeon has treated a wide range of cases, refined their technique, and developed a deep understanding of both surgical and non‑surgical aesthetic care.

Dr. Poppler has been practicing plastic surgery since 2010 and has been practicing a broad range of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures in Idaho since 2019. Dr. Poppler practices at St. Luke’s Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Clinic alongside his practice at Treasure Valley Plastic Surgery so that he can continue to take on complex cases that require the support of a large institution like St. Luke’s Hospital and so that he can maintain the fine skills and keen judgement those cases require. Dr. Poppler’s experience has led to him becoming the Medical Staff Director of Plastic Surgery for St. Luke’s Health System.

Fellowship training adds another layer of expertise. A fellowship is a period of medical or surgical study that occurs after residency training. It is usually focused in one sub-specialized area. There are fellowships that are accredited by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) such as the Mayo Clinic Hand Surgery Fellowship that Dr. Poppler attended. The AAMC is the association that accredits residency training programs and sets the high standard of education required for surgeons to be eligible for board certification (except the American Board of Cosmetic surgery, which is not a real board). There are also many non-accredited fellowships including most aesthetic fellowships that can provide valuable experience but have little oversite and are therefore difficult to assess as a consumer. Dr. Poppler attended the AAMC accredited Hand Surgery Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He also attended a two-year fellowship in peripheral nerve surgery at Washington University in St. Louis overseen by the world-famous peripheral nerve surgeon, Susan Mackinnon, MD, as well as many other highly respected plastic surgeons. Dr. Poppler chose these two fellowships because they teach the fine surgical dissection skills necessary to perform complex microsurgery. The skills he learned in these fellowships give him a high level of comfort working with and around nerves. Fear of nerves and poor understanding of nerve biology, anatomy, injury and recovery is a major limitation of many surgeons and holds them back from taking on complex cases. Dr. Poppler regularly travels on mini-fellowships to famous, highly skilled surgeons around the world to learn from them.

Before-and-After Photos as a Window Into Aesthetic Style

Before-and-after galleries allow patients to evaluate a surgeon’s artistic approach, consistency, and ability to achieve natural-looking results. They also help patients determine whether a surgeon’s aesthetic aligns with their personal goals.

Patients should look for:

• Consistency across cases

• Natural proportions and balanced results

• Examples of patients with similar anatomy or concerns

Before and after photos of Dr. Poppler’s patients are available at TreasureValleyPlasticSurgery.com.

Safety Standards and Surgical Environment

A safe surgical experience depends on more than the surgeon alone. Accredited surgical facilities, trained anesthesia providers, and strict infection-control protocols all contribute to patient safety.

Key safety indicators include:

• AAAASF, AAAHC, or Joint Commission accreditation

• Experienced Board-Certified anesthesia providers

• Clear pre‑operative and post‑operative instructions

• A culture of patient-centered care

Dr. Poppler only operates at AAAASF and Joint Commission accredited facilities staffed by board certified anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).

Communication, Trust, and the Consultation Experience

Technical skill matters, but so does the relationship between surgeon and patient. A consultation should feel collaborative, informative, and pressure-free. You should leave with a clear understanding of your options, realistic expectations, and confidence in the surgeon’s ability to guide you.

Strong communication builds trust, reduces anxiety, and improves satisfaction—making it a crucial factor in choosing the right surgeon.

At Treasure Valley Plastic Surgery, Dr. Poppler takes the time to listen to you and ensure that all your concerns are addressed. In-fact, we’re so confident that you’ll prefer us over the competition that we will credit your account for the consultation cost of one competitor when you book surgery with us (ask for details – 208-753-2400).

Bringing It All Together

Choosing a plastic surgeon is ultimately about finding someone with the right combination of training, experience, aesthetic vision, and personal connection. At Treasure Valley Plastic Surgery, we offer a wide range of surgeries and services to ensure that you get the right procedure for you, not just the one we happen to offer. We guarantee that if there is a better procedure for you and that we don’t offer, we will help direct you to an experienced and qualified provider who does offer that service. Dr. Poppler is recognized among the best plastic surgeons in Idaho and is the director of plastic surgery for St. Luke’s Health System. Dr. Poppler has nearly two decades of experience performing simple and complex cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries, is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and has extensive fellowship training. Dr. Poppler’s first priority is your comfort, safety, and satisfaction. We are so confident that you’ll love your experience at Treasure Valley Plastic Surgery that we encourage you to seek other opinions.

Visit TreasureValleyPlasticSurgery.com or call 208-753-2400 to book a consultation today.