Verify academic formation and titles of the surgeon. You may consult the site of the Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica (Brazilian Plastic Surgery Society), where all members are listed. To become a member of the Society a training period in General Surgery (two years) and Plastic Surgery (three years) is required. The candidate is also submitted to a written and an oral examination.
You should not let yourself be involved by ordinary media propaganda that seldom treat the subject scientifically, offering miracles or simple and attractive solutions for complex and difficult problems.
Always remember that rapid, safe, simple, and low cost solution, with a fast recuperation is everything what any surgeon and patient want. It will never be a privilege of only one.
Use the most powerful instrument of search nowadays – the internet – to obtain information to be discussed with your surgeon.
Personnel recommendation is yet an important source of reference particularly if it comes from a treated patient.
Finally, when consulting the surgeon remember that even if all previous items are well satisfied, a full relation of empathy and confidence must reign. You should feel safe and sheltered. Otherwise look for another professional with the same qualifications. The good relationship doctor-patient will be put into test along the post-surgery period, not before. Therefore trust in your intuition. Titles are essential but not enough.