If you are going to have surgery for a serious medical condition, or if you simply want to have some cosmetic work done, you should choose your surgeon very carefully. While some surgeons are widely respected by those in their field, they may not necessarily be respected by their patients, and vice versa. Here is a list of things that you can do to find the best surgeon for you:

Talk to people: If you know someone or more than one person who has had the same type of surgery or procedure done, ask them to tell you about their experience with their surgeon. Some questions you could ask would be: How willing was the doctor to answer your questions and concerns? Did you have any complications? Would they go to the same surgeon again?

The Yellow Pages: This is not really the best way to choose someone to perform surgery on you. It is really a guessing game and those who need to advertise may not be getting the best "word of mouth" recommendations.

Your family physician: Ask your family doctor for recommendations. You can find out who the most sought after surgeons are-but do not just accept the recommendation without checking it out as well. Your taste may be different.

Your Insurance Company: Find out what doctors are covered and recommended for your particular type of surgery.

The hospital: You can even contact your hospital surgical department to find out what doctors perform the particular surgery you are having and who is the most recommended and sought after.

After you have narrowed down your choices, you can do some more specific checking to find out more about the qualifications and particulars of the surgeon.

--They should have specialized training to perform the type of surgery you are having. In order to get this type of training they have to take courses beyond medical school that give them the qualifications to perform the surgery. They should also belong to a nationally recognized professional organization which requires training and certification beyond traditional medical school.

--Call the office and find out the availability of the surgeon. You may not have time to wait the weeks and months that some surgeons require because of their busy surgery schedule. Also find out if the office is friendly and willing to answer your questions and concerns.

--Make a visit to the doctor. Do they answer your questions? How do they feel about you getting a second opinion? Do they offer pre-and post-operative care? Do you feel comfortable with them? What payment options do they offer if you don't carry insurance?

These are just some suggestions for choosing a surgeon. Use them as a guide.