Our
Approach: Best Doctors Lists
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We are happy for our colleagues that appear on these
lists and for their
patients who believe they made a good choice. We have been flattered
when we
have appeared on these lists and we appreciate the selection of Dr. Todd
Pollock as one of the Best Plastic Surgeons of 2008 and 2009 by D Magazine
and that of Dr. Harlan Pollock in past years. |
Finding the right plastic surgeon is not easy and requires the patient to use
judgment in this selection. Such factors as reputation, credentials, referral
by friend or physicians, and personal interview are combined to make this selection.
 Best
Doctor Lists
Cosmetic Surgery: Promises and Pitfalls™
PROMISES
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Best
doctor lists are compiled to assist consumers in
finding the “best” physician or surgeon. Most physicians
and surgeons featured on these lists are quality
professionals. |
PITFALLS
- It is impossible to find objective criteria that
can be used to determine the BEST medical
professional. In reality, there is NO meaningful
list that ranks the quality of physicians.
- The listing of a medical professional on a “best”
list offers no guarantee of quality.
- Most lists are prepared by magazines interested primarily
in advertising dollars and circulation. While most
try to produce accurate lists there is no readily available
criteria to rank physicians and surgeons by quality.
- Popular vote by the public lacks
objectivity as each person has limited contact with
the medical community.
- Voting by peers is not much better
as each physician may be aware of the quality of
peers in his /her hospital but not those across town
or those who are office-based.
- Votes can be actively solicited by physicians and
surgeons who recognize being on “the Best List” has
significant marketing value. We have had this experience.
- Magazines sell advertising to many of those professionals
featured on the “Best List.” Advertising in a magazine
may be a factor in such a listing.
- There are commercial ventures that publish “Best
Lists” as their primary business. Many charge fees
for inclusion on their lists.
- No professional organization ranks its membership
on the basis of quality - or who's “best.”
- Internet
listings of physicians are purchased by each of the
physicians. The fine print clearly states that inclusion
on the site is not an endorsement of that physician
but instead is for informational purposes.
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A
recent airline magazine put these lists into
perspective. The publication
contained a list of "America's Finest Steakhouses" with
a list of "Best
Italian Restaurants" which was followed
by "The Best Plastic Surgeons in
America " list . . . Each list is simply
a paid advertisement. |
Our
Procedures Page »
More
Promises and Pitfalls Information »
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