Start with the credentials
In Indonesia, look for the Sp.B.P.R.E. suffix — Spesialis Bedah Plastik Rekonstruktif Estetik. Internationally, ISAPS membership and a FICS fellowship are reliable markers of peer-reviewed standing.
Ask about volume
A surgeon who performs your specific procedure 50+ times per year will, on average, give you a more refined result than one who performs it occasionally. Don’t be shy about asking for numbers.
Listen for the “no”
A good surgeon will tell you when a procedure isn’t right for you, when a smaller intervention would serve you better, or when you should wait. Beware of surgeons who say yes to everything.