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The guide that matters most

How to tell a qualified surgeon from a good marketer

In many states, any licensed physician can advertise as a "cosmetic surgeon." The reassuring title on the website may mean very little. Here's the one distinction that actually protects you — and how to verify it in two minutes.

By Mirelle Editorial · 6 min read
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Get the research, not the sales pitch A short, honest email on cosmetic surgery — procedures, costs, and how to choose well.

Procedure guides

All procedures →
ABreast

Breast augmentation, explained plainly

Implant types and trade-offs, augmentation versus a lift, and what "revision" really means.

Mirelle Editorial · 7 min read
BBody

The BBL safety questions to ask first

Why surgeon technique matters more here than almost any other procedure.

Mirelle Editorial · 8 min read
CBody

What liposuction can and can't do

The areas it suits, the results to expect, and why it isn't a weight-loss procedure.

Mirelle Editorial · 6 min read
DBody

Tummy tuck versus liposuction

Muscle repair versus skin removal, and how to know which one your goal calls for.

Mirelle Editorial · 6 min read
EFace

Reading a rhinoplasty portfolio

Cosmetic versus functional goals, why revisions are common, and what to look for.

Mirelle Editorial · 7 min read
FCombined

How a mommy makeover is planned

Combining procedures into one recovery — and when staging them makes more sense.

Mirelle Editorial · 8 min read
Choosing a surgeon

The credential that actually protects you

Here is the single most useful thing to understand before you book a consultation: in many states, any licensed physician can advertise themselves as a "cosmetic surgeon," regardless of their surgical training. The credential that carries weight is board certification by a recognized board — for plastic surgery, the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties.

Don't take the practice's word for it. Verify the surgeon yourself through the American Board of Plastic Surgery's verification tool, or ABMS Certification Matters for any specialty. A surgeon's marketing is not a credential; the board's record is.

Read the full guide

Costs & financing

All money guides →
$Costs

What a surgery quote should actually include

Before you compare two prices, confirm each covers the surgeon's fee, anesthesia, and facility fee. A lower headline number that excludes two of the three isn't lower.

Mirelle Editorial · 5 min read
%Financing

How medical financing really works

Most cosmetic procedures are elective and not insured. What financing options practices typically offer, and the questions worth asking.

Mirelle Editorial · 6 min read
The Mirelle newsletter

Make this decision with your eyes open

Join readers getting Mirelle's plain-spoken guidance on cosmetic surgery — what the procedures involve, what they cost, and how to choose a surgeon you can trust. Free, occasional, easy to leave.

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Recovery & aftercare

All recovery guides →
RRecovery

A realistic recovery timeline

What the first week, first month, and first season actually look like for common procedures.

Mirelle Editorial · 7 min read
QConsultation

Five questions for your consultation

The questions that separate a careful surgeon from a rushed one — and why the answers matter.

Mirelle Editorial · 5 min read
!Safety

Red flags worth walking away from

Pressure to book today, vague answers on facility accreditation, no view of the surgeon's own results.

Mirelle Editorial · 6 min read
When you're ready

Match with a surgeon we've verified

Answer a few questions and a patient coordinator will verify your request by phone before connecting you with one board-certified practice near you. Free, private, never sold.

Find your surgeon

Takes about a minute · Your information goes to one matched practice only

Common questions

Questions people ask before choosing a surgeon

Board-certified plastic surgeon vs. "cosmetic surgeon" — what's the difference? +
In many states any licensed physician can call themselves a cosmetic surgeon regardless of surgical training. "Board-certified plastic surgeon" means accredited residency training and passed examinations of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties. Verify the certification, not the label.
How do I verify a surgeon is board-certified? +
Don't rely on the practice's website. Look the surgeon up through the American Board of Plastic Surgery's lookup or ABMS Certification Matters, and confirm it's current and matches your procedure's specialty.
How much does cosmetic surgery cost? +
It varies widely by procedure, region, surgeon experience, and facility. A quote should include the surgeon's fee, anesthesia, and facility fees — confirm what's included before comparing. Most procedures are elective and not insurance-covered, though financing is often available. Only an in-person consultation produces an accurate price.
How does Mirelle decide which surgeons to include? +
We accept only practices whose surgeons hold current board certification from a recognized board and operate in accredited facilities — verified directly, not self-reported. Practices stay in the network based on how they treat matched patients.