“How do I know he is the real thing?” Southwest Plastic Surgery’s patient coordinators field variations of this question on almost every phone call from an out-of-towner thinking about scheduling a consult.
This week the answer to that question landed on the cover of a magazine. Texas Today asked what matters in choosing a Texas plastic surgeon and took a look at Dr. Frank Agullo’s credentials to help its readers.
A Title Anyone Can Use
It begins with a surprising fact. Here is Dr. Agullo explaining the situation with cosmetic surgery credentials: “Anyone with a medical license can legally call themselves a cosmetic surgeon in Texas.”
So a plastic surgeon who has gone through a plastic surgery residency or fellowship program accredited by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and passed the ABPS’ written and oral board examinations, and any doctor with a medical license can both walk into a room and call themselves “cosmetic surgeons.”
The Five-Minute Check
This is why Dr. Agullo always recommends that his potential patients do some sleuthing before booking a consult with him or any doctor. He gave these tips to Texas Today, originally dictating them to his coordinators back in September to pass along to prospective patients.
“Patients can look up a doctor’s Texas medical license on the Texas Medical Board website, and they can see if it’s in good standing and any history the doctor may have. But I think it’s more important to make sure that your plastic surgeon is board certified. You can do this by going to the American Board of Plastic Surgery website and looking up your physician, and they will quickly confirm whether the physician is board certified in plastic surgery or not.”
In five minutes you’ll have peace of mind that your plastic surgeon is who he says he is. The coordinators at Southwest Plastic Surgery encourage every caller to give Dr. Agullo the five-minute check. Start with a search for his license through the Texas Medical Board. Then check that he is board certified with the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Four Questions to Ask Any Surgeon
Texas Today also printed these questions for you to ask a potential plastic surgeon. The coordinators can attest that they field these questions all the time.
- Are you board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery? Board certification is the only credential a doctor can’t bestow upon himself.
- Is the facility where you perform your surgeries accredited? Accreditation is your assurance that the facility’s equipment, staff and procedures, including who is administering your anesthesia and what the game plan is in case of an emergency, meet strict standards.
- How many of this procedure do you perform each year? Pay attention to the response. You want to hear that the doctor regularly performs this specific procedure, not just lots of surgeries in general.
- What would make me NOT a good candidate? If the answer to that last one is “nothing,” you are talking to a salesperson.
The Credentials Behind the Cover
Dr. Agullo is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and by the American Board of Surgery. He completed his general surgery residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and his plastic surgery fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, and he has served as a Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine since 2011. Dr. Agullo’s memberships and accomplishments also include:
- Castle Connolly Top Doctor for thirteen consecutive years, 2014 through 2026
- A seat on the editorial board of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the peer-reviewed journal of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
- More than 40 peer-reviewed publications, plus chapters in plastic surgery textbooks
And if you live in one of six other states, your pre-op consultation and follow-up can happen closer to home. In his words: “I am honored and proud to say that I am a licensed physician in Texas, New Mexico, Florida, California, Washington, Nevada, and Arizona.”
Why the Trip to El Paso
Texas Today calls El Paso a destination for plastic surgery, and the numbers back it up. Southwest Plastic Surgery has two El Paso locations, plus The MedSpa at Southwest Plastic Surgery. And they cater to lots of out-of-towners. In fact, about 70 percent of their surgical patients travel in from elsewhere. “People find us because of a specific procedure or a specific technique, then they do their homework and realize the trip is worth it,” Dr. Agullo said.
Take Preservé breast augmentation for example. He was one of the first roughly 30 surgeons in the US trained in the Motiva technique, which places the implant in front of the muscle with no muscle release and preserves more of the native breast tissue. “I have patients who came to El Paso specifically because they researched Preservé and found out I was the only one offering it in the region. I had never seen that happen with any implant company before,” he said. Wondering what to expect in those first days at home? Read the guide to Preservé recovery day by day.
Planning a trip for surgery? Here’s what Dr. Agullo has to say on the matter: “Depending on the procedure, I will give the recommendation of what time to stay in El Paso. For large procedures, it’s usually a minimum of seven days. For smaller procedures, they can travel as soon as two to three days. We have several hotels that we’ve partnered with for accommodations for our patients. And we also have the ability to have nurse visits, and even 24-hour care can be arranged.” More on airfare, hotels and timing is in plastic surgery in Texas.
When the Answer Is No
You may have read articles touting the many perks of plastic surgery, but it’s not for everyone. Anatomy, certain (uncontrolled) medical conditions and unrealistic expectations (think Instagram filters) can all rule someone out for plastic surgery. The same can be said for active smokers, at least in reference to some surgeries. Dr. Agullo turns away plastic surgery patients every week. “A good consultation is a candidacy assessment, not a sales pitch. If a surgeon has never told you no, be careful.”
Wondering what a consultation includes, or what it costs? The consultation cost post has you covered.
More From Dr. Agullo
Read his first-person version of this piece on agulloplasticsurgery.com. The surgeon-to-surgeon read is on drworldwide.com.
Why Choose Southwest Plastic Surgery
Southwest Plastic Surgery operates two locations in El Paso along with The MedSpa at Southwest Plastic Surgery. Dr. Agullo is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, completed his plastic surgery fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, and has been a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for thirteen consecutive years. The practice has streamlined the process for out-of-town patients through its patient coordinators, from virtual consultation to partnered hotels and nurse visits.
Ready to Talk?
Ask the four questions. The practice will answer all of them.
Call (915) 590-7900 or text 1-866-814-0038 to set up an appointment, including a virtual visit if you’re far away. #StayBeautiful
Find Dr. Agullo at @RealDrWorldWide on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, @Agullo on X, or @AgulloPlasticSurgery on Facebook.
