Hand injuries can be devastating, given the degree that each of us relies on them to perform the most basic of tasks. Hand surgery is a complicated procedure requiring training and experience. A hand surgeon must be able to skillfully and adequately reconstruct the skin, bone, nerves, tendons, and joints. Because this may require several operations to complete, patients must be committed to their recovery and aftercare.

While thousands of people undergo cosmetic procedure every year with positive results, choosing a doctor can be the most important way to ensure a successful outcome.

Here are some tips for success.

Personal interviews
Be sure to plan time to interview a selection of doctors and to spend enough time with each to ask some tough questions and evaluate your comfort level with them. Ask about the specific hand surgery procedure you need – find out how many of that type they have performed, how many they perform each year and what types of complications they have dealt with. They should be willing to provide patient references that you can contact.

Check their credentials
Once you have narrowed down your selection, the state medical board can confirm that your doctor of choice is licensed to practice in the state and provide a report of any settlements or records of disciplinary action.

A cosmetic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery has completed an education specifically in plastic procedure, beyond the minimum required to be licensed to practice medicine. For plastic surgeon, this entails at least five years of training with at least two of those specifically in plastic surgery plus continuing education to maintain certification. A patient can verify their surgeon’s certification directly from the ABSP website.

Make sure you know where the hand surgery will be performed and that it is an accredited facility. The association that grants the accreditation can provide this confirmation. If not performed at a hospital, confirm that the doctor has hospital privileges at a nearby facility that will provide a place to take a patient in the event of complications.

Finally, the last deciding factor should be your own intuition. A cosmetic surgeon could be the most highly recommended in the state but if you don’t feel at ease with him or her, it’s probably best to keep looking. You’ll need to have realistic expectations in regards to what hand surgery can and cannot accomplish.

Most people use their hands often, whether to work or perform daily tasks. Therefore, when you experience an injury on this body part, it is necessary for it to be fixed quickly. Fortunately, there are a few types of hand surgery that are meant to cure some of the most common issues encountered.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is quite common, but luckily, it can be repaired in most cases. The hand surgery available for this ailment requires the surgeon to make an incision near the wrist, cutting the tissue that is putting pressure on the affected nerves. Once the pressure is relieved, the hands will be bandaged up, and a wrist brace will need to be worn while the area heals.

The splint will need to stay on for at least two weeks usually, and pain medication will likely be necessary during that time. The recovery time varies depending on the person, as well as how long the pain was present before the operation.

One type of malady that many do not know about is called Dupuytren’s contracture, which usually involves thickening of the skin of the palm. The result is that the fingers contract, and there is also a reduction in the ability for the hands to function. The operation involves cutting into the area where the thickened tissue is, which should allow the fingers to move freely again.

Occasionally, a skin graft is needed to replace the thickened skin, and physical therapy may be needed afterward to help the fingers move freely once again.

Another ailment is rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disorder that results in inflammation of the joints. Treatment varies depending on the patient and how severe the disease is.

Sometimes, surgical cleaning works fine, in which the old inflamed tissue is simply removed so that it does not hurt as much to move the joints. However, many older patients with severe cases need to undergo arthroplasty, which involves replacing the joint with an artificial one. These are just some of the most common types of hand surgery for this condition.

There are plenty of issues that can occur with hands and wrists. Luckily, there are surgeries appropriate for nearly all of them. If you ever have an injury in this area, it is important to know immediately whether there is a way to correct the issue. This way, you can set up an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible in order to fix the issue.