Reputations are earned by doctors over decades and are hard to fake.

A cosmetic surgeon well-known for producing consistently superior results for Asian patients will grow naturally prominent without having to resort to discounting or trickery.

Internet rating sites where anonymous users assign doctors stars or points are not only unhelpful but can confuse and steer potential patients in the wrong direction.

While feedback on online message boards or consumer/doctor forums may seem like a good way to screen potential surgeons, be aware that many of the comments posted there are flippant, biased, or dishonest.