Choosing the Right Plastic Surgeon in Fort Worth: 10 Must-Ask Questions
A great result starts with choosing the best Fort Worth plastic surgeon for you and your goals. To help you find a qualified surgeon who prioritizes your safety, well-being, and results, we’re sharing 10 questions you can ask to help determine if their experience, professionalism, and compassion can achieve the outcomes you desire.
1. Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)?
Board certification proves that a surgeon completed accredited residency training and passed rigorous written and oral exams in a particular field. Doctors in other specialties may have no formal residency training in plastic surgery, but are legally allowed to perform aesthetic procedures. Make sure your Fort Worth plastic surgeon has had extensive training and experience specifically in plastic surgery to ensure a straightforward recovery and predictable results.
Dr. Kirby earned certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, confirming her mastery in the full scope of aesthetic and reconstructive procedures.
2. Where will my surgery take place, and is the facility accredited?
Accreditation tells you that an operating suite meets hundreds of hospital-grade safety benchmarks. The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (Quad A) verifies more than 350 standards covering sterile technique, life-support equipment, emergency readiness, and staff credentials. Practices choose this voluntary process to prove an extra-high commitment to patient safety.
Dr. Kirby operates inside City Surgery Center, her private, on-site suite that has earned and maintains Quad A accreditation each year. Here, you enjoy a calm, private, spa-like environment with full, rigorous safeguards, equipment, and medications.
City Surgery Center
Our on-site, Quad A-accredited surgical suite
Instead of heading to a hospital or other public surgical facility for your procedure, you can enjoy the privacy and luxury of our on-site operating room, designed to facilitate safe, top-quality care in a spa-like setting. Quad A-accreditation is the gold standard and meets or exceeds hospital standards.
3. Who provides anesthesia?
Dr. Kirby partners exclusively with physician Anesthesiologists board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology, who closely monitor you and provide specialized care every minute of your procedure and as you gently wake up after surgery. Your comfort and safety before, during, and after your plastic surgery procedure depend on your anesthesia team.
Related: Anesthesiologist vs. Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) for Plastic Surgery
4. What recovery protocol do you follow?
Fast, comfortable healing is no accident. Dr. Kirby has refined evidence-based Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols (often called her “rapid-recovery” or “24-hour recovery) that combine multimodal pain relief, targeted nerve blocks, shorter fasting, and a step-by-step home guide for a smoother, more comfortable recovery.
Every patient at our Fort Worth plastic surgery practice receives this level of care. Patients feel alert sooner, walk the same day, and often need little or no narcotic medication after plastic surgery, yet still enjoy the long-lasting benefits of safer anesthesia and meticulous surgical care.
5. How will you personalize my consultation?
Many practices pack in consultations and rush patients through generalized procedures, with only a short amount of time spent with the actual surgeon. Your consultation at our office takes about an hour, and most of that time will be spent with Dr. Kirby discussing your goals, concerns, and questions, and learning how Dr. Kirby tailors the procedure to address each of these.
You receive secure access to TouchMD, an online portal with your photos, procedure videos, and handouts you can revisit anytime, so you leave informed, not overwhelmed. Learn more about your consultation at Kirby Plastic Surgery »
6. May I see before-and-after photos of patients like me?
Transparent photos reveal both skill and versatility. A gallery that spans many ages, body shapes, and skin tones shows the surgeon can tailor their techniques to your unique anatomy instead of applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Dr. Kirby’s before & after gallery (and your private TouchMD log-in with additional gallery photos) show images of real patients with similar goals, body types, and ages. Seeing patients who look like you helps set realistic expectations and confirms that Dr. Kirby has experience achieving beautiful results for people of all shapes and sizes.
Related: Red Flags in Plastic Surgery Before & After Photos
7. What do past patients say about their experience?
Online reviews are your window into day-to-day care. Pay attention to the rating, but also read what patients highlight: communication, empathy, and satisfaction with results all point to a surgeon who delivers on promises.
Here’s an example:
“Dr. Kirby and her entire staff truly exemplify outstanding professionalism and compassion. From the moment I walked into the office, I was greeted with warmth and friendliness that immediately put me at ease. Each staff member was not only courteous but also willing to go the extra mile to ensure I felt comfortable and informed throughout my visit.
Dr. Kirby herself took the time to explain every aspect of the surgical process. She patiently answered all of my questions, no matter how trivial they might have seemed, and her reassuring demeanor made me feel confident in her abilities.
The level of care I received before and after my surgery was exceptional. I appreciated the prompt responses to my emails and calls, allowing me to feel supported at every stage of my journey. This attention to detail and commitment to patient care truly set Dr. Kirby and her team apart.
If you are searching for a highly skilled surgeon who combines expertise with genuine kindness, I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Kirby and her staff. You will be in excellent hands.”
Dr. Kirby’s five-star reviews highlight her clear explanations, meticulous technique, and warm bedside manner. Patients consistently note that “little things,” like personalized recovery kits and follow-up phone calls, made them feel genuinely cared for throughout their Fort Worth plastic surgery journey. Read more real patient reviews »
8. How do you protect my long-term results?
Looking great today means little if you cannot maintain those results tomorrow. Ask each surgeon how they safeguard outcomes once the healing phase ends. Honest advice about maintenance reveals how a practice is committed to your future health and confidence.
Dr. Kirby thinks beyond the operating room. For instance, she offers complimentary ultrasound screenings for silicone implant breast augmentation patients, so they can monitor implant health with ease and peace of mind. This level of follow-through reflects how deeply she values each patient’s safety, satisfaction, and well-being long after surgery is complete.
9. Do you hold leadership roles in the local medical community?
When colleagues select a surgeon to help set policies and guide quality standards, it signals deep respect for that surgeon’s judgment, ethics, and technical skill. Dr. Kirby served as the first female Chief of Plastic Surgery at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital, the largest hospital in Fort Worth—a post that requires exceptional surgical skill and collaborative leadership across multiple specialties.
10. What awards or recognitions validate your expertise?
Industry honors give you an objective measure of quality because they rely on peer nominations, credential checks, and patient satisfaction scores rather than marketing claims. Dr. Kirby has been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor every year since 2019, an honor bestowed on only about 7% of U.S. physicians after a rigorous review of training, outcomes, and professional standing.
Locally, Dr. Kirby has been named a Top Doctor by 360 West Magazine and FW Magazine consistently since 2014, a Texas Super Doctor for 7 consecutive years, and Texas A&M University recognized her entrepreneurial leadership with an Aggie 100 award, celebrating one of the fastest-growing Aggie-owned businesses in the world.
These accolades confirm that respected colleagues, independent evaluators, and the local community all trust Dr. Kirby to deliver outstanding Fort Worth plastic surgery care.
When every box on this checklist aligns with one surgeon, your decision becomes simple. To schedule a consultation with trusted Fort Worth Plastic Surgeon Dr. Emily Kirby, call or text our Fort Worth office at 817-292-4200 today and move forward knowing you have a proven expert and a compassionate partner guiding your transformation.
