How to make the most of your initial cosmetic surgery consultation

Your first plastic surgery consultation is a great opportunity to discuss any surgery questions or concerns that you may have. Take a look at the following guidelines and you will be all set to make the most of the first meeting with your plastic surgeon.

Preparing for the meeting

Before your initial cosmetic surgery consultation, it is advisable to confirm that there will be ample time to talk things through with a registered nurse, trained in cosmetic surgery counselling or, preferably, with the plastic surgeon who will be performing the operation. Don’t agree to see anyone involved in sales, as their priorities may differ from yours.

The initial consultation is a golden opportunity to air concerns, so it is worthwhile making a note of any questions that come to mind beforehand to avoid going blank during the meeting. Keeping a notepad and pen handy at all times during the couple of weeks or so before the meeting will make sure you don’t miss those easily-forgotten thoughts that come into your head when you least expect.

Asking a family member or friend to come along is often a good idea. A second pair of ears can prove very useful, especially in a lengthy consultation. “During the meeting I was like a tongue-tied idiot,” says one patient after her first consultation. “Fortunately my friend prompted me and made sure I got all the information I had wanted and more.” Choose a companion whose opinion you value and who you can rely on to ask the questions you fail to remember or are too bashful to ask!

The surgeon will require full details of your medical history, including any medicines taken, drug allergies and cigarette intake. It is essential to provide a complete, honest account, so time spent jotting this down in advance can save problems later on.

Essential surgery questions

A responsible surgeon is there to provide advice on the procedure and to ensure the patient fully understands all of the facts. Along with your specific concerns, there are some general questions that you should consider asking the surgeon.

Q1What results can I expect?
A responsible surgeon will be at pains to emphasise the realistic outcome of the surgery and dismiss any misapprehensions you may have of becoming ‘a new person’.

Q2What risks are involved?
All surgical procedures have possible complications associated with them. The plastic surgeon should be honest about this and make clear any problems that have been reported in the past following the same procedure.

Q3What will the recovery period be like?
As with all surgery, the body needs time to repair afterwards. Recuperation is inevitably an uncomfortable phase, and the surgeon should offer advice on dealing with any pain and concerns that may occur during this period. Ask if the clinic has a 24 hour telephone number for your use after you have had the surgery. As one patient discovered, “The hard part was choosing a surgeon who would meet my needs. For me this included the after-care received as well as the surgery itself.”

Q4What is the clinic’s ‘re-do’ policy?
There should be clear guidelines regarding the procedure for dealing with situations where, for whatever reason, it is necessary for the operation to be done again.

Q5What experience do you have of carrying out this procedure?
Surgeons tend to specialise in one particular area – so, for instance, a surgeon recommended by a friend because they carried out an amazing nose job may not be the best choice for a breast reduction operation! Every surgeon has to keep a log book of their operating history, and they should be happy to let you view it and be willing to explain it to them. Getting to know their background in important. “Don’t be afraid to ask specific questions about where they trained, for how long and when,” said one patient after her initial consultation.

Q6How much will it cost?
The price of having a particular procedure and what that price does and doesn’t include should be absolutely clear.

The big day!

There’s no harm in being early for your appointment, so give yourself ample time to get to the surgery. While waiting, you may be asked to complete a registration form or medical questionnaire. After that you can use any extra time to relax and compose your thoughts, happy in the knowledge that you are fully prepared to make the most of your first cosmetic surgery consultation.

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Harley Medical Group

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