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Having a consultation for cosmetic plastic surgery can be intimidating. It is important
to be prepared and to have done research before you go. There is no point in going on
numerous consultations only later to find out that the credentials of the surgeon aren't
acceptable. The importance of evaluating the physician's credentials can not be over
emphasized. Most people don’t realize that, not all Plastic Surgeons specialize
in the same procedures, and that the results after surgery will vary from doctor to doctor.
Make sure you visit doctors that specialize in the area of the body that you seek to
improve.
Before you make a decision to have surgery, you should seek more than one opinion, preferably
three. Once you have done your research and selected a physician for a consultation,
you need to be prepared with a list of questions. This written list is extremely important
because it is very easy to feel overwhelmed and forget what you want to ask. Remember
that the reason for a consultation is for you to be evaluated and for you to have a complete
explanation and understanding of what is involved including all the risks. The doctor
should spend a good amount of time with you during the consultation. If the doctor concludes
that you are a good candidate for the procedure, different treatment options should be
discussed. You should be prepared to ask these questions.
- What part of the body do you specialize in, and what plastic surgery procedures do
you specialize in?
- Are there any reasons why I am not a good candidate for this procedure?
- Ask if there are alternative procedures.
- How frequently does the surgeon perform the procedure that you want?
- How long will the surgery take?
- What type of anesthesia will be used?
- When can you go home?
- How long is the recovery?
- When will the healing be completed?
- Ask about incisions. Where will they be located and how bad can the scarring be?
- Ask about all the risks or complications. There are risks with every procedure. Full
details should be provided.
- What is the total cost including hospital fees and other extras?
- What is the policy regarding fees if you cancel your procedure?
- When can you return to full normal activities, including exercise?
- Ask yourself: Do you agree with the surgeon's sense of aesthetics? Ask to see before
and after pictures of their work.
You should be prepared to tell the doctor about your complete medical history. This
includes any allergies you may have and any medications you are on, including birth control
pills, vitamins, herbs and natural supplements, as well as any other over the counter
medications.
You should feel comfortable with the answers and not feel coerced into any procedure
you do not want. Trust your instincts. If you don't feel good about the physician or
what he is telling you, seek out a different doctor. A good physician will not
talk you into a procedure that has nothing to do with the part of the body that is troubling
you. Unless, for example you go in for a face-lift and the doctor explains to you that
you need a neck lift as part of the procedure. That would be a reasonable suggestion.
But if the physician recommends a nose job or a breast augmentation when you haven't
even mentioned it, I would be extremely wary. If you're offered computer imaging it may
be interesting. However, remember the computer is not doing your surgery, the surgeon
is. What you see, may not be what you get!
It is important to ask where your surgery will be performed. Cosmetic procedures can
be preformed in a hospital, surgical facility, or in the office. There are pros and cons
for all. Having your surgery in a hospital will guarantee the best resuscitation equipment,
anesthesia given by a qualified anesthesiologist and an operating room that meets strict
hospital standards. The negative side of having your surgery in a hospital may be the
increased cost.
If you have the surgery in an outpatient setting there are important things to check.
You should verify that the facility is accredited by the Accreditation Association for
Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
(JCAHO) or the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities
(AAAASF). Such accreditations guarantee that the director of the facility is board certified
in a surgical specialty and has hospital privileges. Also, you will have your anesthesia
given by a board-certified anesthesiologist or a certified registered nurse anesthesiologist.
Accreditation also means that the facility where you will have your surgery met strict
safety and sanitation standards. The academies also accredit the site depending on the
type of anesthesia that is used. These are Class A (local or topical), Class B (local,
topical and intravenous) and Class C (topical to general- all forms). If you decide to
have outpatient surgery make sure that your surgeon’s facility is certified in
the type of anesthesia that you were told that you were going to have.
If after the consultation you are excited and feel as though you definitely want the
surgery, try not to schedule that day. You should go home and think about it. Remember,
you should see other physicians for consultations, preferably two or three, and if you
decide to have the surgery, you should see your selected surgeon at least one more time
before the surgery to go over your concerns.
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