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CHAPTER 3 - SO YOU WANT TO HAVE COSMETIC SURGERY
Choosing a Surgeon
Take your time to find a competent plastic surgeon that you like and trust. Any licensed medical doctor can legally perform cosmetic surgery, but surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery are the only ones uniquely qualified to perform cosmetic procedures on both the face and body. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 5,000 members, the society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. A board certified plastic surgeon located near you can be found by clicking on www.plasticsurgery.org.
The Consultation
A personal consultation with a surgeon should be your first step when considering cosmetic surgery. We commonly see people in the office who have already "diagnosed" their situation and "prescribed" their own treatment. For instance, they may have already decided they "need" a tummy tuck or "would like" a facelift.
While it is of the utmost importance to listen to your thoughts and desires, it is up to us as surgeons, to evaluate the entire situation objectively in order to give you the best advice, even if our recommendations are not what you want to hear. Our job is to decide what procedures or treatments will help you achieve your goals most effectively and efficiently.
The initial meeting gives you a chance to describe in your own words the changes you are interested in and to discuss your ultimate goals for surgery. It is also an opportunity for you to tell us about pre-existing medical conditions, current medications, and lifestyle choices and habits that may impact the surgery. During this meeting, we assess your physical and emotional health by taking a thorough medical history and examining the areas or body parts that you are interested in modifying.
After listening to your goals and thoroughly recording the exam findings, we will come up with a list of recommended procedures and treatments that we consider to be ideal for your specific condition. We sit with you in a comfortable office setting to review these findings and to have an open discussion about the possible treatments, including both the surgical and non-surgical treatment options available. At this time, you may also have an opportunity to see before and after photographs of other people who have had similar procedures.
Depending on your level of interest in proceeding with surgery, we may outline a plan of treatment for you and discuss details such as the length of surgery, where the scars will be located, the approximate amount of skin or fat to be removed, and the expected recovery time. Our discussion will also include the possible risks and adverse consequences associated with the surgery.
While it is an important time for you to have a complete understanding of the facts relating to surgery, it is during the initial consultation that the doctor-patient relationship is established. Ideally, a bond is formed that provides you with a sense of security and confidence in the surgeon. There should be a comfort level that allows you to communicate your wishes and talk about expectations openly so that we can have a clear idea of your goals. In order for us to give the best advice to people considering cosmetic surgery, it is necessary to understand your goals, and understanding comes from listening to you. Your satisfaction is maximized when the lines of communication between us remain open.
If you have a positive feeling at the end of the consultation, it is not necessary to continue to "shop around" for a surgeon for comparison. But of course, if you don't like the doctor after the consultation, the surgeon is not "right" for you and it would be best to meet with another surgeon.
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