If you’re considering plastic surgery, then the first and most important step is finding the right plastic surgeon to work with. That begins with the consultation.
A consultation is your time to speak with potential surgeons to find out about their qualifications, their philosophy, their experience, their personality, and more. Think of it like a job interview and you’re the one who’s hiring. You need to make sure you’ve got the right person for the job.
As a plastic surgery office, we wanted to share 7 essential elements that you should look for and ask about during the consultation:
A reputable surgeon will provide open and honest answers to any question you ask about his or her training, certifications, and experience. Be sure to ask:
Whether your surgery will take place in a surgery center, the surgeon’s office, or a hospital, you want to make sure that it’s an accredited surgery facility. Accredited facilities must adhere to strict standards for safety, patient care, cleanliness, staff expertise, anesthesia administration, and emergency readiness.
Your surgeon should take the time to explain your procedure in detail including the risks, benefits, and anticipated recovery time. He or she should also be up front about any alternative procedures that may produce similar results. After you meet with the surgeon, the office should provide you with an all-inclusive price quote and tell you explicitly how long that quote is valid.
You should never feel like you have to make a decision right away. The surgeon’s office should be a “no-pressure” zone. If your potential surgeon is asking you to commit to a procedure or telling you what you “should do” during the consultation, then walk away. The right surgeon will explain the risks and benefits of the surgery you are considering and offer alternatives if there are any. He or she may even tell you not to have the procedure at all if it’s too risky.
Ask to see before and after photos of patients who have undergone the same procedure you are interested in having. Take your time to study the pictures. Look closely at patients who may look similar to you. This can provide a lot of insight into the surgeon’s aesthetic approach and their ability to achieve the results you want.
You won’t just be interacting with your surgeon, but also nurses, office staff, a patient care coordinator, and others. Take note of how they treat you. Are they friendly, respectful, and professional? They should make it clear through their words and actions that your needs are important to them. Also, look at the waiting room and the front office. Do things seem disorganized or dingy? That can be a warning flag. You want all parts of the practice to be comfortable, clean, and inviting.
Plastic surgery is a big decision, so don’t discount your own intuition when it comes to choosing a surgeon. The two of you are partners, so you want to be 100% certain that your surgeon “gets you” and knows the results you want to achieve. You should feel totally comfortable asking lots of questions and sharing all aspects of your medical history. If something about the consultation just doesn’t feel right, even if you can’t quite put your finger on why, then it’s better to move on.
If you’re considering plastic surgery, then be sure to consult with Dr. Fodero. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Fodero uses the latest plastic surgery techniques to perform a variety of surgical procedures. He and his staff are friendly, helpful, and available to answer any questions you may have. Please contact us today to schedule a consultation.
