A few things to know about plastic surgery.

Your initial consultation

In my practice, we often communicate with you before your consultation, in order to learn about you, and to make the consultation more tailored and informative for you. During your initial consultation, you will have the opportunity to discuss your goals and I will evaluate you carefully. You should come to the consultation prepared to discuss your complete medical history including the following:

• Do you have any medical conditions or drug allergies?
• Are you being treated for any medical conditions?
• Have you had any previous surgeries?
• What are your current medications and vitamin and herbal supplements?
• What outcome do you expect from the surgery?

I may:

• ask you to look in a mirror and point out exactly what you would like to see improved.
• take photos for your medical record and use computer imaging to demonstrate the improvements you can expect.
• evaluate your health status, including preexisting health conditions or risk factors.
• evaluate the elasticity of your skin.
• discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment.
• discuss likely outcomes, including risks or potential complications.

Your treatment plan

I will share recommendations and information with you. If surgery is appropriate, my staff and I will plan and discuss:

• an approach to your surgery, including the type of procedure or combination of procedures.
• the outcomes that you can anticipate.
• associated risks and complications.
• viewing of before-and-after photos of cases like yours, with questions answered.
• options for anesthesia and surgery location.
• what you need to do to prepare for your surgery.
• what you can expect to experience after surgery.
• informed consent and financial consent.

Questions to ask me

Feel free to ask me about my background, and my level of experience with the procedure we are discussing. I want you to:

• make the most informed and intelligent decisions about your procedure.
• confirm that you have the right surgeon for your procedure.
• make your initial consultation as rewarding as possible.
• understand your options, potential outcomes and risks.

It is important for you to take an active role in your surgery, so please use this list of questions as a starting point for our initial consultation:

• Am I a good candidate for the operation I am considering?
• Are the results I am seeking reasonable and realistic?
• Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for the procedure I am undergoing?
• Will my scars be visible? Where will my scars be located?
• What kind of anesthesia do you recommend for me?
• What will you expect of me to get the best results?
• What kind of recovery period can I expect and when can I resume normal activities?
• What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?
• How are complications handled?
• What are my options if the outcome of my surgery does not meet the goals we agreed on?

Developing realistic expectations

When you are preparing for surgery, it’s important to consider the following points: Surgery should be good – but is rarely perfect. It’s important to:

• take into account your age, weight, medical history, health context and particular body issues. A fifty year-old cannot look like a twenty year-old. You can only be the best YOU can be.
• mentally prepare for the surgery.
• remember that recovery takes time.
• organise your life and commitments around the surgery and recovery.
• appreciate there is quite a bit of time before you will see the final result.
• practice good communication with me and my staff. For our part, we will focus on:
• thorough preoperative consultations and planning for surgery.
• a good, professional operative experience.
• a high standard of care through the operative period.
• follow up and support after the surgery.
• friendly and open communication with you.

Assessing the results of your procedure

How do you know your procedure has been successful and you can move on, pleased with the decision you made? Consider whether your surgery has successfully met the following criteria:

• Clear goals for your surgery have been set, and you have a good understanding of the planned procedure
• A good understanding of the normal outcomes of the operation, including recovery times and consequences of the operation – such as permanent scars and numb spots.
• You had well-informed, realistic expectations of the operation, consistent with your age, health, weight, medical wellness, individual anatomy and situation.
• You had a good patient experience, felt well looked after and well informed, before, during and after your surgery.
• You had a professional operative experience, with a high standard of surgery, and the result met the goals we had set before surgery.
• You had a high level of support in the event you had a complication, with every effort made to resolve it.