A plastic surgery consultation is essential, no matter what type of procedure you’re considering. It offers the unique opportunity to have a one-on-one conversation with a plastic surgeon so you can learn more about what to expect before, during, and after the surgery.
Since a consultation may be just what you need to make an informed decision on whether to proceed with the procedure, it’s important to come prepared. These tips can help ensure your consultation goes as smoothly as possible.
Do Your Research
Before you meet with a surgeon, you should have at least some basic knowledge about the procedure. This can help you identify any details that you’d like to know and ask during your consultation. Don’t worry about diving too deep into the procedure, however, as it will likely depend on your unique situation.
Make a List of Questions
Think about what questions you’d like to ask your surgeon and jot them down, so you don’t miss any during your consultation. Ideally, these would be related to both the surgeon and the procedure. Here’s a brief list of some questions you may want to ask:
- Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)?
- How many of these procedures have you performed?
- Can you guide me through the procedure?
- What will the recovery process be like?
Consultations create the opportunity to better understand the tradeoffs and potential complication/risks specific to a surgery or procedure. An example of a tradeoff would be a scar (something that will happen if you have the procedure). A complication is something that could happen like loss of sensation or skin necrosis.
Collect Your Medical History
Do your best to gather your complete medical history before your consultation. This should include information about your previous surgeries, any conditions, diseases, or allergies, as well as current prescription and over-the-counter medications you currently take.
You should also share details about any alcohol or drug use. Once a plastic surgeon knows about your medical history, they can inform you whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure and explain any possible complications as well as what precautions you can take to avoid them.
Browse Before and After Pictures
Chances are a surgeon will ask you to describe the results you hope to achieve. Since this can be difficult to do in words, go online to find some pictures that show your desired look. The surgeon’s before and after gallery is a good starting point. Most Dallas plastic surgeons display their before and after pictures online so you can scroll through them until you find one that best reflects your goals.
Be Realistic
Before you move forward with any plastic surgery procedure, it’s important to be realistic about your results. Take some time to think about your real motives for the surgery. Maybe you hope to resolve a flaw or perhaps you simply want to feel more confident. Convey this information with your surgeon so they can determine if the procedure can help you achieve your ideal outcome.
Find the Right Surgeons
A consultation is important for understanding what a particular procedure can and cannot do. It is key to setting up realistic expectations.
It is important to be comfortable with your surgeon and his/her practice. Consultations help by giving patients a chance get to know the surgeon and his/her staff. You may find out you don’t mesh with the doctor or his staff.
At the end of the day, the goal of a consultation is to understand what goes into a surgery, how the recovery works, and what results you can expect.
If you’d like, you can schedule consultations with multiple surgeons. Just make sure you’re well prepared for each one. To begin your search for highly qualified plastic surgeons in Dallas and surrounding communities, please check out our member directory.
