Plastic Surgery Consultations and Process

Anyone considering cosmetic surgery must take the first step in realizing the dream of enhancing his or her appearance. After making the decision to undergo cosmetic surgery, prospective patients must make the initial step and contact the surgeon’s office then make the necessary preparations for the initial consultation.

The goal of the cosmetic surgery consultation is to educate the patient about the cosmetic surgery procedure in question, the process of preparing for surgery, and the recovery period involved. The initial consultation can be intimidating and daunting for some but the plastic surgeon and his staff will make sure that everyone feels comfortable and relaxed as possible during the activity.

Usually, initial contact is done by calling a surgeon’s office or filling out a web form. The patient can then expect a reply within 24 to 48 hours. Typically, a surgical coordinator will call back and ask some basic questions and schedule the in-office consultation.

The consultation generally takes one to two hours. The patient is typically ushered in upon arrival and is made to fill out necessary forms. The form includes a brief medical history which would help the physicians determine if the patient is a good candidate for cosmetic surgery.

During the consultation, the surgeon will answer all the important questions about the surgery. The surgeon will evaluate the patient’s medical and surgical history and the overall aesthetics and anatomy of the face or body. The surgeon will also discuss the patient’s image enhancement goals and make honest recommendations. He will also make it a point to show before and after photos of his work in order for the patient to establish realistic expectations of the procedure.

The actual operative procedure should be discussed in depth during the consultation. The surgeon normally offer a detailed description of pre-operative, operative, and post-operative routines, including a discussion of possible risks and complications associated with the procedure.

Potential patients should remember that a surgeon's time is extremely valuable and in order to be successful they do sincerely have to try to minimize their consultation times while trying to satisfy the potential patients’ desire for information. It is important then that potential patients have a list of questions ready to ask about the basic costs and additional charges if there are any.

Ultimately, your consultation should leave you feeling educated about the procedure, confident in your surgeon, and prepared for your surgery. If you decide to proceed with the operation, call the surgeon’s office to book a date. Depending on the procedure, most surgeons in the large US cities will have a 3-6 week wait.

The patient comes in again a few days before the procedure to meet the surgeon and then is given prescriptions, pre-op instructions as well as post-op information.