The initial pre-operative consultation is the first step of your plastic surgery experience and one of the most important. During this appointment, you’ll meet with your prospective surgeon to learn more about his or her credentials and experience as well as your desired procedure.
To help you make an informed, confident decision about your care, Dr. Abhay Gupta shares some of the signs you should look for in your consultation.
A reputable plastic surgeon will be candid about their credentials, including his or her training, board certification and background performing your requested procedure. You shouldn’t feel uncomfortable asking tough questions about the risks or complications of surgery, or how your surgeon would handle a complication or unsatisfactory result.
The right surgeon will make you feel comfortable and earn your trust by allowing you ample time to ask questions, and providing thoughtful answers. By the end of the appointment, you should feel confident that the surgeon understands your goals and expectations, and you should trust them to deliver your ideal results.
Great plastic surgeons understand the magnitude of the decision you must make about your care. They will give you the information and space you need to make the right choice for your circumstances. They won’t pressure you into making a decision without considering all your options, and they won’t use scare tactics or sales techniques to push you into surgery that’s not right for you.
Sought-after plastic surgeons should have plenty of before-and-after images of patients that had similar goals as you do prior to surgery. These photographs can give you an idea of the typical results you can expect from the surgeon, and how experienced he or she is. Pay particular attention to cases where the “before” image resembles your current appearance — does the “after” image appeal to you?
Your safety is the first priority of any respectable plastic surgeon. The facility in which he or she operates is extremely important to your overall safety. It should be accredited (and regularly audited) by an organization like the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) or the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (AAAASF). If the plastic surgeon is reticent to provide information about where they operate, this is a red flag.
If you would like to book a consultation to discuss your plastic surgery goals with Dr. Gupta, we invite you to call or email Gupta Plastic Surgery today.
Fun Fact of the Month: February is one of the most misspelled words in the English language.