Karel Rall, Patient Counselor at the Cosmetic Surgery Specialists
Medical Group of Beverly Hills, tells us that the best care will be the
happy result of a partnership between you and your doctor and his
staff. Here's how to achieve that partnership:
When you schedule your consultation, be as specific as
you can about your desires. For example, if you are
consulting because you had an unsuccessful nasal surgery
previously, please tell the staff member that. Why? Because
that will trigger some responses from them that can
optimize the value of your consultation, and make it more
efficient.
Hearing that you wish to discuss a possible second
surgery, you will be advised to bring copies of your medical
records and photographs from your first surgery (you can
get them easily by calling or writing to your previous
surgeon's office). Having all your records will help the
consulting doctor give his best recommendation at your first
meeting.
You will get more out of the consultation by preparing for
it. Study the educational materials the doctor has sent you in
response to your initial call for information. Write down the
questions you wish to ask.
Bring a friend or relative with you. "Four ears and four eyes
are twice as good for learning." Your companion may see or
hear something that you may miss. The idea is to leave the
consultation armed with as much information as possible.
Take notes. Write down the responses/answers to your
listed questions. Then you can review them at home.
Compare the answers to the same questions posed to
different doctors.
WHO KNOWS BEST?
When it comes to deciding what you should or should not have done,
you do, insists John E. Sherman, MD, New York City. ‘When patients are
dissatisfied, it's often because they underwent surgery that they never
wanted in the first place.' That can be due to pressure from friends and
family, or surgeons who push patients into procedures they never
would have considered otherwise. Still, you have to balance that with
the benefits of an informed consultation, notes Dr. Sherman. ‘You may
come in saying you want eyelid surgery when your real problem could
be solved with a brow lift.' You and your doctor should be able to come
to a mutually agreeable conclusion. If you walk in thinking you would
like a facelift and the surgeon tries to sell you a head-to-toe liposuction,
you are not on the same wavelength and you should go elsewhere. You
want to work with someone who has your best interests at heart, and
your priorities in mind.
-M. Katherine Francis, author
"A Guide to Plastic Surgery
An All You Need To Know Primer for First Timers,"
Longevity magazine
When you arrive for your consultation, you should be warmly
greeted by a friendly staff that is sincere, efficient and helpful. Surgical
practice is comprised of more than the services of your surgeon.Agood
surgeon surrounds himself with a strong team to support his efforts.
Members of that team are an extension of the surgeon. Their
professionalism and attentiveness should mirror his. The staff may
help obtain your complete health history and answer general
questions. The environment should be comfortable. You should feel "at
home."
Photographs of you will be taken sometime during the
consultation visit. Keep in mind these pictures are not glamour shots.
They are not intended to be flattering nor are they for public view.
High-resolution medical photographs showing
every wrinkle, crease or bulge must be studied and
reviewed by the surgeon in preparation for your
operation, and will be consulted during your
procedure as well. They are essential blueprints for
the surgeon. It is just as important
for the doctor to
know what you like
about yourself as what
you want to change.
-Nola Rocco, author
A Facelift Is a Bargain
The interview with the surgeon should be
relaxed, enjoyable and informative. The competent
doctor wants to learn your specific desires so he can
determine the practicality of the surgery you request. He must be
confident that your expectations are realistic and can be met. Your
medical history will be reviewed and you should be carefully
examined. Specific procedures should be discussed in detail and in
nonmedical terms. Your questions should be answered with
frankness and patience. It is important to note that not everyone is a
good candidate for cosmetic surgery. The main goal of the
consultation is to determine if it is the right thing for you. The doctor's
recommendation might be to do nothing!
Remember, Cosmetic Surgery
Is Only for the Healthy
In our practice, my staff is probably tired of
hearing my mantra: "We don't take chances."
That's what business people call "risk
management." And the most significant risk
reducer for a patient is being in tip-top physical
condition. Our practice has an inviolate rule
that a complete physical examination is done
several weeks prior to the surgical procedure.
We ask that the patient's personal physician
perform the examination and review the
cardiogram and laboratory tests we request.
Our vigilance in this "last stop before surgery"
is essential because an unrecognized medical
condition could have a bearing on the safety of
the anesthetic, and even the result of the
operation. Several years ago, our usual,
requisite and preoperative examina-
tion revealed a significant
anemia (low red blood cell count).
Surgery was cancelled. It was
determined quickly that the low
blood count was due to internal
bleeding, from the colon, indicating
an early, small cancer. The
patient –unaware of this potentially
serious medical problem–was
deeply appreciative of our cautious
approach that led to an unanticipated
discovery. She wrote:
"Your completeness in preparation
for surgery is so wise, and in my
case, life saving".
-DJ
My advice: "Assume nothing." Even
though you feel well, unless you've had a complete physical
examination within thirty days prior to your scheduled procedure, it
is essential to have your personal doctor perform one. We insist on it;
so should your surgeon. Cosmetic surgery, never an emergency, can
wait. When you go forward, it must be under ideal circumstances.
Don't take chances.As a doctor, your attentiveness before and after the surgery,
was so very reassuring and most appreciated. Your staff
should also be commended. I can't tell you how many offices
I had been to where staff members tried to bully me into
scheduling the procedure, where the doctor was far too busy
to answer my questions personally, and one of the doctors was just plain arrogant. You and your staff were concerned
about my health and me and were always informative,
prompt and helpful.
-Heidi, student |
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