How To Prepare For Your Consultation

Whenever you visit Dr. Bloch for initial consultation of plastic surgery, he will ensure that you get the most out of your visit. Consultation with your plastic surgeon will help you develop a positive attitude towards your procedure and will also assist your surgeon assess your motivation and decide if there is treatment that will meet your cosmetic goals. Though explanation for some procedures may be broader, preliminary research for your procedure might help you get the most out of your consultation. The American society for aesthetic plastic surgery is among the good online sources where you can do your research. With prior search, you will leave your surgeon’s office with confidence rather than confused.

Questions to consider before selecting your cosmetic surgeon

0At this point, you may have narrowed your choices to one or two cosmetic surgeons. It is now time for the consultation. Here are key questions to consider:

What is the surgeon’s area of expertise?

Has the surgeon practiced for many years or performed many of these procedures?

• Is the surgeon friendly yet confident and professional?
• If the procedure will not be performed in the doctor’s office, does the surgeon use a certified surgical facility with board-certified anesthesiologists and up-to-date emergency equipment and anesthesia monitoring devices?
• What is the total price of the surgery? (This includes the surgeon’s fee, operating room, anesthesia, and other charges.)
• Are you allowed to see before and after pictures of other patients? Are computer images available for you and the surgeon to view together?
• Does the surgeon encourage you to ask questions?
• Are the surgeon’s answers to your questions realistic?
• If a second surgery is needed, what is your financial responsibility?

What to discuss on your consultation
On your plastic surgery consultation, you should be prepared to discuss:

• Your cosmetic surgery goals
• Past surgeries
• Drug allergies, medical conditions and treatments
• Use of herbal supplements, vitamins, drugs, alcohol or tobacco

As part of consultation, your doctor will:

• Assess your general health and identify any risk factors that may hinder your recovery
• Discuss potential outcomes, risks and complications of your surgery
• Discuss treatment options
• Take photographs and measurements of area to be treated
• Discuss type of anesthesia to be used

Dr. Bloch will welcome any questions and is willing enough to listen to your feelings concerning the cosmetic surgery

Ask if the doctor is a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)

ASAPS membership ensures that the doctor is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (see next bullet) and has also met other special requirements for cosmetic surgery experience and continuing education.

Surgeons to avoid

Your initial consultation for plastic surgery can also give you an idea of the surgeon’s competence. Avoid a cosmetic surgeon if he or she portrays the following characters:

Declines answering your questions

• Doesn’t perform a routine surgery of your procedure
• Is not open in discussing possible risks and complications of surgery
• Cannot produce before and after photos of previous patients who have had the procedure you are seeking
• Not respectful
• Rarely offers aftercare service
• Seeks your participation by offering gimmicks or bargain fees

In addition to your cosmetic surgery consultation, you can find your doctor’s record online to check for credentials, patients rating and recognition from peers in the same medical field among other indications for competency.