5 Tips for Preparing for Your Plastic Surgery Consultation

So, your plastic surgery consultation is coming up—think you’re ready for it? Your plastic surgery consultation is your first opportunity to meet your surgeon and learn all about plastic surgery, so it goes without saying that the more prepared you are, the more you’ll get out of your consultation. Your surgeon is a wealth of information, and if you ask the right questions, you’ll be able to leave educated, informed, and with peace of mind. So, let’s get started—here are five tips for preparing for your plastic surgery consultation.

First Up—What Happens During My Consultation

Before we go over some extremely useful tips, let’s talk about what happens in a consultation. Once you’ve started to consider plastic surgery, then your initial consultation is the very first step towards possibly committing to your procedure. Your consultation is your first appointment with your plastic surgeon, and it can very well set the tone for the rest of your plastic surgery journey. Think of it this way: your consultation is more than just an opportunity for you to learn about plastic surgery; it’s a chance for you to get to know your surgeon, a chance to find out what your options are, and it’s a chance for you to come to a conclusion on whether plastic surgery is the right choice for you. You get what you bring into it, and if you answer questions honestly and come prepared, then your experience will be truly worthwhile.

1. Do Your Research

Before your consultation, take some time to research basic details about the procedure you’re considering. The more well-informed you are, the faster you’ll be able to get the basics out of the way and delve into the important details. At the very least, here are some things you should learn about your procedure:

• What the plastic surgery procedure can treat
• The minimum age for the procedure
• How long the procedure takes to perform
• How long the recovery is
• Who the ideal candidates are for the procedure
• What type of anesthesia is typically used for the procedure
• Alternative procedures for the condition you want to treat
• What kind of risks and side effects are possible with this procedure?

Of course, a lot of what you’ll find will be basic information; thankfully, your surgeon can go into detail during your consultation.

2. Bring Questions

After you’ve done your research, you should have several questions to bring to the consultation. Having questions at hand during your consultation will help you address your most pressing concerns about the procedure. It’s also an excellent way to find out about your surgeon’s qualifications; remember, this is your chance to get to know your surgeon, and before you commit to any plastic surgery procedure you should trust your surgeon completely.

To get you started, here are some questions you could ask your surgeon:

• What are your credentials?
• How frequently do you perform this procedure?
• What’s your training for this procedure?
• What techniques do you use for this procedure?
• Are you ?
• What are you in?

3. Look at Before and After Photos

If you’re still not sure about what your aesthetic goals are, looking at the surgeon’s before and after photos can help you articulate what you want to achieve. Many surgeons try to include a diverse range of patients in their before and after photo galleries, so you should also try to look for patients with the same issues, frame, body type, and skin tone.

4. Your Medical Record

Unfortunately, certain medical conditions and medications increase the risk of complications during and after plastic surgery, so it’s essential that you be honest and forthright about your medical history with your surgeon. Prepare a detailed record of your medical history before your consultation; include any medications you’re taking and conditions you have or have had in the past. You should also be honest about your history of drug and alcohol use.

5. Know Your Motivations

Finally, before your consultation, take some to think everything over and make sure you’re getting plastic surgery for the right reasons. Only you can decide whether plastic surgery is right for you—no one should ever get plastic surgery based on what someone else wants. It’s also crucial that you understand what plastic surgery can do for you and that you have realistic expectations for what it can do.

There you have it: 5 things to do before your plastic surgery consultation. The next step is scheduling a consultation with a renowned plastic surgery practice like Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery. For your first consultation, contact them now or call (310) 746-5439.