How To Prepare For Plastic Surgery Consultation
The consultation is a very important step in the process of having a rhinoplasty. It is your opportunity to learn as much as possible about the surgeon and the procedure. The better prepared you are for the consultation, the more you will benefit from it. Below is a list of things we recommend you do before your consultation so you can ensure it will be a great experience.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A CONSULTATION
THINK ABOUT YOUR GOALS
Having a rhinoplasty can be one of the most exciting and life enhancing decisions you will ever make. Giving this decision careful thought will help you communicate your desires better. You should spend some time thinking about what parts of the nose you would like to change. For example, do you want to change your profile? Or do you want to change the shape of the tip of the nose, the width of the nose, the width of the nostrils, or all of the above? Thinking about this will help you express your desires more clearly during the consultation. If you're not sure, don't worry. The surgeon will also make recommendations customized for you.
Once you have decided to have a rhinoplasty, and you have given some thought as to what you would like your nose to look like, it is now a good time to research potential surgeons. Make sure the surgeon or surgeons you are considering have the proper credentials to perform rhinoplasty. They should be board certified specifically in Plastic Surgery. You will be surprised by how many surgeons claiming to be "Cosmetic Surgeons" are actually NOT Plastic Surgeons. Some are actually Gynecologists, Family Medicine doctors, or Emergency Medicine doctors! Make sure the surgeon is a BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON.
RESEARCH THE SURGEON
Once you have found a qualified, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, take some time to review his or her website. Review their "Before and After" pictures to make sure they have performed enough rhinoplasties. Also, review their pictures to ensure that you like the quality of their work. A good plastic surgeon will have a significant amount of information, pictures and videos about rhinoplasty if they perform it frequently.
REVIEW WEBSITES
At this point, you are ready for the consultation. Call the offices of the surgeons you have chosen. When you speak to the staff, make a note of how helpful they are. You want to make sure to go to a surgeon who has a caring and supportive staff because if you decide to have surgery with him or her, you will be forming a long term relationship with that office. It is also a good idea to ask about pricing. The patient coordinator will likely discuss pricing with you after your consultation, so having this information before hand will help make this part of the process easier.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
Many offices are located in busy areas with heavy traffic. Beverly Hills is an example. Parking, sometimes, can also be difficult to find. Make sure to leave early enough to account for traffic and finding parking. Furthermore, every office will require you to fill out some paperwork prior to meeting the doctor. You want to make sure you give yourself enough time to complete all of this before your consultation. This way, you can spend the alloted time in the most productive way by asking questions and reviewing information.
Going through these steps before the consultation will make sure you are on your way to a great experience and beautiful results!