A consultation with a plastic surgeon can be daunting. Many patients report being nervous prior to the consultation.
Common worries are:
- Asking the right questions around the procedure.
- The unknowns; what will actually happen during the consultation?
- What to wear. What is appropriate attire for the one on one meeting? Something comfortable. We have cozy robes for you to change into depending on the type of consult.
- Communicating insecurities and physical exams.
With so much information at our fingertips, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with information - whether useful or not. Dr. Google, does not usually make a good physician, and can often lead to anxiety in patients. RealSelf and similar patient cosmetic surgery sites as well as having friends who have undergone cosmetic procedures can be useful to understanding an overall surgical journey. Keep realistic and understand that just as no two patients are the same, no two surgeries will ever be the same either.
Writing things down beforehand, as you think of them is a useful pre-consultation strategy. Also, many patients will leave the consultation, thinking of additional questions afterwards. For this reason, I ask my staff to follow up a week later regardless of whether or not a patient is ready to book the surgery.
Bringing a friend, family member or partner can be useful to some people. Whether you want them come in the room or to wait for you in the reception area - this is entirely up to you, and whatever you find comfortable or useful.
Relax. Many people are nervous about the examination, the procedure or both. Our goal is to improve your state of well being and quality of life by becoming the best version of yourself. You are surrounded by a team of professionals - your team, with the same common goal as you. We are not in a position of judgment. No matter how you feel about your body, I can assure you that we have had countless similar cases over the last 10 years that we have been doing cosmetic surgery.
-Jeffrey C. Dawes MD, FRSC
