Consulting With a Plastic Surgeon
Preparing and Doing It
“A surgeon’s habits are reflected in the surgeon’s staff, information materials, office organization, and thoroughness, and in the logic of what the surgeon tells you. Look, listen, and ask yourself if these are the characteristics you want in your surgeon.”
You’ve obtained names of surgeons (hopefully more than one), and you’ve checked their credentials (chapter 9). You narrowed the list based on credentials, then gathered and evaluated information from each of their offices (chapter 10). You narrowed the list again. Now it’s time for the main event—your consultation with plastic surgeons. Notice I said plastic surgeons—plural. You’re cheating yourself if you don’t consult more than one. No matter how great you may think one is, you don’t really know if you don’t compare!
mAking APPointmEnts
Complimentary Consultations with a Patient Educator
Most busy, experienced surgeons offer complimentary consultations with a nurse or patient educator prior to seeing the patient. A patient-educator consultation is a great opportunity for you for the following reasons:
- You have an opportunity to learn more before you see the surgeon.
- You’ll be able to make better use of your time with the surgeon.
- You’ll probably communicate better with most patient educators than with most surgeons.
- You have an opportunity to evaluate the surgeon, and, in general, the better the patient educator, the better the surgeon.
- You have an opportunity to save money on a surgeon consultation if anything is not right for you (the procedure, the information you hear or don’t hear, what you hear about your recovery, how you’re treated, and whether you’re subjected to hard-sell techniques).
Most patient educators are willing to spend as much time with you as necessary, usually at least 30-45 minutes. The benefit is that you have that much additional time to gain information before you see the surgeon—regardless of how much time the surgeon spends with you!
If you have an opportunity to consult a patient educator before consulting the surgeon—do it! the best surgeons will almost always offer this service because they want you to know as much as possible.
Don’t See the Surgeon Until You’re Prepared
After visiting with patient educators in different surgeons’ offices, you’ll have a totally different perspective. There’s a good chance you’ll shorten your surgeon list, saving money and time in the process, based solely on your visit with the patient educators.
Don’t make an appointment to see a surgeon until you’re prepared. We’ll give you a specific checklist later.
The more prepared you are before meeting with a surgeon, the better you’ll understand the surgeon, and the better you can evaluate the surgeon.
Best Times for Appointments
Your best chance for a thorough consultation is at a time when the surgeon is least likely to be rushed. Many surgeons operate in the morning and see patients in the afternoons. Ask if appointments are available in the morning or any time on a day when the surgeon is not operating. You won’t sit in the waiting room as long.
Be on Time
It’s reasonable to expect a surgeon to respect your time. It’s also reasonable to respect the surgeon’s time. The surgeon has set aside time to see you. If you’re late, your consultation will either be more rushed, which usually happens, or you totally disrupt the schedule for the surgeon and all of the other patients being seen that day.
Call If You Can’t Make It
When you make an appointment with any professional and don’t cancel if you can’t make it, you are wasting that professional’s time. Always call if you can’t make it or need to change an appointment time. Most offices will appreciate your calling and be happy to make another appointment.