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Working in this text. Sue
The following information is based on my own thoughts and experience of having surgery, in Poland and Cyprus and are meant as a guide only. A Positive & Enjoyable Experience Cosmetic Surgery is different from other surgery because the decision to proceedlies entirely with you. It is elective; you are choosing to have it. Without having all of the information you require, making an informed decision can be very confusing and may even have disastrous results. The most satisfied patients are those who have taken the responsibility to fully informthemselves, well BEFORE the operation. If you have chosen your Surgeon/Company well, you will be listened to, put at ease, cared for and have the best chance of receiving the result you desire and desire. Don’t forget; You are paying for a service, Cosmetic Surgeons/Companies are service providers who work for you. You should feel a connection, a bond of trust between you your Surgeon, and his staff and the whole experience from the initial consultation right through to post operative visits should be focused on you, your comfort and your needs.
My uncle always used to say, the one with the money is the boss!
Cosmetic Surgery can have a wonderfully enormous and positive impact on the way you feel about yourself and ultimately affects the way you interact with and are seen by others. It can and should be (despite a little short lived discomfort and inconvenience) an enjoyable experience from beginning to end.This I am pleased to say is true for many patientsThis will be the case for you, if you’ve done your homework, chosen the rightSurgeon/Company and kind of aftercare you require and have received honest answers to the many questions that are surely swirling round your head.
Where do I begin?
Recommendations: Nowadays most business’s have a web site. But be warned- just because a Surgeon/Company has a fancy, glossy and professional looking web site it doesn’t mean that are reputable and ‘all that!’ Some of the best Surgeons have no web site at all, they don’t need/want one and just work away happily with lost of clients recommending one another. A web site is just a means of advertising after all, like putting a advert in a magazine. Good Surgeons will be highly recommended by various reliable sources. Here are three of the most common sources of recommendations:
General Practitioners/other specialists: Your local or family doctor may be able to provide you with good advice aboutthe right surgeon for a particular procedure. It is likely he or she has seen patientswith similar requests before.This can prove to be a good source as, inevitably, the referred patient will providefeedback about the surgeon to the local doctor who will generally only refer patients to those surgeons who have obtained excellent results and display a high standard of care.Similarly, if the patient feedback is less than positive, the local doctor willgenerally not send any of their patients to these surgeons with poor reputations. Your Family & Friends: If you know of a family member or friend who has had a procedure similar to theone you are considering, talk with them. Ask them about the surgeon, the aftercare service, and the results. If you have a friend or family member who providesa glowing report of a surgeon and their after care service, then it is worthwhile following it. Remember: every surgery is unique just as every person is unique; therefore your cosmetic surgery may not turn out the same as your friend’s. The best recommendation of all is from other satisfied clients and is better than any advertising! Most patients are often only too happy to talk about their experience. In fact getting them to stop can prove down right impossible! The surgeon’s nurse/agent should be able to put you in contact with past patients who can be a valuable resource for you. I recommend you talk with patients who had the same procedure you are considering so you can get a real feel of what to expect from the Surgeon and his team, and the level of support and information given. Recommendations can provide you with a good starting point, but are to be considered as just the beginning. There is a very clear step-by-step strategy you can follow after you have identified a potential Surgeon/Company. Preliminary consultation: Understand your procedure and do not be satisfied with an incomplete answer from anyone. Before your consultation review details about the procedure(s) you are considering, use the internet and if you have friends who have had surgery take them for a fact finding lunch. Make it your job to be as informed as possible. Information is empowering as when the time comes for your consultation be with his nurse/agent or the Surgeon, you will be able to ask relevant and intelligent question relating to whatever procedure you are considering. If you are going through a company to facilitate your surgery, don’t make the mistake I did, thinking the person sat behind that huge desk is medically qualified or knows more than you, she may not. Mine certainly didn’t! Don’t be intimidated and don’t be fobbed off. Write down questions and make sure the answers you receive satisfy you 100%. It they don’t, keep asking. Please note: some procedures and the relating specific surgical techniques are not employed by all Surgeons. If you have seen several surgeons all telling you something slightly different, then this is the way they have been trained in that particular procedure. It doesn’t mean they are incorrect. Cosmetic surgery being hands on specialty, most Surgeons use tried, tested and trusted methods of achieving the desired results for their clients, ones they have employed over many years, know works and any expected minor complications there are likely to be. Make Sure Your Surgeon is Fully Qualified: Check the Surgeon’s standing with the relevant accreditation body. If you initially go through a Company they should be able to give you all the information you require without having to personally ask the Surgeon. If the surgeon has a wed site his CV will almost certainly be published for you to check online. Surgical Consultation: Many practices offer a FREE preliminary consultation with a Cosmetic consultant who is typically a trained nurse. This person may in fact oversee your whole procedure and deliver the post operative care. Many clients prefer this as they feel more comfortable and at ease at being able to ask the smallest question without feeling silly and bothersome. And people trust nurses! Take as much time as necessary to make sure you are fully informed. Repeat any questions if the answers were not clear to you. So you have gathered your information, your recommendations, maybe spoken with his nurse/agent and have now decided it’s time you actually met the Man! Call the Surgeon’s office/Company contact number and book a consultation appointment. Please note that the questions below are to assist you in getting started and are notdesigned to be an exhaustive list to cover all contingencies or surgical procedures. What they should provide you with is initially a very good feeling about the surgeon and staff and how you feel about the whole procedure.
Remember, this is just to give you a feel of the professional practice and how itoperates. Although these seem like fairly simple questions, pay attention to how quickly, clear and upfront the answers are given. Throughout the consultation it is wise to take note of the doctor’s opinions and personality; how he answers your questions; and how he explains things. Also is he listening to you.? Or trying to do several tasks at once. All of this will help when it comes to the final comparison. At this stage, you have not made a commitment to the Surgeon as you are still in fact gathering mode. Remember, the Surgeon is working for you not the other way around. They will have recommendations and suggestions, but the final decision whether to use them or not is completely up to you. Never, ever feel pressured to make a decision before you’re ready. If you feel this pressure, you should definitely not proceed any further. Good surgeons are confident in themselves and their ability, without being arrogant.Good surgeons are honest with you. They will tell you if they cannot give you the resultyou desire. In some cases, they will send you to a colleague for a second opinion.The most caring surgeons may even send you to a colleague they know would give you abetter result as they may be more experienced in a particular procedure. You need to be able to trust your surgeon. The best surgeons recognise this and never abuse your trust. The Surgeon should make you feel comfortable and will gladly answer any of your questions. If he doesn’t, be wary. How do you feel, are you feeling comfortable, or is there something bothering you, something you can’t just put your finger on? Of course there will be some nerves at this point, but check deep into your instinct. Some people are very sensitive to situations and people. It’s a gut feeling. I can tell instantly, sometimes simply just by looking at someone if I like or trust that person. Some questions:
- Will I be fully informed of the benefits and possible complications?
- How will I be informed – Written information? Web site? Consultation with astaff member? Consultation with the Surgeon? Access to other patients? Preand Postoperative photographs? Other?
- What is the approximate total cost of the procedure i.e. including theAnesthetist, Hospital fees, Theater fees, Pre-op tests, Hospital and postoperativefollow-up? If going through a Company you may have already received a price, make sure any prices you receive are confirmed in writing, dated and signed. My surgery price was increased after I had already paid the amount originally quoted.
- Are there any extras?
- What are the benefits and potential complications of the procedure?
- Is this procedure right for me?
- Is there an alternative procedure for me?
- How long will the effects last
- What will happen in the hospital – Before the operation? During the operation?After the operation?
- How do I contact the Surgeon/nurse if I have a problem?
- How will I be followed up?
- When does the Surgeon see me after the surgery?
- Can I see some photographs of the usual results achieved?
- Can I speak with some of your recent patients?
- Most importantly, ask to speak to one of his clients who developed a complication, or were not satisfied initially with the results of the surgery. What did the surgeon do about it, what was his attitude, was he argumentative was he dismissive, or supportive, did he put it right, are they now satisfied, would they go back to the same surgeon if they wanted any other procedures?
- What happens if something goes wrong? (This is the most important question to ask. You need to be satisfied you will receive extra special care and continued support.) How often will you see me? -Will it cost me any extra? -What will I have to pay for?- Will any revision procedures cost me extra? -What is the worst thing that can happen to me?
What happens if when all the swelling and bruising has subsided, you are disappointed and really not satisfied with your results: See question 14 Depending on the procedure, expect it to take between 4-6 months for all the swelling and bruising to settle down. It is important to understand why? This should have been explained to you at some stage prior to surgery. Accept this settling down period and most of all have patience. You feel great but do not have the results you expected. Your body seems slow to catch up you are wondering if something is wrong? Probably not. During this time expect any of the following on the operated areas. Abdominal swelling, where is that flat tummy you were promised? Breasts may feel hard and appear very high on your chest; the shape may seem strange, as they appear to have now moved under you arms. Your incision (s) may take time to completely heal, usually due to a suture that requires removal, or where a stretch mark meets the incision. (Blood supply is compromised) Feeling lumps and bumps, along the incision line and under the skin especially after having liposuction. Your face seems very tight and when you smile it may even appear lopsided, Eyes may react differently, they may tear, you may develop a facial tic (Brief, repetitive, sporadic spasms of facial muscles or eyes) All quite normal. However, if after this period, you still feel that you have been patient enough but the results are really not what you expected, or were promised. Then although you may feel you really don’t want to go back to see the surgeon, YOU MUST. Take a friend or family member or if you went through a company a member of that company should accompany and provide much needed moral support. Try to explain your concerns without getting to emotional, He is a professional and should understand your feelings. Your emotions will be running high. You may even feel your problem is due to something you have done or not done and may in fact be your fault.The doctor should listen to your concerns, and either explain what the “problem is” sufficiently to reassure you enough to wait another couple of months, or agree that you have a genuine grievance and ‘not to worry’ he can put it right. Just want you wanted to hear- Complete Result! Most surgeons will do the work for free under a local anesthetic with a small charge for the theatre use. If the correction requires you be more deeply anesthetised, expect an additional charge, usually minimal. What happens if he begins to argue with you? If he begins to argue with you, says you are imagining things, that it is all in your mind and as far as he is concerned you look absolutely wonderful; my advice – just walk away. By staying you will only make the situation worse, which may well lead to a full scale argument thus upsetting yourself even more. If you have had a bad experience of trying to complain when you know deep inside you are right, you feel completely alone, venerable and most of all USED!. I know I did. You put your complete trust in someone, only to have it thrown back in your face. You feel stupid, you feel had. Were the signs there all along but you though it was your imagination? So just because the surgeon is qualified in this and that and has certificates coming out of his ears. It does not tell you what kind of a person he really is, when it comes down to it. See question 14. Complications happen: In an ideal surgical procedure nothing will go wrong. Thankfully this is the case in the vast majority of cosmetic operations. However, please understand that COSMETIC SURGERY IS REAL SURGERY and the potential for complications is ever present. This is another critical reason to search out a surgeon with considerable experience and a long list of satisfied patients.Here are two questions to ask yourself when deciding on which Doctor/Company will perform your Cosmetic surgery and provide the follow up care.
- Does this person have the experience to know how to deal with potential complications that may appear during the operation?
- Do I trust this person to work with me to get the best outcome, and if in the remote chance, that something goes wrong during or after the procedure will they be able to appropriately deal with it?
Here are some warnings to consider:
Don’t choose a Doctor/nurse/agent who:
- Rushes you into make a decision there and then on your surgery and/or wants to add unnecessary procedures.
- Keeps calling you to make a decisionHas an environment that is un-sterile Looks like he could do with a good night sleep.
- Is unwilling to answer your questions, no matter how small (or silly you may think they are) or provide you with requested information.
- Is impatient, does not explain things fully or with whom you feel uncomfortable.
- Does not have a professional office or a professional personal appearance.
- You get a negative feeling from.
Deciding to Proceed: After your conversation with the Surgeon, /his nurse/agent, you will know instinctively if this is the Surgeon and staff you can trust. The rest is easy. Once you’ve made the choice, all you need to do is tell the staff you would like to proceed; they will take care of the rest as a professional medical team. You will have gathered enough information and had enough questions answered to ensure that you have put yourself in the hands of a wonderful and trusted Surgeon and his team.T he most important thing in choosing your doctor is to remember that the decision really is yours, so only you can make the right one. Your Body Your choice!
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