questions to ask the plastic surgeon?
(deactivated member)
on 12/26/09 6:16 am - West Central FL☼RIDA , FL
on 12/26/09 6:16 am - West Central FL☼RIDA , FL
Click here for some great info..
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/plasticsurgery/Plastic-Surgery-Co nsultation-What-to-Expect-and-How-to-Prepare.html
This is just some of what is posted there......
Meeting the Surgeon
Finally, you will meet the surgeon. The length of the initial consultation may be as brief as 15 minutes or longer than an hour, depending on the complexity of the issues involved. Initial impressions are extremely important; they may indicate immediately whether or not the surgeon is someone you wish to trust.
The surgeon will introduce himself or herself and offer a few introductory remarks. Feel free to ask about the surgeon’s background. A well trained surgeon is proud of his or her accomplishments and will gladly share them with you. You also have a right to know the status of malpractice claims and awards. It should not be considered an insult to inquire about these issues. Avoid a surgeon who has multiple malpractice claims or awards. Also make sure that the surgeon carries malpractice insurance; not all states require physicians to do so.
The Consultation
Several factors regarding surgery should be discussed with the physician during initial consultation, including procedure, location, anesthesia, recovery and cost. The surgeon should inquire about your concerns, priorities and motivations for pursuing surgery, as well as your fears.
The surgeon also should try to ensure that you have reasonable expectations for the outcome, and should explain what is possible and what is not possible.
Questions You Should Ask About the Procedure
• What is the simplest and safest surgery to help me achieve my goals?
• How is the surgery performed?
• What is the expected length of operation?
• Are other options available?
• What results can I expect, and how long do the typical results last?
• Where will scars be located, and how noticeable will they be?
• Will scars fade over time, and how long will this take?
Avoid the surgeon who does things only one way. The beauty of cosmetic surgery is that there are many ways of accomplishing the desired result. Your surgeon should be able to discuss options with you, fully explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each and why one may be recommended over another.
Questions You Should Ask About the Surgeon’s Experience With the Procedure
• How many times has the surgeon performed this procedure?
• How long has the surgeon been performing this procedure?
• How many times per year does the surgeon perform the procedure?
• How many patients have required re-operation or touch ups?
• What complications may occur?
• How frequently do these complications occur?
Avoid the surgeon who is not appropriately trained in the type of surgery you desire. Another key aspect is to review photos of actual bariatric patients who have had the same procedure you desire. If the surgeon cannot show you any pre and post-operative photos, it is likely that he or she is inexperienced in the procedure. Conversely, if the surgeon can show you numerous examples of his or her work with bariatric patients, you can rest assured that this surgeon probably has a thorough knowledge of and experience with bariatric patients
and their special needs surrounding surgery.
Questions You Should Ask About Logistical Matters
• What preparation is required the day before and morning of surgery?
• Should my regular medications be taken on the morning of surgery?
• What time should I arrive at the surgery location?
• Should someone drive me?
• Should someone wait at the surgery location or come back later?
Smoking
The surgeon also will discuss smoking with you. Smoking may lead to severe complications and wound healing problems. Your surgeon may not perform certain procedures if you are unwilling to quit smoking for a certain period of time pre- and post-operatively. Cosmetic surgery offers a chance to change your life. You can improve your appearance through surgery and improve your health through smoking cessation and improved diet and exercise habits. You should end up looking better, feeling better, and living longer.
Where Your Surgery Will Be Performed
Sometimes you have a choice in the location of your surgery, whether in a hospital, ambulatory surgery center, or office surgery setting. Some surgeons prefer to perform the majority of their procedures in their own office surgery suites as a convenience to themselves and to save money. Others prefer to do only minor procedures in the office while performing more major operations in a local hospital or ambulatory surgery center. The factors to be considered when choosing between office and hospital surgery are discussed below.
Office Surgery Suites
Many physicians have surgical suites in their offices where they perform the majority of their operations. Escalating costs of hospital care and the ability of properly trained physicians to perform procedures safely in properly accredited office surgery settings influenced the growth in office-based surgery. Due to the differences in overhead, procedures performed in an office setting often are slightly less expensive than those performed in a hospital or ambulatory surgery center.
Regulation
Any physician, regardless of his or her training, can open an office surgery suite and advertise as a plastic surgeon and perform plastic surgery on the unsuspecting public. Regulation of office surgery settings is currently voluntary and often substandard. New laws are being passed in an attempt to correct this potential problem. If you decide to have your surgery in an office surgery suite, choosing a physician whose surgery suite is accredited adds an additional level of quality assurance. The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), www.aaaasf.org, is one organization that provides accreditation for office operating rooms.
Contingencies
Despite thorough training of physicians and staff and accreditation of facilities, emergencies can occur during an office procedure. Emergency plans must be in place and be able to be activated immediately. The surgeon and staff must be familiar with how to activate the emergency system and what each person’s role is in the event of an emergency situation.
• What emergency plans and equipment are in place to provide for my needs in the event of an emergency?
• Are the surgeon and staff certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)?
• Does the surgeon have admitting privileges at a local hospital should problems arise during my office surgery? (Call the hospital to confirm.)
• How would I be transported to this facility?
• Has an adverse event ever occurred in the past?
Do not have surgery performed in any office where you are uncomfortable with the emergency procedures.
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/plasticsurgery/Plastic-Surgery-Co nsultation-What-to-Expect-and-How-to-Prepare.html
This is just some of what is posted there......
Meeting the Surgeon
Finally, you will meet the surgeon. The length of the initial consultation may be as brief as 15 minutes or longer than an hour, depending on the complexity of the issues involved. Initial impressions are extremely important; they may indicate immediately whether or not the surgeon is someone you wish to trust.
The surgeon will introduce himself or herself and offer a few introductory remarks. Feel free to ask about the surgeon’s background. A well trained surgeon is proud of his or her accomplishments and will gladly share them with you. You also have a right to know the status of malpractice claims and awards. It should not be considered an insult to inquire about these issues. Avoid a surgeon who has multiple malpractice claims or awards. Also make sure that the surgeon carries malpractice insurance; not all states require physicians to do so.
The Consultation
Several factors regarding surgery should be discussed with the physician during initial consultation, including procedure, location, anesthesia, recovery and cost. The surgeon should inquire about your concerns, priorities and motivations for pursuing surgery, as well as your fears.
The surgeon also should try to ensure that you have reasonable expectations for the outcome, and should explain what is possible and what is not possible.
Questions You Should Ask About the Procedure
• What is the simplest and safest surgery to help me achieve my goals?
• How is the surgery performed?
• What is the expected length of operation?
• Are other options available?
• What results can I expect, and how long do the typical results last?
• Where will scars be located, and how noticeable will they be?
• Will scars fade over time, and how long will this take?
Avoid the surgeon who does things only one way. The beauty of cosmetic surgery is that there are many ways of accomplishing the desired result. Your surgeon should be able to discuss options with you, fully explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each and why one may be recommended over another.
Questions You Should Ask About the Surgeon’s Experience With the Procedure
• How many times has the surgeon performed this procedure?
• How long has the surgeon been performing this procedure?
• How many times per year does the surgeon perform the procedure?
• How many patients have required re-operation or touch ups?
• What complications may occur?
• How frequently do these complications occur?
Avoid the surgeon who is not appropriately trained in the type of surgery you desire. Another key aspect is to review photos of actual bariatric patients who have had the same procedure you desire. If the surgeon cannot show you any pre and post-operative photos, it is likely that he or she is inexperienced in the procedure. Conversely, if the surgeon can show you numerous examples of his or her work with bariatric patients, you can rest assured that this surgeon probably has a thorough knowledge of and experience with bariatric patients
and their special needs surrounding surgery.
Questions You Should Ask About Logistical Matters
• What preparation is required the day before and morning of surgery?
• Should my regular medications be taken on the morning of surgery?
• What time should I arrive at the surgery location?
• Should someone drive me?
• Should someone wait at the surgery location or come back later?
Smoking
The surgeon also will discuss smoking with you. Smoking may lead to severe complications and wound healing problems. Your surgeon may not perform certain procedures if you are unwilling to quit smoking for a certain period of time pre- and post-operatively. Cosmetic surgery offers a chance to change your life. You can improve your appearance through surgery and improve your health through smoking cessation and improved diet and exercise habits. You should end up looking better, feeling better, and living longer.
Where Your Surgery Will Be Performed
Sometimes you have a choice in the location of your surgery, whether in a hospital, ambulatory surgery center, or office surgery setting. Some surgeons prefer to perform the majority of their procedures in their own office surgery suites as a convenience to themselves and to save money. Others prefer to do only minor procedures in the office while performing more major operations in a local hospital or ambulatory surgery center. The factors to be considered when choosing between office and hospital surgery are discussed below.
Office Surgery Suites
Many physicians have surgical suites in their offices where they perform the majority of their operations. Escalating costs of hospital care and the ability of properly trained physicians to perform procedures safely in properly accredited office surgery settings influenced the growth in office-based surgery. Due to the differences in overhead, procedures performed in an office setting often are slightly less expensive than those performed in a hospital or ambulatory surgery center.
Regulation
Any physician, regardless of his or her training, can open an office surgery suite and advertise as a plastic surgeon and perform plastic surgery on the unsuspecting public. Regulation of office surgery settings is currently voluntary and often substandard. New laws are being passed in an attempt to correct this potential problem. If you decide to have your surgery in an office surgery suite, choosing a physician whose surgery suite is accredited adds an additional level of quality assurance. The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), www.aaaasf.org, is one organization that provides accreditation for office operating rooms.
Contingencies
Despite thorough training of physicians and staff and accreditation of facilities, emergencies can occur during an office procedure. Emergency plans must be in place and be able to be activated immediately. The surgeon and staff must be familiar with how to activate the emergency system and what each person’s role is in the event of an emergency situation.
• What emergency plans and equipment are in place to provide for my needs in the event of an emergency?
• Are the surgeon and staff certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)?
• Does the surgeon have admitting privileges at a local hospital should problems arise during my office surgery? (Call the hospital to confirm.)
• How would I be transported to this facility?
• Has an adverse event ever occurred in the past?
Do not have surgery performed in any office where you are uncomfortable with the emergency procedures.
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