During consults do you find that surgeons try to butter you up?

 I have had consults with 4 different plastic surgeons for three different procedures while trying to find the right match and expertise.  Is it my imagination or do others find that these docs are overly complimentary, almost buttering you up in order to make you like them more?

My experience was the total opposite.  I had to convince the PS I saw that I was serious and that I wanted his help.

I only saw one doctor because both my GYN and my WLS surgeon recommended the same guy. 

When I did the consult for the tummy tuck he told me he will not make any recommendations until I tell him what I want.  He does not BS around.

Good luck on your doctor search... I would suggest you talk to your other doctors and see if they recommend anyone.

Dedi

In this economy, it is tough for everyone.  Snoozing is part of the game to gain business.  I am sure there is a low % of people that actually schedule procedures from a consultation.  For some people, flattery will get you in the door.  

I've had consults with a few doctors and I did feel schmoozed by the first one. I think it was a combination of his confidence, his way of speaking and his target clientele (a more upscale city crowd who probably likes being wow'd). After a few consults I realized that I must be kind of a golden "after" for a lot of docs who do post-bariatrics because I need a lot of work but it's mostly skin. They all seemed to get starry eyed when they described the result they could get for me. It weirded me out.

What's interesting about that first schmoozy doc is that I had a follow-up consult with him - had to drag my husband along because the prices are so high. And in that second meeting he totally won me over. I'd sent him a long written list of questions. Some doctors get annoyed that I'm so research-y but he actually loved it. He pulled out the mail and he'd taken notes all over it. He got down to business and really addressed my questions then pulled out a presentation and study he's working on for a conference and showed me what he's thinking in terms of new techniques, recovery time, avoiding risks, etc. I saw more of the doctor and scientist on the second visit than the wealthy businessman selling high priced services that he appeared to be on the first visit. So I think I might have been partly right that his first consult approach is about buttering up the upper crust ladies in the way the want to be buttered.

What it did teach me is that a second consult is a good thing. It gets beyond the "here's what we offer" and "here's why we're great" first visit and really into the procedures and the nuts and bolts.

If only I had $45k+ to spare ;-).

Britt

 Oh Ya, I had four consults, first one was that way and kind of just strange, second one was the same but with a huge ego, third I kind of liked but they ran the place like car sales men, doctor goes over 
what he thinks you should have done then has you speak to the office manager AKA the closer, I was waiting for her to say what will it take to get you on the table today. Last one I had been told he was kind of rude with bad bedside manner, so I meet with him and he is a paraplegic in a wheel chair who spent close to two hours going over what he would do, why and how, he tells you like it is 
no BS.  He is who I picked. I think one problem may be that we who have lost so much weight and busted are ass to get to this point,  have done more research and are more informed,  so it is hard to just say this is what you need give me 30K and yo will love the results. We want all the info as everyone should, never be afraid to question the medical field, it is your body and your life. Sorry for the long rant.