Regardless of what cosmetic procedure you are looking into, the importance of a consultation with your practitioner is integral to getting the most out of your cosmetic journey. It not only allows you to get to know them on a one-to-one basis, allowing you to feel comfortable and at ease with them, but it really helps you to fully understand the procedure before you commit to it. Listed below are a few things you should keep in mind for your consultation with a surgeon.
Take Pictures
If you have a specific idea of how you would like your results to look, the best thing you can do is bring a visual aid to your consultation. Seen an image of some great, natural looking breast implants that you think would flatter your figure perfectly, or a celebrity profile whose nose you would like to emulate? The best way to communicate your desired results is to attend your consultation prepared with images. From there, you will be able to discuss with a surgeon how attainable these results are for you and move forward from there.
Keep an Open Mind
Although you might think you’ve read all there is to know about your procedure of choice, you might be overlooking an option that is far more suited to your case. There are a lot of factors that can make us right or wrong for a treatment – body type, desired results, lifestyle and budget to name but a few. Don’t attend your consultation ‘blinkered’ and keep your options open for as long as you can – you might be glad that you did.
Ask Questions
Your consultation is your main opportunity to speak face to face with your surgeon, who will be performing your procedure. Above anything else, this is the prime opportunity to ask all the questions you may have about your treatment – voice any concerns or worries you might have, tell him about any existing conditions you have that might affect your treatment and ask for clarity on anything you don’t understand.
Listen Carefully
During your consultation, you will be reminded of the risks, potential side-effects and any special pre or post-procedure measures you should take. All of this is incredibly important information, and should not be missed. Take notes if you wish.
Consider the Financial Aspect
No two procedures were created the same, and the financial implications will differ from treatment to treatment. Please note, some treatments cannot, by nature, have non-surgical or less expensive counterparts – for example, breast implants. However, for procedures such as fat reduction, there is often a non-surgical treatment that works in the same was as a surgical procedure. It may transpire that you are not a suitable candidate for an alternative therapy, but some patients will be and it does not hurt to explore your options.
Be Realistic
It is important that you are realistic about your expectations and what you think cosmetic surgery or cosmetic treatments can provide for you. A good surgeon will assess your concerns and lifestyle – if you suffer from certain personality disorders and are looking to cosmetic treatments to ‘fix’ your anxiety there’s a good chance you will not be a suitable candidate for the said procedure.
A good surgeon will want to ensure that you are in a good state of mind and that you are seeking aesthetic treatments for the right reasons.
From consultation to best results, cosmetic surgery can be a long journey, and cosmetic treatments can require a full course in order to reach optimum results. Your surgeon will be able to outline a realistic timeline to you during the consultation, which can be very helpful for patients who are not sure what to expect in terms of timing.