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The consultation is a crucial part of the cosmetic surgery experience. Whether you’re planning a face, breast, or body procedure, you will meet with one or more prospective cosmetic surgeons to find the one that is qualified to perform your desired procedure and who understands your aesthetic goals.
If you’ve never had cosmetic surgery before, you may not know what to expect from this appointment. To help you understand what to look for, Dr. Mark Lowney of Advanced Body Sculpting of New England shares some of the essential elements of a successful consult.
THE SURGEON IS FORTHCOMING ABOUT THEIR QUALIFICATIONS.
Reputable cosmetic surgeons have nothing to hide. They are forthcoming about their qualifications, including their education, training, and experience. You should feel comfortable asking your surgeon where they went to medical school and completed residency training and how many times they have performed your desired procedure.
THE SURGEON IS CANDID ABOUT POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS.
Any cosmetic surgery procedure carries some degree of risk, and truly trustworthy surgeons are upfront about these risks. They want patients to have all of the information they need to make educated decisions about their care.
THE SURGEON UNDERSTANDS YOUR VISION AND GOALS.
A great cosmetic surgeon will take the time to listen to your unique vision and the goals you have for your treatment, and will provide you with options to help you achieve your desired outcomes. Ideally, you want to feel like your surgeon “gets” you and what you are looking for, and can deliver on their promises. It’s helpful to look through the surgeon’s before-and-after patient gallery to see if the results align with your goals.
YOU DON’T FEEL RUSHED OR PUSHED INTO A DECISION.
Highly regarded cosmetic surgeons understand the magnitude of the decision to have surgery. They want to provide you with the information you need and then allow you space to make your own choices about your care. If you feel a surgeon is pushing you in one direction, or rushing you to make a decision, you should find someone else.
YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THE OFFICE AND AROUND THE STAFF.
Another mark of a great consult is that you feel comfortable with the surgeon’s staff and office. Since you will be spending time with the staff and attending follow-up visits, the office should be clean and up-to-date, and the staff should be friendly and knowledgeable.
If all of these elements fall into place during your consult, and there are no red flags, you have probably found your cosmetic surgeon!
To book an appointment with Dr. Lowney to discuss your personal cosmetic surgery goals, please call (877) 577-5476 or email our practice today.
