Before you commit to any plastic surgery, whether cosmetic or reconstructive, it’s vital to schedule a consultation with your plastic surgeon. This gives you an opportunity to ask any questions you might have and learn more about your surgeon’s qualifications. Here are five questions you should add to your checklist on rhinoplasty consultation day.
Can I Contact Your Other Rhinoplasty Patients?
One of the best ways to truly understand what it will be like to have a surgery is to talk to others who have already had that surgery – especially ones who went to the same surgeon. This gives you a chance to see whether the results prior patients obtained mimic what you hope to see for yourself. You can ask these people about the doctor’s bedside manner, pain management policies, attention to detail, and much more.
Do You Have Before and After Photos?
Most plastic surgeons take great pride in their work, and they keep portfolios of before-and-after photos to show their prospective patients. These can give you a good sense of your surgeon’s ability to maintain a naturally shaped nose that accurately reflects the other contours of your face. You should look for before-and-after photos that look completely natural – never surgical or “plastic”. You should also look for subtleties in the work rather than drastic changes, except in the case of reconstruction surgeries.
What Are the Risks?
No matter what kind of surgical procedure you have, there will always be some risks involved. It’s vital that you take the time to talk to your surgeon about these risks so that you can make better, more informed decisions about your healthcare. If your surgeon tries to tell you that there are no risks involved, it’s probably better to seek out another surgeon. Instead, your surgeon should be upfront about any potential risks and how they may affect you. Better yet, your surgeon should discuss ways to mitigate those potential risks.
What If I Need a Revision?
Before you make a major purchase, chances are good that you take the time to learn about the company’s warranty or return policy. You can’t return a rhinoplasty, unfortunately, but you can ask your surgeon for a revision if you’re unhappy with the results. Be sure that you talk to your surgeon before the procedure to find out what will happen if you don’t like the end result. Ask what his or her revision rate is, and if the percentage is high, or if the surgeon doesn’t want to provide that information, you may want to see another surgeon.
How Many Rhinoplasties Have You Done?
You’d never go to the dentist for heart surgery, and that same rule applies to plastic surgery. Some surgeons only specialize in a few specific procedures, so be sure that the surgeon you choose has performed many rhinoplasty procedures. A good number is at least 80 per year. If your surgeon performs less, then you may want to consider finding one who has more recent experience.
Your rhinoplasty consultation is very important to the success of your surgery, and it’s important to make sure you’re asking all the right questions. Make sure these five are on your list, and pay very close attention to the answers in order to help you make the best possible choices.
