Plastic Surgeon: Learn About 3 Important Appointments

If you plan to have cosmetic surgery, you will likely need to have at least three separate appointments with the plastic surgeon you choose. This is why you need to make sure you pick someone who you are not only comfortable with, but are also fairly close to so you do not have to drive for hours when you need to meet up. Learn about the three main appointments you will have with your doctor.

The first appointment is usually called the initial consultation. This is often free, and allows you to meet the doctor before committing to becoming his patient. You can schedule consultations with a few doctors if you wish, but take the time during each one to consider whether you are comfortable there. You will need to ask any questions you have about the surgery and the office, and your doctor will let you know anything else of importance. You will be told what you need to do to prepare for surgery, and you may also be required to get a check-up from your regular physician before you can schedule the procedure. For this reason, you may have to attend a few more visits after the initial meeting, so plan for that possibility.

If not, then the next time you see your plastic surgeon will be on the day of the procedure. Hopefully you will have been told everything you need to know regarding how to prepare. You will likely be given general anesthesia, depending on the extent of the operation, and you can expect a few nurses and other staff to be there with you and your surgeon. After the procedure, you will be given instructions for recovery, and your doctor will tell you when to come in next.

Almost all doctors require you to come in for an appointment as you recover. This is to make sure you do not have an infection, and are healing well. The visit should be days or about a week after the operation, but you are encouraged to come in sooner if you suspect a problem. If everything seems to be going well during recovery, you may not have to see your doctor again. However, some surgeons do like to see patients several weeks afterward so they can make sure that not only are they healed, but the operation was successful. Of course, if you are not happy with the results, you need to talk to your plastic surgeon as soon as possible so you can discuss revision surgery, if necessary.

Clearly, you will be seeing your practitioner at frequent intervals since these appointments are typically all within a few months. Therefore, you need to be selective when picking a good plastic surgeon for your situation.