Plastic Surgery: Things To Discuss Your Surgeon

Getting plastic surgery for the first time can be an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. No matter how much information you soak up from the Internet, you never seem to have enough. There is always that horror story popping up here or that cautionary tale there to make you rethink the whole thing. Relax. Rome wasn't built in a day and you can't expect to earn your M.D. by surfing the Web. Your initial consultation will make things much easier on you and you will be able to ask questions until you are satisfied. In fact, you should do just that. Here are some things you should ask.

Can I Look At Pictures?
It's important to be able to see examples of the doctor's work before you trust your operation to him. Plastic surgery, it has been said, is as much about art as it is science. Any doctor with a weekend course can start putting in breast implants, but that doesn't mean they will look natural or good. If you are able to see some examples, you can start seeing a pattern in the work he has done. You can then decide if this is what you want your work to look like when everything is finished. If the answer is no, or even inspires some hesitation, you should probably look for someone else.

What Is Your Experience?
Many patients feel they are being rude or too forward when they ask a doctor about his experience and credentials. First of all, these should be offered to you without you having to ask. A doctor should be proud of his experience and want to use it as a tool to get you to sign up for plastic surgery. If he seems as though he hedges at such a question, you should treat it as a red flag. And don't just take "20 years of practice" as an answer. You want to know how long they have been doing the exact operation you'll be getting.

Can You Give Me The Details?
This is where you'll want to ask all of those questions you've been searching for on the Internet. Ask how long the procedure will be and what methods he'll be using. This is also where your preemptive research will come in handy, as you'll have just enough knowledge to know what to ask. One common complaint from doctors is that their patients simply don't ask enough questions. Doctors aren't mind readers and they can't know what you do and don't know already. Feel free to ask away.

What About Recovery?
Don't make the mistake of concentrating all of your questions on the procedure without going into the recovery. You'll need to make plans with your place of employment for days off, should you need them. You'll also want to know what kinds of preparations to make so that your recovery goes smoothly.