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“Every conversation I had with Dr. Hunsicker helped to put my fears to rest.” |
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Q: What can I expect at the consultation?
A: Scheduling a consultation with a plastic surgeon is a major milestone. Many people research plastic surgery online and talk to their friends and family for years before ever taking that next step to talk with a surgeon. This is a critical step in your process because it allows you to talk directly to a surgeon about a variety of things specific to you including: your goals, options, risks, benefits, recovery and cost. During a consultation the surgeon should:
- Give you information about the procedure you want.
- Offer alternatives, where appropriate, without pressuring you to consider unneeded or additional procedures.
- Make clear the risks and potential complications of surgery, possible outcomes and recovery process.
- Welcome questions about your procedure and his or her professional qualifications, experience, costs and payment policies.
- Answer all of your questions thoroughly and clearly.
- Ask about your thoughts to recommended treatment.
- Leave the final decision to you.
At Revalla our consultation begins with a brief meeting with a patient coordinator to go over your goals and tailor a plan to make sure we meet your expectations for the consultation. You will then meet with Dr. Hunsicker to: 1) review your medical and health history, 2) discuss in detail your goals, and 3) conduct a physical examination. After gathering this information, Dr. Hunsicker is able to have a meaningful discussion with you regarding your options, the risks and benefits, and recovery. She will also advise you on which option(s) will best meet your goals. You will also have the opportunity to view before & after photos of our patients. Finally, you will receive a detailed quote on pricing for any procedures you are interest in having.
You should leave the consultation feeling like you’ve gotten to know the surgeon, had all of your questions answered, and confident that you have all the information you need to begin deciding what is best for you.
Q: What questions should I ask a surgeon?
A: While the consultation process helps you to learn more and get your questions answered, it is also your opportunity to interview and evaluate the surgeon. Should you decide to move forward with surgery, you want to ensure that you have an experienced surgeon who you trust to safely provide you with quality results. It’s important to talk to the surgeon about your goals and your treatment. Feel confident asking about your doctor’s credentials, experience, outcomes or safety record. It is your body, your safety and your life.
Below are several questions you should ask a surgeon before deciding to have surgery:
- Are you an ASPS Member Surgeon?
If he or she answers "yes," you can rest assured that your surgeon is board certified in plastic surgery, has hospital privileges and only performs surgery in accredited facilities and you can skip to question 5.
- Are you board-certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery?
By choosing a plastic surgeon who is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, you can be assured that the doctor has graduated from an accredited medical school and has completed at least five years of additional training as a resident surgeon. This includes a minimum three-year residency in an accredited general surgery program and a minimum two-year residency in plastic surgery. To become certified, the doctor then must successfully complete comprehensive written and oral exams. Board Certification is a voluntary process.
- Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure? If so, at which hospitals?
If a surgeon has hospital privileges for a certain procedure, you know that they have met a variety of standards that are reviewed on a regular basis. Surgeon’s who do not have privileges at hospitals may not have access to appropriate facilities to care for you in the rare instance of surgical complications.
- Where do you perform the surgery and is the facility accredited?
Surgeons who have hospital privileges, may elect to perform cosmetic procedures in a surgery center or office-based operating room as these can be less expensive options for procedures not covered by insurance. However, any facility used should be fully accredited. Most stand alone surgery centers are accredited. If your surgeon performs surgical procedures in their office, ensure it is accredited as well. One of the most recognized accreditations is the AAAASF - American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities. Other Operating Room certifications that are qualifying are Medicare, JACHO, and AAAHC.
- How many procedures of this type have you performed in the last year?
There are so many types of plastic surgery procedures and it is difficult for a surgeon to regularly perform all of them so it is important to find out what procedures the surgeon specializes in. There is no magic number that tells you if your procedure is one of their specialties. Some surgeons may be able to perform significantly more surgeries than another because he or she spends less time with each patient. While another surgeon may perform less total surgeries in a year but provide much more individualized care. You can sometimes get a better sense of a surgeon’s specialties by also asking what percentage of your total surgeries is comprised of this particular procedure.
- Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
While we can learn a lot about a particular procedure, including the indications and contra-indications, only a surgeon can truly evaluate whether you are a good candidate. A good surgeon will use the consultation to evaluate all of the elements that will determine if you are a good candidate. Even more important, a good surgeon will advise you of other potential options if you are not a good candidate and/or help you objectively weigh risks and benefits. If you are not a good candidate, you and your surgeon should think long and hard about moving forward with surgery.
- What will be expected of me to get optimal results?
Plastic surgery does carry risks and it is important that you take the preparation, procedure and recovery seriously. Listen closely to your physician’s instructions and advice and be prepared to follow them diligently to help ensure a smooth recovery and desired results.
- What are the risks involved with my procedure?
It is very important that you are fully aware of the risks and potential complications of a procedure before you can adequately evaluate whether it is right for you to move forward. While complications are usually rare, they are a reality. Ensure you know how your physician handles complications that may arise, especially for cosmetic procedures.
- Who will be administering my anesthesia?
Surgeons often have several options in regards to who administers the anesthesia for patients. Some physicians use Certified Nurse Anesthetists (CNA’s) while others use Anesthesiologists (medical doctors specializing in providing anesthesia). Each surgeon will have their own reasoning for who they use, but you should know the qualifications and experience of the person administering your anesthesia and decide what is best for you.
- How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?
A critical component of any procedure, you need to be able to adequately plan and prepare for your recovery, which could taking time off of work, arranging for help at home and/or transportation to follow-up appointments, and a variety of other elements. Knowing about your recovery process in advance will help you to decide if and when to have surgery.
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