Five things to expect your surgeon to discuss or show you at your consultation

It is very important that you feel comfortable with your surgeon at your consultation, and that they discuss clearly with you the nature of the operation, likely result, recovery period and possible complications following surgery.

The following five aspects should be fully covered during your consultation:

1. The surgeon should listen carefully to you to help them understand the result you are hoping to achieve following surgery.

If the surgeon does not listen to you, and you do not feel they’re taking on board what you are saying be wary. It is almost impossible for a surgeon to achieve the results you wish for if they do not understand it.

2. Your surgeon should discuss the various options for surgery with you.

In most procedures there are a number of options and the best option for you will not necessarily be the best option for someone else. Make sure that they do discuss the alternative treatment and the pros and cons of each.

3. Your surgeon should show you before and after photographs of patients he/she has personally treated.

Ask them whether the pictures are representative of their work. It is important that they show you a minimum of 5 before and after pictures of patients they have treated and ideally the more the better so that you can assess their work.

4. Your surgeon should discuss the recovery period and also potential complications following surgery.

The human body is not a machine and it is not entirely predictable. Therefore, minor complications such as slightly raised or red scars and areas in which the healing of the skin takes slightly longer than normal are relatively common.

More serious complications such as infection and bleeding following surgery should be very rare with experienced surgeons using the latest Lamina air flow theatres to reduce the risk of infection. However, all surgeons do get some complications and they should discuss this openly with you.

5. Reading and research information to take away from the consultation.

Most professional surgeons will not put undue pressure on you to book surgery at your initial consultation. Beware any sales techniques such as asking you for deposits for surgery at your first consultation as this is a sales technique.

A reputable surgeon will not put any undue pressure on you to book a procedure and will give you written information on the procedure to take at home and read at your leisure. They will encourage you to schedule a second consultation or book surgery if you are happy with the information and your consultation, and had the time to consider whether this surgery is the right option for you.