"Can you help me get rid of this tired look?"
"Because of these frown lines, people think I'm angry when I'm not!"
"If I change my appearance will I still look like me?"
"How much will my plastic surgery cost?"
"Is plastic surgery safe?"
"Is my plastic surgeon qualified?"
"Is plastic surgery painful?"

The best surgical techniques fail to achieve their goal unless your plastic surgeon understands your individual concerns.
One of the most important elements in an initial consultation is the plastic surgeons ability to LISTEN. It is on the foundation of this initial meeting that you may consider whether facial plastic surgery is right for you. It is from listening to you that your plastic surgeon can:

• understand your expectations
• determine if he or she can meet your expectations
• find out if the two of you can establish a good rapport
• begin to know you and your motivation behind your desire to improve your appearance
• consider if you are a good surgical candidate for plastic surgery or if nonsurgical options would be better for you
• offer a range of treatment options
• answer your questions regarding cosmetic surgery and provide information

Medical research shows that the more you know about your healthcare, the better your experience and outcome will be.
There are many ways to learn about cosmetic procedures. A good place to begin is BEFORE the consultation. Take time to:

• Look at before and after photos of the plastic surgeon's work: Before and After photos
• Learn how to select a qualified plastic surgeon
• Research specific plastic surgery procedures for procedure descriptions, diagrams of incision placement, most frequently asked questions (FAQs) and preoperative and postoperative care involved with the plastic surgery procedure
• Learn about realistic expectations from Computer Imaging
• Determine what's important to you by others' experience with plastic surgery
• Investigate your plastic surgeon and staff for training, education, experience, Board certifications, etc. Surgeons & Staff
• Write a list of important questions to discuss with the plastic surgeon at your first meeting
• Ask questions now: Contact Us

Complimentary Consultation
After doing research, some patients are ready to sit down with a plastic surgeon to ask specific questions and discuss options and alternatives. Other patients still want more information before meeting with the doctor. Many plastic surgeons offer complementary consultations with an experienced patient care coordinator, host informative plastic surgery seminars and offer a variety of ways to learn about cosmetic enhancements.

At the initial consultation, as with any new patient appointment, a thorough history and physical examination are obtained. A physical examination of your face allows the doctor to understand your skin, your facial expressions and your bone structure. Reviewing your health history will also help him understand if surgery is a good option for you and determine which recommendations are best for you to consider.

Is cosmetic surgery right for everyone?
NO! Plastic surgery is not the answer for every patient. For example, a patient with changes in appearance of the eyes due to thyroid disease is best served by further laboratory evaluation and medical treatment of the underlying cause.

A physical exam, review of health history and understanding a patient are vital to developing a treatment plan - a plan which may include surgical options, nonsurgical options or referral to another health care provider.

Surgical AND Nonsurgical Options
If you do have health problems, don't automatically rule yourself out for consideration of a cosmetic procedure. Remember, there should be a wide range of treatment options available including nonsurgical treatments such as Botox, Restylane and skin peels.

Discuss all the options
In discussing realistic treatment options, your physician should include what can and can not be achieved - in other words what is a reasonable result for you. You should receive information about each plastic surgery procedure: placement of incisions, any risks involved, how to prepare for the cosmetic procedure, the postoperative care involved and a realistic time-frame for each postoperative phase (when can you go back to work, when can you expect the final result, etc.).

Ask to see before-and-after photos
Remember this is your time to evaluate the plastic surgeon. Ask to review before and after photographs of his work for the procedures that you are considering. Do the results look good to you?

Ask about computer imaging
Ask about computer imaging and what is realistic compared to the computer image. Computer imaging can help you show the plastic surgeon what you like and what you don't like.

Written information helps
Obtain written information about each procedure considered. Written information about each plastic surgery procedure affords you the ability to process the wealth of information at your own pace following the consultation.

Ask to talk to someone who has had it done
Ask for the name and phone number of someone who has had a plastic surgery procedure similar to the one you're discussing. This will not only let you in on the patient's satisfaction, it will also help you determine how the plastic surgeon and staff treat and value their patients.

Is your surgeon Board Certified?
Ask about the plastic surgeonstraining, education and experience. Ask about Board Certification. Is the Board Certification appropriate to the body area you are considering improving? What's his experience with the procedures you discussed - how many plastic surgery procedures has he or she performed?

Ask questions...
Ask for a written quote of all the costs involved. There may be more than one fee for the plastic surgeon. Is there a fee for anesthesia? Is there a facility or operating room fee for supplies used and nursing services? What are the payment policies? Are there any guidelines for cancellation fees?

Don't forget to enjoy the consultation
Do not feel pressured to schedule a plastic surgery procedure. It's up to you when and if you're ready to schedule your plastic surgery procedure. If you want to go home and digest all this information, ask to schedule a follow-up consultation. Many plastic surgeons appreciate this time to study your photographs taken at this initial consultation and will offer a follow-up consultation at no additional fee. Furthermore, it is unrealistic to think that every question will be answered at the initial consultation. There are so many factors to weigh and discuss. The consultation should not be all work - you should also enjoy the experience.

Improved self confidence, renewed self esteem:
Investing time and energy at the beginning will pay off in many ways. We see it in improved self-confidence, renewed self-esteem, better eye contact and the smiling faces of our patients. It is what makes this rewarding to us.

At this time want to thank our wonderful patients who have agreed to share before and after photos, talk to other patients and refer their friends. It's because of you that we do what we do. You have taught us well and our relationships with you make it all worthwhile.