Why Does the Quatela Center Take Photos at Each and Every Visit?

-by Brooke Laundry, Patient Consultant for Dr. Vito C. Quatela, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon

Photo documentation plays such an important role in our plastic surgery practice, but why?

When new and established patients visit our office, we document their patient journey via photographs at each appointment, starting from their first visit into the practice. This occurs whether you are coming in to be consulted for nonsurgical or surgical options, perhaps lip injections, breast augmentation or rhinoplasty, and whether you meet with one of our physicians or Patient Consultants for an Image Enhancement Session.

So, what’s the reason for these photos?

• Photos allow us to talk with you about what it is that you are looking to improve upon, as it allows us to look alongside you and discuss options.
• Often with facial procedures we use these photos to perform computer imaging, a wonderful tool so you can visualize the potential results of your rhinoplasty, facelift, and other facial procedures.
• We also use the photos to explain your potential incision location, lifting angle or exact areas that we are working on.

These photos also allow us to look back on how far you have come or document a location of healing. We can review with you perhaps at your 6-month visit, what the difference from post-operative day 7 was from post-operative day 31.

Lastly, photos are also a wonderful tool that can be used, with permission, to show another patient’s journey or to showcase your own journey.  They are a great way for prospective patients to see a real patient’s results, before and after surgery.  While individual results vary and everyone’s healing process is unique in some ways, providing before and after photos as a visual tool gives patients a better idea of what they can expect.

First and foremost, it’s important to know that the photos we take in the office are strictly for use in your personal medical record. In order to share photos with other patients on a variety of platforms, we ask for photo consent and the patient chooses where they would like their photos used. The reason our patients share them is because they are so pleased by the end result that they are excited to show off their new look and help others who are looking into a procedure!

You can check out some of our before and after photos on Instagram @quatelacenter_plasticsurgery or on our gallery page!