One of the most common concerns we hear from our patients is the anxiety surrounding their choice of future plastic surgeons. Choosing a surgeon is not like choosing a brand of cereal, or a new pair of shoes. The stakes are high and you’re placing your life and your body in this person’s hands. If making the right choice feels like a really big deal to you, that’s because it is. There are so many minutiae that combine to make a quality plastic surgeon, but over the years we have come up with a list of things that matter most to us and our patients. If you’re looking for a plastic surgeon in your community, we urge you to take the time to find the surgeon and the practice that feels most comfortable to you.
Professionalism Is Essential
First and foremost, any kind of doctor that you interact with must be professional. Men and women alike bring their most vulnerable issues to their surgeons and deserve to be treated with respect. If you’ve met with a plastic surgeon that you feel has acted unprofessionally it’s your right to leave and find a doctor that is a better fit. One of the primary things we want you to learn from this article is that you have the right to choose the doctor that provides you the experience you want. If at any point you’re unsure or unconfident, it’s ok to make a change.
Office Culture Matters
The level of professionalism and integrity that a plastic surgeon has will undoubtedly bleed into the entire office. The best surgeon in the world may not cultivate an environment that feels safe to you, and how you feel when you’re engaging with your doctor’s staff is very important. Of course, everyone has off days, but I encourage you to consider whether you’re comfortable in an environment and to act accordingly. In our office, we work hard to create a warm, welcoming, and professional environment so you always know what to expect when you interact with us.
A Clean And Serene Environment
Another feature that is critical in fostering confidence in patients is the office’s physical environment. We regularly hear compliments about how clean and beautiful our facilities are and how much it puts our patients at ease. Would you want to put your body in the hands of a surgeon whose office was unkempt or outdated-looking? We wouldn’t. They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, and we’d agree that’s true. But when it comes to plastic surgery offices, first impressions do matter. Feel free to visit an office before you make a commitment and check the websites of local practices to see how they make you feel.
Answers To Your Questions
It’s difficult to confidently make an important medical decision when you’re uninformed. Our patients come into our office every day with questions about what to expect from their upcoming procedure. As a plastic surgeon, it’s my responsibility to provide them with the information they need to make the best choice for their future. When you meet with a surgeon you should expect the same treatment. Before you elect to undergo any surgery or invest any money, you have the right to know what you’re getting yourself into so that you can confidently take the next step. In the weeks or days leading up to your appointment with a plastic surgeon, jot down the questions that pop into your mind. No matter how silly they seem to you, a great doctor will help calm your fears by giving you all the information you need.
Ultimately, all of the factors listed above come together to create an environment of comfort. A place, and a group of people who make you feel good about the decision you’ve made to undergo plastic surgery. For most people, that sense of comfort is a gut feeling. But ideally, any doctor you meet is working hard to create an environment where you feel comfortable, safe, and cared for.
Everyone comes to a plastic surgeon for a different reason. We have a set of procedures that we perform regularly, but the motivations that draw people into our office for those procedures vary as much as our patients themselves. It’s always our goal that patients feel confident in our staff and comfortable in our office so that they can ask questions and talk openly and honestly about what is to come. If you’re looking for the right plastic surgeon for you, there are two great ways to weed through the options. First, you can poll your friends for recommendations, we meet a lot of new patients this way. And you can call our office to make an appointment to meet with our team. Whichever option you choose, we’re confident you’ll find your way to our door.