What’s in a name? Not much, according to a recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Based on results from across the United States, 70 percent of plastic surgery patients in 2011 requested procedures by describing the area of concern rather than asking for a specific product or procedure by name. For example, rather than requesting a blepharoplasty, a patient might express concern over the excess skin sagging underneath their eyes.
With the experience of thousands of patient consultations, one-on-one with the doctor, we have found the following formula works best:
- Patient describes their goals
- Physician offers recommendations based on the medical history and examination
- The patient considers the options and prioritizes the recommendations
- The physician approves a final plan for the patient to follow through with
This open-minded attitude allows plastic surgeons to discuss a number of different options with their patients to help find the best fit in terms of expected results and time commitment. And it’s the best way to ensure that you are getting what you want – not what someone else thinks you need! There are usually several different options to address each patient’s individual needs, so make sure that your doctor is presenting you with more than one suggestion for accomplishing your goals!