If you’re considering any sort of surgery, there are questions you’ll want to know the answers for before the procedure even begins. This is particularly important when considering plastic surgery, since managing expectations plays a big role in how satisfied you are with the results.
When it comes to cosmetic plastic surgery, it’s even more important to have all your questions answered and your concerns addressed. Rhinoplasty, for example, is one cosmetic procedure that the results will be, quite literally, one of the first things people see when they look at you.
If you have any questions about your rhinoplasty surgery, beforehand is definitely when you want to get them answered. Let’s look at a few of the most important questions you’ll want to ask your Phoenix plastic surgeon.
1. Are you board-certified in plastic surgery?
You could probably find this out on your own without having to actually ask the surgeon. You could visit the website or ask the staff member who schedules your consultation, or the nurse who does your preliminary work.
It’s important to know the answer to this question, because legally, any doctor with a medical license is allowed to perform cosmetic surgery, even with no prior training or experience.
2. How many rhinoplasty surgeries do you average in a year?
You might just ask what percentage of his practice is made up of rhinoplasties, but it’s important to get an idea of how much past experience he has with this particular cosmetic procedure, as it can be one of the more difficult surgeries to perform.
You may also want to ask what the policy is on revisions or the revision rate. In other words, what percentage of rhinoplasty procedures return for revision surgery? A certain amount is to be expected, and the majority of patients who return for revisions are usually having touch up work done, to optimize their final results.
3. What kind of results can I expect?
This is important because you need to make sure the doctor’s vision for you is the same one you have in your own mind. If there’s a reason you won’t be able to achieve the results you want, it’s much better to find out before the surgery, so you can set different expectations if necessary.
It’s perfectly acceptable to ask if any computer imaging is available, so you can see a simulation of what your results might look like on your own face. In the absence of simulations, at least ask to see before and after pictures.
Most physicians have a gallery of before and after images and are usually quite happy to let you look through them. Again, if you visit their website, you can often find your answer there. Many surgeons will have at least a sampling of their before and after results you can scroll through.
A Final Note
It’s important to remember the doctor doesn’t mind that you have questions. In fact, in many cases, they’ll volunteer answers to some of the questions they hear most frequently, even before you ask.
You have to be able to put your faith in someone who will be changing your outward appearance and to make sure your aesthetic goals are in alignment with what’s realistically possible.
You want to be able to make an informed decision. Your plastic surgeon is there to reassure you of his qualifications and experience. He’s also there to help guide you in making your final decision by answering all your questions and giving you all the pertinent information you need.
If you’re considering rhinoplasty surgery, it’s never too early to contact us and set up a free consultation with Dr. Philpott. It’s the perfect opportunity to have your concerns addressed and your questions answered.
