Liposuction surgery can offer many benefits to the right patients, making it a very popular choice in plastic surgery clinics nationwide. Even if you’ve decided that liposuction is for you, planning the procedure for yourself must begin during a consultation with a licensed plastic surgeon.
This is a key step in discovering whether you are a good candidate for the procedure and, if so, what surgical steps will be taken to address your individual concerns. Here’s exactly what you should expect from your liposuction consultation.
Be Ready to Discuss Yourself
For the first part of your consultation, your surgeon’s primary focus will be you and your body. He will ask you to talk about your medical history, including current and previous medical conditions, any drug allergies you have, and all medical treatments you have received in the past. In addition, your surgeon will need to know what your current medications are, what vitamins and herbal supplements you take, and your intake of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. You should also be prepared to discuss your previous surgeries, both cosmetic and medical in nature. With this information in hand, your plastic surgeon will be able to determine whether you are a good match for liposuction surgery. Not all prospective patients who want liposuction are eligible to receive this procedure, which requires you to be in good overall health without any conditions or behaviors that might inhibit your healing process after surgery. If you are a good candidate, you will move forward through the rest of the consultation process. If you are not, your surgeon may make recommendations to get your health on track so that you can revisit plans for liposuction in the future. The only way to know for sure whether you are a good liposuction candidate is to book that consultation and start the conversation.
Be Ready to Discuss Your Goals
Once you’ve gotten through all those pertinent facts, you should be ready to discuss your concerns. Where are the fat cells you want to eliminate with liposuction? What kind of changes do you hope to achieve? Are your goals realistic for your body? Be ready to talk about the reasons you want to change your body as well. As you talk about your own surgical goals, your surgeon will be listening closely to assess how realistic they are and whether you will need to make some adjustments in your expectations. He will talk about what you can hope to see from the liposuction procedure and make recommendations for your individual concerns. At this point, your surgeon will likely perform a physical evaluation of the target areas in question, take photographs of these areas, and talk specifically about what results can be achieved for each one of them. You should remain open to the surgeon’s comments and suggestions during this evaluation, as they will be made considering your overall shape and body proportions. Your plastic surgeon will consider all of the important factors when tailoring the liposuction procedure to your unique body, delivering the optimal results for you as a patient.
Be Ready to Ask Questions
During your consultation, the surgeon isn’t the only one who gets to ask lots of questions. The process is an open dialogue so you will also have the chance to voice concerns, gather more information, and offer your own ideas. Additionally, while you are being evaluated by the surgeon, you should also be considering whether this particular doctor is the right fit for you. When it’s time to ask your own questions, consider some of these suggestions for starters:
- Have you been certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
- Are you a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons?
- Was your training completed in the specialty field of plastic surgery?
- Where are your surgeries performed?
- What measures can I take to ensure the best results from my liposuction treatment?
- What will my recovery period be like? How long will it last?
- What risks or complications are associated with liposuction?
- If complications arise, how are they handled?
- How can I make sure my liposuction results last for the rest of my life?
- If I am dissatisfied with my results, what options will I have?
Take some time before your consultation to reflect on the issues that matter to you or the questions you have about the procedure. Write them all down and bring the list with you. Chances are good that your surgeon will answer many of these questions as he talks about the procedure. Check these questions off your list and only ask the ones that are left when it’s your turn.
Be Ready to Consult With Dr. Kessler
When planning for your consultation with Dr. Kessler, be sure to have your Patient Documentation forms completed and on hand. This mandatory paperwork includes a new patient registration form, a new patient medical history questionnaire, a cosmetic interest questionnaire, a photo consent form, a notice of HIPPA privacy practices form, and a HIPPA Acknowledgement Receipt HIPP. Having these forms prepared at the time of your consultation can ensure a smooth planning process for your liposuction surgery. Get the non-surgical rhinoplasty results you really want by finding a credentialed facial plastic surgeon who will work with you to achieve them. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Robert Kessler, a board certified general and plastic surgeon, and find out if you’re a good candidate. He completed his medical degree with Honors from Tufts University in Boston and completed a distinguished General Surgical Residency with North Short/NYU in New York, before doing a Plastic Surgery residency with the US Air Force and the University of Texas. Today, Dr. Kessler operates two practices in California, has worked as a surgical consultant and surgical assistant on ABC’s Extreme Makeover, and has lectured nationally and internationally on topics including facial rejuvenation, plastic surgery, and body contouring after substantial weight loss. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kessler, contact his office, located at 2121 E Pacific Coast Hwy #200, in Newport Beach, California by calling 949.644.6544.
