The Consultation Is An Important Part Of Plastic Surgery

The plastic surgery consultation is an opportunity to meet your plastic surgeon, get comfortable with one another and most importantly, you will discuss with your plastic surgeon the areas of your appearance for which you desire improvement. When you contact the plastic surgeon's office to schedule your consultation, the surgeon's staff will send an you a packet that contains important information. This packet should include information about the plastic surgeon, the Surgeon's office, policies and of course, information about your chosen plastic surgery procedure as well as information about the surgical facility where the procedure will be performed. It is important that you completely read and fully understand this information in order for you to be aware of what to expect, the surgery process and options available to you prior to your consultation. This packet will also includes a patient questionnaire about you, and your medical history.

During your consultation, the surgeon will perform an examination. Depending on the procedure, the surgeon will measure the area(s) of concern, take notes and the surgeon may also take "before" photos. The surgeon will discuss with you the options available for your procedure, such as the size of breast implants. In addition the surgeon will also offer his recommendations for you. You and your plastic surgeon will also thoroughly review the planned procedure, what to expect as you recover and your anticipated results.

Preoperative Planning with Computer Simulation

With all of the advancements in plastic surgery procedure techniques and the technology employed, procedures are becoming safer, and surgeons are now able to better predict the results. California plastic surgeon Dr Craig Creasman does exactly that with a new technology for breast augmentation surgery called 4-d Simulation. This technology is aimed at aiding in the pre-operative planning stage of the surgery.

Dr Creasman states"I discuss surgical options with my patients using this new computer imaging, which can demonstrate the changes I would suggest for the changes we would make during the surgery. Using this technology, 4-D images can be obtained in short time, which I then manipulate to give an educated estimate of what might a patients breasts will look like after breast augmentation surgery. This system also allows for more flexibility in the choice of breast implant, which helps to create a more personalized result. "

Though this technology is not a guarantee or warranty of the proposed surgical result, it does help to provide the patient and the surgeon with a visual communication aid. This is important because it allows the patient to give the doctor feedback and allows the surgeon an opportunity to convey to the patient the limitations of what can be done, as well as the possible results. It is very important for the patient to visualize how she will look with the breasts she desires, and this system becomes an educational tool in with which the patient can view the result third-party, rather than just listening to the surgeon visualizing the results while standing in front of a mirror with a breast implant held up to her body.