Hello, it’s Dr.Go from Newport Plastic Surgery with another GoPost! Today I would like to discuss a few things that I think would be helpful for patients to know in order to maximize the doctor-patient relationship and to achieve the best results as a team. I have had the privilege of taking care of hundreds of patients over the past 10 years in practice, and there are some recurring problematic themes that I see some patients display that I would like to shed some light on for everyone’s benefit, so here we go:
Working Together for Best Outcomes
Although a large number of my patients do a good job following my pre and postop instructions, I cannot count the number of times some patients do detrimental things to hinder their outcomes, then come back wondering why they did not get perfect results. Some examples include patients who continue smoking during and/or after their surgeries leading to poor healing and bad scarring, resume an unhealthy lifestyle and bad diet after their body contouring procedures causing reaccumulation of fatty deposits, going back to work or working out too soon after their surgeries leading to hematomas, avoiding optimal skin care and sun protection after their skin resurfacing procedure causing the results to not last as long, going on vacation and swimming in dirty pools, lakes, or ocean waters too soon after their surgeries leading to wound infections, etc. Although it sounds like common sense, it should go without saying that the best outcomes and results occur when you work together with your plastic surgeon and follow all of their pre and postop recommendations.
Realistic Expectations
It is important for patients to have realistic expectations. I continue to be surprised and perplexed when I see a new patient for a consultation and they bring in pictures of supermodels and expect to look like them after their aesthetic procedure. I have a saying that I like to use, which is that ‘I am a physician, not a magician’. Every person is unique with their own body type, height, weight, medical history, list of medications that they are on, lifestyle habits including diet, exercise, and alcohol/ tobacco use, etc. Thus, I need to explain that it is nearly impossible to obtain perfect results and achieve supermodel or celebrity proportions unless they possess very favorable characteristics to begin with. Otherwise it is important to know that we will work together to achieve cosmetic improvements to their areas of concern and get as close as possible to their goals. I have found that patients are happier when I am honest about what can realistically be achieved by managing their expectations.
Avoid Price Shopping
Everyone loves a good bargain, right? This concept may be applicable when you are shopping for food, clothes, or even a new car where the actual items are a set commodity. However, I would highly caution against using this method when you are looking into cosmetic surgery. Searching for a legitimate surgeon to operate on you is the last place you want to bargain shop and gamble on your life. Nevertheless, I still see a fair number of new consultations with patients who are price shopping for the cheapest possible rates to book their surgeries, and I always shudder when they decide to go elsewhere and risk their results and lives to an unqualified practitioner, sometimes overseas. Cosmetic surgery is not a commodity where patients should just book with the lowest cost provider. No two medical offices are the same and it is up to the patient to do their due diligence in researching their physicians and making sure that they are a board-certified plastic surgeon with good experience before proceeding with their surgery.
Well there you have it. Hopefully this list will help in educating you about some key things that plastic surgeons would like you to know ahead of time. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please give my office a call for a free consultation, and be sure to check out all of the helpful information on my website (https://www.newportplasticsurgery.com/). Stay healthy and see you next time on another GoPost!
Parviz Hiroshi Goshtasby, M.D., F.A.C.S., a.k.a. “Dr.Go”
Newport Plastic Surgery, Inc.
Diplomate, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Diplomate, American Board of Surgery
Certification, Subspecialty of Surgery of the Hand
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
Newport Lido Medical Center
351 Hospital Road, Suite 418
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 500-5440
Facsimile: 949 629-3692
