Choosing the right surgeon, part one - Joy Parker-Fleming, Patient Advisory Service

Choosing the right surgeon

Every call into our office at the Patient Advisory Service will invariably start with, “Hello, I am looking for some advice on how to find the right surgeon as I am looking to have cosmetic surgery. I am so confused with all the websites and advertisements in magazines, I just don’t know where to start”.

Well, let’s go!

Firstly and most importantly you must have a realistic expectation of just what an aesthetic procedure can achieve. There are many patients who watch the many TV makeover shows and actually think their transformation will be as life changing as the ones they see on the “telly”. I spend a long time explaining that the amount of money they would have to spend to achieve the same level of transformation could cost in the region of £35,000/£40,000 as the patients that are seen on screen will have undergone multiple procedures ranging from Facelift, Blepharoplasty, Brow lift, Fat transfer, Liposuction, Abdominoplasty and dental enhancements ranging from veneers to implants costing thousands of pounds.

And that’s not counting the cost of a stylist to advise on clothes, the top level hair stylist to get the hair right and a makeup artist to prepare them for their debut on screen.

This is completely out of the question for 99% of the average patients. So we have to discuss and educate patients to make sure that their expectations of their result is managed properly in order for them to look and feel good. It is also vital to empower patients with the right questions to ask their surgeon once they actually are sitting in the consultation room.

Surgeon, not agent

I cannot stress enough how imperative it is to insure that all your consultations are with a surgeon directly and not a go between “agent, advisor or nurse”, when you discuss all your requirements as they could possibly may be motivated by financial gain rather than your individual well being. I always tell patients the best surgeons are the ones who tell you “I understand your goals and expectations, but I am not confident that I can deliver to your expectation, but I know someone who can”, then they recommend another colleague. This is a good, safe surgeon and should reassure you that he has guided you to the most appropriate surgeon for your individual needs.

I have spent over 20 years in this business and gained a vast amount of knowledge from working in plastic surgery units worldwide, to know that there any many surgeons who never turn down work, even if they know full well that certain procedures carried out by them are very minimal with the patient not being aware that if they had gone to another surgeon they would have had a result that thrilled them.

I am happy to answer any queries you may have and there is no charge to speak with myself or any member of my team personally. You can see the senior team members on the website below.

Part two of Joy's advice on finding the right surgeon for you is available now!

Joy Parker-Fleming

Joy is a senior patient advisor with 20 years experience in the cosmetic surgery industry. www.patientadvisory.co.uk

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