Cosmetic surgery is a big decision. We know from our own patients that it is something that is not taken lightly and involves a lot of thought, discussion and research before that decision is made. If you’re unsure about whether to undergo cosmetic surgery you may find this article helpful. If you have gone through this process already and are now looking for a surgeon to carry out the procedure, we have put together some useful advice and some questions to ask during your consultation.
1. Take Your Time
Don’t rush into finding a suitable surgeon. Take some time to do your research, speak to family and friends and other people who have undergone similar procedures. This could be one of the most important decisions of your life. Treat it as such and make sure you feel completely at ease about the process and know exactly what to expect.
2. Do Your Research
Undergoing plastic surgery can be daunting and rightly so. It is an important and often life changing decision. It is therefore understandable that you might feel nervous about the process and uncertain as to where you should start. We recommend you consider the following:
– Ask family, friends and people you trust, particularly those who have undergone similar procedures.
– Look online – This is an obvious place to start and it is likely that you have already come across a few clinics and surgeons when researching the procedure. It is important to note that, as with any medium, you shouldn’t just accept without questioning everything you read online. Surgeons want to win your business and therefore their websites will be geared towards doing just that. Make sure you ask questions, compare and ‘shop around’.
– Look at forums. People who have already undergone plastic surgery are sometimes happy to share their own experiences, both good and bad. Speak to them if possible, ask about their experience of surgery, whether they were happy with the process and outcome and whether in hindsight they would make any changes.
– Make sure your surgeon is a member of the General Medical Council (GMC). To be eligible to practise in the UK all surgeons must be a member of the GMC and have a GMC number. For more information go to http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/register/LRMP.asp.
– Costs – We realise that for many people cost is a consideration. However, we would advise that cost should not be a deciding factor when choosing a surgeon. Cost does not always mean quality as there are a number of factors to take into consideration such as theatre costs etc. Look past special offers and promotions and make sure you go through the questions below.
– Seek testimonials and before and after photographs and ask about the surgeon’s review rate.
3. Questions to Ask
When considering a surgeon we recommend that you ask the following questions:
Are you a member of the GMC and what is your GMC number?
Are you a member of any other professional bodies?
What are your qualifications?
How long have you been practising?
How many of these procedures have you completed?
What is your revision rate?
Do you have any testimonials that I can see?
Do you have before and after photographs that I can take a look at?
Where will the procedure take place?
How long will the procedure take?
Will I need to be admitted to hospital or will the procedure be completed as a day patient?
Will I need a general or a local anaesthetic?
What will happen directly after the procedure?
What kind of aftercare package do you offer?
Will I require pain relief?
How long will the recovery period be?
Will there be any limitations on what I can / can’t do after the procedure?
Are my goals / expectations realistic? What will be the likely outcome of my surgery?
Are there any risks involved?
What is the cost? Are there any other costs I need to take into consideration?
In addition to the above you may have your own questions or concerns. Make sure you have time to ask those questions and ensure that you are completely comfortable with the responses.
Dr Frati
At Frati Cosmetic Surgery we believe that all procedures should offer a solution to an issue and should be a relaxed and positive experience.
During your consultation Dr Frati will talk to you at length about what you are looking to achieve and will be frank and honest about likely outcomes. You will have the opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns.
We also offer an extensive after-care-package that is second-to-none. You will be supported before, during and after your surgery or procedure. But don’t take our word for this. You can read what our patients say about us on our testimonials page and view our work in our before and after gallery.
Dr Riccardo Frati is a leading cosmetic surgeon and is registered with the General Medical Council, and is on the GMC Specialist Register for Plastic Surgery in the UK. He is a member of the following professional organisations:
General Medical Council
American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery
ISAPS
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Inc.
SICPRE
BACS
UKAAPS
Dr Frati has published over 100 scientific papers and regularly attends leading international conferences to keep abreast of the latest industry techniques. He has been featured in a number of UK newspapers and publications and on TV.
If you are considering cosmetic surgery and would like to discuss this please telephone 0203 633 2619 or email [email protected] .