The internet has been a very powerful tool for empowering individuals, and nowhere has that empowerment been more significant than in the world of medicine—in particular, aesthetic medicine. Patients have access to vast amounts of information, all in an unfiltered fashion, and they come into my office invariably knowing a lot more than they ever have before about what plastic-surgery options they have and what the possible solutions might be.
The ability to easily research and learn about one’s various plastic surgery options certainly has its benefits, but it can also lead to confusion and misconceptions. Like any field of medicine, plastic surgery is extremely complex, and knowing how to approach a given issue requires quite a bit of expertise, education, and experience. Online research is great for coming up with questions to ask a plastic surgeon, but without the proper training, it can leave an amateur researcher with an incomplete or incorrect picture of their situation.
In many instances, patients may ask for things that won’t be effective or appropriate for them, and it’s my job to educate them on the choices that can give them what they truly want. Patient satisfaction is far more likely when we have strong patient-surgeon communication. Without a doubt, the most important aspect of the entire interaction with a surgeon is the in-person consultation, as I discuss in this video interview I filmed on the Plastic Surgery Channel:
A productive, constructive consultation must involve very careful listening, and detailed discussion, and excellent communication, so that the optimal solution can be developed for the patient. And in some cases, it may be 180° away from what the patient initially asked for. That’s why it’s imperative that you see a surgeon who’s knowledgeable, experienced, a good listener, a good thinker, and a good technician. All these things must come together in the consultation process to guide us to the appropriate solution. To see how my patients feel about my communicative process, visit my testimonials page.
If you’d like to discuss how plastic surgery might be able to help you look your best, contact me, Dr. James Namnoum, to schedule a consultation today. Don’t forget to connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and come back to the blog soon for more advice and information on aesthetic improvement.
