Rhinoplasty Surgery Consultation: What to Expect

Arrive at your rhinoplasty surgery consultation on time. However, be prepared for the office to be running a little late. Although your surgeon should try to run on schedule, things do come up, so prepare for it. A good cosmetic or plastic surgeon may have to make room for an emergency visit and other appointments can run long if those patients ask extra questions.

Use the time to take note of the waiting room, the office staff, and the general ambience. Is the office stark and clinical or is it showy and extravagant? Is the staff polite and accommodating? Did they welcome you when you came in? Are there before-and-after photo albums for you to look at? What about a portfolio of articles or thank you cards from patients? Are you comfortable?

You will more than likely have to fill out some patient information forms that will ask you questions about your general health and medical history and for information like your address and who referred you. If your rhinoplasty will be covered by health insurance, you will fill out insurance forms and have to show your insurance card.

During your rhinoplasty consultation, you should meet with the surgeon. Some surgeons run their practices in such a way that you have your consultation with an assistant and don't even meet the surgeon until the day of surgery, which many find to be a poor practice. You should be able to meet the person you plan to have operate on you well before you are in a surgical gown.

Questions to Ask Before Rhinoplasty Surgery

During the consultation, you should get a chance to ask your plastic surgery questions, and address all your concerns, fears, and expectations. You will discuss your medical history, your options for rhinoplasty, anesthesia, incision placement, and more. Anything that you want to discuss, you should discuss during this time.

You will discuss rhinoplasty risks at length and may be given an informed consent sheet that lists your possible risks at this meeting. Just make sure the surgeon does address these risks.

Ask to see the surgeon's before-and-after photo. Make sure the photos are of his or her patients and not some generic rhinoplasty patients. Ask if these are representative photos and not just the perfect cases. Ask if you can speak to any of his patients.

You can also ask to tour the facilities if your surgery will be performed onsite. Ask if it is accredited, and by whom. Ask what procedures are in place if there is an emergency during surgery. You will also discuss what anesthesia will be used for your procedure and who will administer the anesthesia.

If the practice has a brochure with information about the surgeon and his or her specialties, get a copy. You may discuss costs and fees with either the surgeon or an assistant during your meeting or with a financial planner towards the end of the consultation.

The surgeon should examine your face and nose. If you have any breathing difficulties or sinus problems, these should be discussed and evaluated. The surgeon will also discuss whether what you want done with your nose is reasonable. You will also discuss what to expect during the surgery, rhinoplasty recovery, period and the months ahead.

After the Rhinoplasty Consultation

You should come away from the consultation with enough information to go on, but you can request a second meeting if you feel that more could have been covered. Do not hesitate to ask any questions. You need all the information you can get.

You may notice that your intuition will kick in about the surgeon or the office. This is often a judgment of character and your trust and faith in the surgeon's abilities. This is important, so listen to any little inner messages that may become apparent during the meeting.

You can schedule a surgery date at the end of this consultation, but you do not have to. However, scheduling the rhinoplasty surgery is usually the next step. If you should choose to schedule a surgery you will give deposit to hold your date. You will also make a preoperative appointment for lab work, preparation instructions, medications, and such and be told if you need to have a physical by your regular physician. After your preoperative appointment, you will also make any necessary appointments for blood tests. Your surgery should take place within two weeks of the last preoperative appointment and lab work.