Top 5 Questions to Ask During Your Plastic Surgery Consultation

Plastic surgery can help you feel more confident about your beauty, body, or identity. The secret to the success of this personal journey lies in finding the best plastic surgeon in Mississauga and that begins with your first consultation.

At McClean Clinic, we encourage our patients to feel free to ask us as plenty of questions as possible and to speak out about any specific concerns they may have about our practice or the plastic surgery procedure they have in mind. By allowing them to have open communication with us and by expertly addressing their queries, we have found that our patients come home empowered to make well-informed choices and they feel assured that they are in the safe hands with the best plastic surgeon in Mississauga.

Here are the top five most important questions to guide you make the most out of your first consultation.

Are you a board-certified plastic surgeon?

Do not hesitate to inquire about your potential surgeon’s qualifications in cosmetic surgery training and residency and related professional affiliations. Ask whether he is a board-certified plastic surgeon and if he is a member of the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons. These things are solid confirmations that your doctor has all the required education, training, and expertise to safely perform surgery and effectively achieve the aesthetic results promised by a particular cosmetic surgery procedure.

How many times have you done the procedure that I want?

Nobody wants to be any doctor’s guinea pig. Ideally, you want to sign up with someone who has been in the industry for quite a long time and who has a proven track record of successful plastic surgeries and satisfied clients. These are all helpful indicators that a surgeon has mastered his craft, perfected his techniques, and therefore have lower risks of botching your procedure.

If you are considering a breast augmentation procedure, ask for before and after photographs of patients who have undergone the same procedure. Take your time examining the photos. As it is a sort of portfolio, think of it as a visual guide of his aesthetic style and in managing your expectations post-surgery.

What type of anesthesia will be used?

Some patients worry about the amount of pain and the level of risks correlated to plastic surgery procedures. Being vocal about these concerns early on during your initial consultation can help to alleviate any potential stress and anxiety.

The best plastic surgeon in Mississauga should give you a rundown of the different types of anesthesia available and the ones that best fit the nature of your surgery. For instance, general anesthesia may have higher risks but is mostly required for major and more complex plastic surgery procedures, such as tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) or a full facelift (rhytidectomy).

Ask your potential surgeon about who will be administering the anesthesia on the day of your surgery. The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery recommends having a dedicated anesthesiologist present who should also be a board-certified physician (MD / DO) anesthesiologist or a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA).

How will my healing process be like?

Get a better understanding of how your recovery and post-surgery experience will be like. This helps you plan ahead and determine whether now is the perfect time to have your procedure or whether it makes more sense to schedule it at a much later date.

• Will there be downtime?
• Will I be able to drive myself home after?
• Do I need to take a vacation from work?
• What are the restrictions after the operation? For example, direct sun exposure and lifting heavy objects.
• Should I expect any pain after?
• How many times do I have to come back for follow-up check-ups?
• Will there be scarring involved?
• Do I need to come back for revision surgery in the future?

How much will it cost?

In general, elective plastic surgery performed to enhance physical appearance will rarely, if ever, be covered by medical insurance. This means you have to pay for it out of your own pocket. Request for a complete quotation that breaks down the total cost into individual items. Typically, this includes anesthesia, operating room expenses, the surgeon’s fees.

Do not be embarrassed about asking cost-related questions directly. This is crucial in helping you weigh your options and in pooling available financial resources. Your surgeon can also make recommendations on how to approach your case cost-effectively without comprising the end result and your safety. Do your due diligence in researching the standard rates in the industry for specific procedures. Be skeptical about any quote that seems too good to be true.

Plastic Surgeon Mississauga

Dr. Hugh McLean is board certified as a specialist in plastic surgery by the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada and the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, Inc. He is a member of the:

• Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons
• American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
• Ontario Society of Plastic Surgeons
• Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons
• Canadian Laser Aesthetic Surgery Society Inc.
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Dr. McLean will be happy to provide you with expert medical advice and answer all your questions about plastic surgery during your one-on-one consultation with him. Book yours today!