My Free Cosmetic Surgery Consultation Policy

DEFINITIONS

Cosmetic surgery is aesthetic surgery for which the patient pays cash. I have been offering consultations for this type of surgery free for the last four years. I like to spend on average 45 minutes on new cosmetic patients. This not only allows us to become better acquainted, but also allows me to better assess the problem for which the patient has made the visit.

Intermittently we have seen a variable number of "No Shows" in our schedule. When I have blocked off hours on a given day for some patients and they do not keep their appointments or bother to call to re-schedule, I obviously feel as if time has been wasted. Because it has.

Here's my solution:

FREE COSMETIC CONSULTATION POLICY

My first time cosmetic consultations will remain free with a few conditions:

• Patients who are unable to keep their scheduled appointment are expected to call to cancel or re-schedule appointments 48 hours before the scheduled appointment. I look at this as common courtesy.
• Patients that do not do so may be charged a fee to re-schedule a consultation or they may not be offered another. Any fee will be payable before that consultation and will be applied as credit towards any cosmetic surgery performed within six months of that consultation.
• Patients that do not show up or give adequate notice a second time will likely be asked to find another surgeon.

- John Di Saia, MD