Why Would A Plastic Surgeon Ever Say "NO?"
by John Di Saia MD
Extreme Makeover, The Swan and other such television has increased the number of potential cosmetic surgery clients. These viewers are not always the best candidates for surgery however.
"Reasonable Expectations" Still Reign Supreme
The vast majority of patients want to have a pleasant encounter with cosmetic surgery. The problem with trying to figure what patients expect is that they don't always know. Even if they do know they can't always communicate this with the potential surgeon. The problem is magnified when their potential surgeon doesn't care to inquire or doesn't make time to evaluate.
Face it. Surgeons Get Paid To Operate.
In my local practice environment, I have amongst the longest cosmetic surgery consultations. This has been the source of grief between prior office mates and myself (I am now in solo practice). Most of my prior office mates were primarily fixated on the bottom line. Many plastic surgeons simply do not make the time to talk with their potential surgical patients for more than a few minutes. This makes it pretty hard to figure a patient's motivations or expectations. I don't claim to have a 100% success rate, but the majority of my patients are happy. Then again if I get the impression that a patient is set up for disappointment, I will not recommend surgery.
When I say NO, I Am Doing You An Enormous Service.
Being one of the few that will lose money in recommending against an operation makes me pretty unusual in my locale. To many of the surgeons practicing in Southern California, this is akin to heresy. I figure having predominantly happy patients makes my patient referral rate very high. My practice grows by patient and physician referrals and internet referrals. I have decreased to the point of near elimination advertising as such.
Be Very Careful Of Looking Too Hard
When a surgeon says he doesn't feel that he can help you, it is not the end of the world. It does complicate things for you however. You have to worry that if you see another surgeon and he offers surgery, that he may be simply operating for the money. I have had patients for whom I recommended other than what they wanted. Some have some back after they had surgery elsewhere and they looked pretty awful. Sometimes I can fix these things, but not always. In Southern California, there are so many plastic surgeons that even a poor surgical candidate will find one willing to operate if they look long enough. Just be careful.
Note: This piece is written for the general information of those seeking Cosmetic Surgery. It is presented freely in this format for this purpose. No other rights are granted. It may not be duplicated, cited or otherwise copied in any form without the written consent of the author.
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