Undergoing any medical procedure is a significant decision, but by asking your physicians pertinent questions before hand, you can lower your chance of complications and help increase your chances of having a more successful outcome. This is especially true when it comes to plastic surgery.
The most important question that you should ask your plastic surgeon is about his or her qualifications — well before you schedule your procedure.
“You should feel 100 percent confident in your surgeon and trust him or her completely,” explains Dr. Jay Dutton, board-certified in otolaryngology (ENT) and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Midwest Facial Plastic Center, Oak Brook and Tinley Park, IL. “Your surgeon holds your health and well-being in his or her hands and that is not something you want to compromise.”
Dr. Dutton has extensive experience in advanced rhinoplasty, performing more than 100 rhinoplasties each year. If you are planning to undergo a facial reconstruction or facial cosmetic procedure, he recommends that you ask your plastic surgeon the following questions:
1) Are you board-certified?
Being board-certified means that a surgeon has undergone extensive training and has passed examinations demonstrating his or her superior knowledge and experience. You can visit various board certification sites to check to see whether your surgeon is board-certified. For example: http://www.aafprs.org
2) How many of these procedures have you performed?
Practice makes perfect. It is essential for your surgeon to have performed a procedure numerous times before you consider them for your surgery. According to Orthopaedics.com, a surgeon should have more than five years of experience and should have performed a specific procedure more than 30 times. Dr. Dutton recommends visiting a surgeon who has performed closer to 100.
3) Can I see before and after pictures of previous patients?
Some surgeons will use stock photos on their website to demonstrate the ideal look following surgery. Ask your physician if these pictures are of patients. If not, your surgeon should be able to offer you numerous before and after photos of patients treated.
4) What are the potential risks and complications of this surgery?
Although complications are rare for most facial procedures, it is important to understand the risks of surgery. Patients need to be educated about potential risks by their physician. Any surgeon who guarantees a risk-free surgery should not be trusted. Sometimes, complications can arise during surgery. That’s why it is important to choose an experienced surgeon who knows how to deal with and minimize the chance of potential complications.
5) Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
Some individuals are not good candidates for certain procedures. A surgeon’s job is to responsibly tell you whether or not your health, expectations and other factors are appropriate for surgery. For example, patients with serious health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and depression need to talk with their surgeon and understand their risks before undergoing any procedure.
“At the end of the day, I want to use the safest procedures available that will provide the best results,” explains Dr. Dutton. “I treat my patients the way that I treat my family. I want them to feel safe asking me anything they are concerned about.”
If you are interested in exploring facial plastic surgery options, Dr. Dutton is offering a free consultation using Vectra technology which can help a patient visualize their face after a procedure. Contact his office at 630-574-8222 or visit www.rhinochicago.com.
Follow Dr. Jay Dutton on Twitter and Instagram: @jayduttonmd or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MidwestFacialPlasticCenter.
