As a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, I have often been asked by patients: “Am I a good candidate for plastic or reconstructive surgery?” Addressing this question is important to achieving the patient’s desired goals.
Determining who is a suitable surgical candidate begins at the first office consultation, during which the crucial foundation of the doctor/patient relationship is established. Initially, the surgeon performs a thorough consultation to address the expectations of what a patient seeks to achieve as a result. Collecting information concerning the patient’s medical history, covering the pre-operative, anesthetic, surgical and post-operative course in detail, informs the patient about what to realistically expect. A well-informed patient, combined with open communication with their surgeon, strengthens the doctor/patient relationship. This allows a smooth, orderly, post-operative recovery. Meeting mutual surgical goals, starting from the initial consultation throughout the period of recovery, also allows greater patient satisfaction.
Patients who present with unrealistic goals and expectations need to be educated and informed as to why they are not a good candidate for a given procedure. As a singular example, maintaining ethnicity to achieve a natural-looking outcome is important. The face, body and mindset of a patient are a composite of each unique individual, and must be approached as such.
Plastic and reconstructive surgery as a field must transcend the technical and embrace the appropriate aesthetic natural outcome with minimally invasive techniques. This entails carefully planned placement of incisions to achieve the optimal aesthetic outcome. Realistic goals, such as a woman wishing to regain her pre-partum figure, breast reconstruction, restoring a more youthful appearance, body contouring after weight loss from bariatric surgery or successful dieting, is very rewarding for both the plastic/reconstructive surgeon and the patient. Satisfaction is high and the goals are straightforward (when the right candidate is matched with the appropriate surgery).
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