Whether you’re interested in an eye lift or face lift, you’re considering breast augmentation or liposuction, or other procedures and treatments, you expect a plastic surgeon that’s going to put your safety first and deliver beautiful results. So, what happens when you show up for your appointment and find out you can’t even meet with a doctor until you submit a down payment?
This is what’s known as a backwards consultation, and it should serve as a red flag that the office you’re visiting may not be safe or reliable. In fact, there are several warning signs you can look for to avoid cosmetic surgery practices that are more interested in your money than your safety. Here are a few key elements to watch for when you show up for your initial consultation:
1. A Demand for Money to Meet the Doctor
This is often the first indication that something is awry. When you’re meeting with office staff or a sales team at your consultation instead of a licensed practitioner, warning bells should go off in your head. These people are in no way qualified to offer medical advice.
There should always be a doctor present during your plastic surgery consultation, or any sort of medical consultation. The doctor is the person with the education and experience to learn about your situation, deliver medical advice, and offer treatment options specific to your needs. Only a licensed healthcare professional is legally allowed to do this.
When you realize you’re not meeting with a doctor, you may need to be understandably adamant that a doctor be present for the consultation. If you encounter resistance and find out that you can’t see the doctor without a down payment, it’s time to find a new doctor.
2. Generic Information about the Procedure
If you find yourself meeting with anyone other than a doctor, they cannot legally offer you medical advice or create a treatment plan. This will become apparent when they’re unable to speak to your specific wants and needs. Non-professionals can explain procedures to you in general terms, but they can’t offer information about your specific surgical plan, including intended treatment and expected results.
3. Be Aware of Your SurroundingsA plastic surgeon's office, just like any doctor’s, should be extremely clean and organized. A messy or unclean waiting room, office, and exam room is not a good sign of a professional doctor or office. The front staff and the doctor should be amenable and accommodating and you should feel like you are welcome and cared for.
4. Promising Results “Too Good to be True”You know that any surgery comes with certain risks and expected recovery time. If you encounter an office that makes unbelievable claims, like “you won’t experience any swelling or downtime” or “you’ll see final results within a week”, don’t believe it. If it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is.
When you want a cosmetic surgeon you can trust to deliver a reliable consultation, outstanding care, and reasonable expectations for results, contact Beverly Fischer, MD and the qualified team of professionals at The Advanced Center for Plastic Surgery today at 410-308-4700 or online to request a consultation and learn more.
