The Art of Setting and Managing Patient Expectations in Plastic Surgery
Dr. Kenneth Benjamin Hughes is a Harvard-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Kenneth Hughes has built a fully accredited, state-of-the-art surgery center in which he performs a wide range of cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeries. Dr. Kenneth Hughes performs tummy tuck, Brazilian... more
Dr. Kenneth Benjamin Hughes is a busy Los Angeles plastic surgeon who performs hundreds of surgeries a year for patients from all over the world. There is no question that one of the most fundamental issues to address with patients is that of realistic expectations. Some patients will be reasonable and will need little managing. However, a significant percentage will need education and clear boundaries set. Not only should the patients be educated about the procedures and indications as well as complications and postoperative recovery, but also they will need to understand what certain surgeries can achieve and what they cannot.
There is nothing more frustrating than executing perfect surgeries and having patients think that something was left undone or that something could have been done better. The best way to illustrate these principles is to provide a few examples. Many patients will have loose skin and a lot of fat as well. Patients may seek liposuction to improve their appearance, but they will fail to consider the loose skin. However, skin will never be tightened with liposuction, no matter how well-executed. In fact, if a lot of fat is removed, one would anticipate that the skin should appear worse. Thus, patients should not expect a tight, thin appearance without procedures to adjust for the skin as well.
Another common issue is that patients do not appreciate their underlying musculoskeletal system, a fundamental feature that cannot be altered with plastic surgery to any appreciable degree. Patients may not appreciate the amount of subcutaneous fat in an area that is amenable to liposuction. Thus, they do not have an understanding of what is a reasonable result for the starting anatomy. It is helpful to have patients grab the fat on the side of the waist while looking in the mirror to get a sense of how small the waist can become. This exercise helps create a mental roadmap of what would be a reasonable result.
To learn more about plastic surgery and see before and after pictures of Dr. Kenneth Hughes, please visit one of Dr. Kenneth Benjamin Hughes's websites below:
