The importance of consultations when considering cosmetic or plastic surgery
Making any alterations to the face or body, no matter how major or minor, is something that requires a lot of thought and ultimately, a lot of mental strength. No matter how insecure you might be with certain areas of your body, or particular facial features, if you are considering cosmetic surgery you will be over 18 years of age and therefore will have lived with these aspects of your physical self for at least that many years. It is really important to have access to consultations and counselling before having surgery, to ensure that you are equipped with the information to make an informed decision and that you are ultimately ready for such a big commitment.
Choosing a reputable clinic that is registered with the Care Quality Commission (England) the Healthcare Inspectorate for Wales (Wales), or the Regulation Quality Improvement Authority (Northern Ireland), is the best place to start. This will give you a list of reputable clinics in your country which you can then narrow down by area, depending on where you live. The point is that by choosing a reputable and registered clinic, with GMC (General Medical Council) registered surgeons you are giving yourself the best chance of having access to the most experienced surgeons, as well to the counselling and consultations you absolutely need to ensure that you are prepared for the physical and mental effects that surgery can have.
In 2006, the UK’s Department of Health published a document entitled ‘Cosmetic Surgery: Information for Patients’, which is available online and gives essential information to those people who are considering any cosmetic surgery procedures, from breast enlargement and liposuction, to face lifts and nose reshaping. This document gives you a list of basic questions to ask the clinic and your cosmetic surgeon and gives you advice on what acceptable answers to these questions might be, and while this is a great starting point, it should not replace in-depth conversations with your nurse and surgeon.
Consultations are really important pre-surgery because despite being certain that you want to make alterations to your appearance, once the surgery has actually been performed, your body or face might not look quite as you pictured it. Counselling and consultations can help to manage your expectations and support you through these times of extreme change, when emotions will be running high. Many people believe that having cosmetic surgery will not only change their appearance for the better, but also their life and the way other people view them, consultations will ensure that you are undergoing surgery for the right reasons and while in the right frame of mind, and they will also ensure that you know exactly what to expect.
Ensure you are equipped with all the information you need about the cosmetic surgery you are considering, whether this is fat removal, breast enlargement, or another surgical procedure.
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