Are you considering specialist plastic surgery of some sort? Maybe you have been scouring the internet for information about the type of procedure you want to meet your overall goals.

The whole process can be quite daunting, particularly when it comes down to choosing a specialist plastic surgeon. How do you know who is the best person to choose? They all sound so good when you read about them on the internet. So it is important to talk to them personally before making a decision.

At Pure Aesthetics, we understand this and invite you to book an initial consultation when making specialist plastic surgeon inquiries. Dr Steve Merten is a specialist plastic surgeon Sydney with more than 20 years’ experience. During your consultation make sure to ask him all of your questions. Even make a list so you do not forget anything. When you have the answers, it will give you a realistic expectation of the outcome from your procedure and who you want to choose to do the procedure.

It is normal to have a lot of plastic surgeon inquiries. Here we cover some of the essential queries for plastic surgery that you should ask during your initial consultation.

Are you certified by the AHPRA as a specialist surgeon?

Probably the most important question to ask is if the specialist plastic surgeon you are thinking of choosing is certified by AHPRA. Why? There is a huge difference between general and specialist registration with AHPRA. In Australia it is currently legal for any doctor with just basic training to do surgery and call themselves a “surgeon”. But for a doctor to be a specialist plastic surgeon, they need a minimum of 10 years surgical and medical training along with 5 years of specialist reconstructive and plastic surgery training (“Fellowship”) with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (i.e “FRACS”)  to be recognised for specialist registration with AHPRA.

Doctors with basic training that advertise their services for cosmetic surgery may not have the same training or depth of understanding or experience as a specialist plastic surgeon. So you want to know that the person you choose has the experience and knowledge to get the best outcomes for you.

When you choose a specialist plastic surgeon with Specialist AHPRA Registration and who is also a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, you know you are working with a surgeon who meets all the professional standards for safe, ethical practice set by the Australian and New Zealand governments,

Can you show me before and after photographs of past patients?

Always ask about before and after photos of people who had the same procedure that you are thinking about having. Often these will be on the website but that depends on the type of procedure and whether people have given permission for them to be on public display.

However, your specialist plastic surgeon should be proud to show you the results of their work during a consultation. Seeing photos gives you a good idea of the outcome to expect. Keep in mind, the results from one person to another will never be identical. But seeing the results of other people’s surgery should give you peace of mind that the surgeon not only does high quality work, but it helps you to picture the result that may be possible for you.

What procedure do you think is best for me?

Be clear about your goals and expectations for plastic surgery in your initial consultation. This is extremely important as it allows the surgeon to advise you whether these are realistic goals or not.

Maybe you want plastic surgery to make your body more aesthetically pleasing or you may want to boost your confidence. So it is vital that you are clear and honest with the surgeon about the outcome you expect.

Maybe you want to alter the appearance of your breasts so will a breast enlargement or a breast lift (mastopexy) achieve the best outcome? Or maybe you have sagging skin on different parts of your body after losing a lot of weight and want it removed. Ask your surgeon what the best process is to get the results you want. You could want to reduce the signs of ageing so should you have a face and neck lift or a forehead and eyebrow lift? Now you can see the importance of letting your surgeon know what it is you want to achieve from having plastic surgery. This allows them to advise you on the best procedures to achieve your goals.

What are the risks and complications?

There is an element of risk with any type of surgery so you should to ask the question. You need to know what the potential risks are so you can make a fully informed decision. Also ask your surgeon whether any of their patients have had complications with the procedure that you should know about.

What will the recovery process look like?

Asking about what to expect during recovery is important so you can plan in advance. There is so much you need to know. Questions to ask include:

• Will I need someone to take me home after the procedure?
• Is it alright if I live alone or do I need someone to look after me for the first week or so?
• How long do I need to take off work?
• Will I be able to take care of the kids?
• How long before I can exercise or what activity levels do you recommend?
• When can I drive?
• What is the best and the worst case scenario that I can expect during my recovery?

While recovering quickly and fully are the outcomes you can expect, there can sometimes be unexpected issues. It is important you ask what to look for so you can get professional advice as soon as possible.

If you are thinking of having plastic surgery of some sort, book a consultation with one of the professional specialist plastic surgeons Pure Aesthetics to discuss your options today.