You do not need to arrive with an operation already chosen
You may know what you would like to change without knowing which procedure suits you. That is a good starting point. At your first consultation, I want to understand what concerns you, when you first noticed it and what you hope to achieve. Examination then allows us to relate that aim to your anatomy and explain the options.
For example, wanting to restore breast shape after pregnancy does not necessarily mean you need implants. There may be a loss of volume, excess skin or both. The same applies to the abdomen: a rounded appearance alone does not tell us whether the change involves fat, skin or the abdominal wall.
Which information to bring
If you have reports from previous operations on the area, bring them. For breast surgery, your implant card and operation report can help establish what was done. If you no longer have them, let me know; there is no need to delay the first conversation for that reason.
Prepare a list of your medicines and supplements, allergies and health conditions we should know about. Tell me if you smoke or use nicotine, have had difficulties with anaesthesia or recovery, or are planning a pregnancy. Do not stop treatment on your own before attending: we will first review which medicines need any adjustment.
Your routine matters too. Office work, several hours on your feet and a job involving lifting do not involve the same return to activity. Knowing whether you have young children, help at home or a long journey allows us to organise a plan you can follow.
How to explain the result you would like
Photographs can help, especially if you explain what you like about each one. For a nose, it might be the profile, tip or proportion to the rest of the face. For breasts, shape, position and relationship to the chest say more than a cup size or a number of cubic centimetres.
It is also helpful to discuss what you want to preserve. You may like your expression and want to soften just one feature, or prefer a subtle change. The consultation should help put these preferences into words and assess how far your tissues allow us to approach them. A reference photograph supports the conversation; it is not a promise to reproduce that result.
What you should leave understanding
Before deciding, you should understand the reasons behind the proposed plan. If there are several alternatives, I will explain what each offers, its limitations and how the scars or recovery differ. Sometimes waiting or choosing not to operate will also make sense.
- Which changes we can consider and which are beyond the scope of surgery.
- Where the scars will be and how they usually develop.
- What help you will need during the first few days and how to adapt work, lifting and sport.
- Which symptoms are expected, which problems may occur and how follow-up is arranged.
- What the quote includes and which details need agreeing before booking an operation.
You do not need to decide that day
New questions often arise once you get home. Write them down. If an explanation was unclear, it is worth returning to it before going further. Being informed is not about receiving a large amount of information at once; it is about understanding what changes in your case and having time to consider it.
You can start by reading about the procedure that interests you and bringing your questions to the appointment. The purpose of this first conversation is to help you make an informed decision, with a plan that makes sense for you.