ture, for example, the nose can be drawn
out or in, the chin pushed forward or back, eyebrows lifted or double chins
removed. By comparing the "before” and “after” pictures the patient develops
an understanding of the result that the surgeon expects to obtain. In addition,
this provides an opportunity for the patient to express his or her own desires
and preferences, and the plastic surgeon can determine whether they are
achievable or not. It is important for the surgeon to be honest and forthright
in showing what can be achieved with the surgery, so that the patient’s
expectations are not too high. An advantage with the patient being able
to see himself in a picture is that he then sees what others see from a
completely different perspective than that in a mirror.
During the consultation, the plastic surgeon
should examine and assess the part of the body to be operated on: changes
or displacements in the tissues, their quality and characteristics, and
whether or not that part of the body will be able to function normally –
if there is restricted movement, for example, or if nasal passages are blocked.
Different treatment methods must then be considered and weighed against
the objectively defined deviation from what is normal for the patient’s
age and sex. In addition, the surgeon now has an opportunity to assess the
patient’s attitude and
expectations and determine whether or not there are psychological factors
that can negatively affect the patient’s reaction to the result. If the
patient can be happy with a simple procedure, a more complicated operation
should of course not be recommended. It must be borne in mind that all patients
are different from one another. It is therefore usually necessary to individualize
the details of an operation. It is also important for the patient to understand
that in some cases, such as facial paralysis, complete correction is impossible
and improvement will be limited.
Some patients have the notion that if a skilled plastic surgeon sews a cut
there will be no scar. Others believe that if there is a scar, it can be
magically removed with a laser. Both of these ideas are wrong. Any cut that
goes through all the layers of skin and down into the layer of fatty tissue
beneath is going to leave a scar. However, the appearance of the scar