Editorials

Who is a Good Candidate for Plastic Surgery?

As a plastic and reconstructive surgeon I have often been asked by patients: Am I a good candidate for plastic and reconstructive surgery? Addressing this question is important to achieving a patient’s desired goals. Determining who is a suitable surgical candidate begins at the first office consultation during which the foundation of the doctor patient relationship is established.

Initially a thorough consultation by the surgeon is performed to address the expectations of what a patient is seeking to achieve. Collecting information concerning the patient’s medical history, covering the preoperative, anesthetic, surgical and postoperative course in detail informs the patient about what to realistically expect. A well informed patient combined with open communication with their surgeon strengthens the doctor patient relationship which allows a smooth orderly postoperative recovery. Meeting mutual surgical goals from the initial consultation throughout the period of recovery allows greater patient satisfaction.

Patients who present with unrealistic goals and expectations need to be educated and informed as to why they are not a good candidate for a given procedure. As a singular example, maintaining ethnicity to achieve a natural looking outcome is important. The face, body and mindset of a patient are a composite of each unique individual and must be approached as such.

Plastic and reconstructive surgery as a field must transcend the technical and embrace the appropriate aesthetic natural outcome with minimally invasive techniques entailing carefully planned placement of incisions to achieve the optimal aesthetic outcome.

Realistic goals such as a woman wishing to regain her pre-partum figure, breast reconstruction, restoring a more youthful appearance, body contouring after weight loss from bariatric surgery or successful dieting is very rewarding for both the plastic/reconstructive surgeon and patient. Satisfaction is high and the goals straightforward.

David Fellows, M.D., M.F.A.
Plastic & Reconstructive surgery
Master of Fine Arts Figurative Sculpturing