Dear Dr. Winder:
Q. I came to see you a few weeks ago and am considering going ahead with the surgery that we talked about. But, all of the paperwork you sent with me to read, has scared me a little bit. Just how safe is it to have cosmetic surgery?

A. Since you did not tell me your name, or the type of surgery you saw me about, I can only give you general information. With careful patient selection on my part, cosmetic surgery is extremely safe, and patients are very pleased with the results. However, any cosmetic surgery is just that . . . surgery; and, therefore, it should be taken seriously. It is not uncommon for patients to think this is like "going to the beauty shop", and it is not.

It is very common for prospective patients to become quite excited by the time they come in for a consultation on the procedure in which they're interested. I believe that the decision to proceed with any elective surgical procedure should be based upon a comparison of the pro's and con's. Therefore, it is vital that patients listen very carefully when they come in, and read all of the material we provide. This paperwork is not intended to "scare" a patient, but to truly educate them so that they may make a fully-informed decision. We must also be fully informed about your medical history.

It is just as important that you follow all pre-operative and post-operative instructions to the letter. It is not uncommon for us to find that a patient has not done the things they've been asked . . . the instructions we give are all based upon quality medical care for a favorable outcome; failure to follow instructions can delay healing as well as compromise the quality of scarring.

Also imperative is the need to keep all of your post-operative check-ups; patients often think that "all is well" and don't take the time to keep their follow-up appointments for the following year (which are all included at no additional charge). But, I might detect something that a patient would not recognize.

My point to you would be that you should proceed if you feel comfortable with the possible risk vs. benefits ratio. A responsible patient can have a very positive influence on the desired outcome. Call to schedule a consultation.
Dr. W