Costhetics is enormously proud to be part of the Australian health and beauty industry.
As we research news and information about cosmetic surgery and aesthetic enhancement, we’re constantly bowled over by the advancements we read about. That’s why it sticks in our collective craw that many self-proclaimed practitioners are not trained, experienced, or even competent.
Bad actors in the aesthetic industry have not mastered the medical skills they need to perform a variety of procedures. Their expertise is in marketing themselves to unsuspecting consumers with slick websites and low-low price offers. It’s easy to get hooked and then hoodwinked.
Costhetics wants you to be safe, not sorry when you opt for an aesthetic treatment. To ensure that you are, we’ve put together our list of a dozen red flags you may encounter when dealing with a practice.
1. You Could Watch a Netflix Movie While You Wait
A practitioner that keeps you sitting in the waiting room for 2-3 hours for your consult is displaying a lack of respect for you and your time. It suggests a practice that is unable to run smoothly and efficiently.
2. Your Surgeon Didn’t Prepare to Meet You
A clear sign that a practice is not for you is a surgeon who arrives at your consult without having done any advance preparation. Your practitioner shouldn’t be ‘surprised’ about the reason for your visit, they should know who you are, why you are there, and how they can help you.
3. A “Deaf” Surgeon
A surgeon who is physically unable to hear is not what we’re talking about here. Rather, we mean a doctor who fails to listen to your concerns and goals. Beware of doctors who bulldoze over you during a consult.
4. Your Consult Felt Like Speed Dating
A consult with an aesthetic professional should take more time than a round of speed-dating. A proper consult should include an enquiry into your physical and mental good health, a discussion of your goals, and (when appropriate) a physical examination of some kind. Depending on the procedure, a practice should provide consults between 45-60 minutes.
5. Too Much of a Good Thing
Was it difficult for you to book your surgery? Why? If it is because your chosen practitioner is busy and can only see a limited number of patients each week, that’s fine. If, however, the surgeon is performing multiple procedures day in and day out, week after week, there’s a problem. In practices where volume trumps safety, it is not uncommon for the doctor to be operating on more than one patient at a time.
6. Replacing People with Technology
Text messaging is a wonderful way of staying in touch, but it is not a substitute for human interaction, particularly in the world of aesthetic enhancement. A text message may be able to confirm an appointment, but many questions can only be answered effectively by an individual.
7. Vampires Seem to Manage the Office
Text messages that consistently arrive late at night are another indication of bad practice management. Messages should be generated during business hours so any questions they may trigger can be answered promptly.
8. Questions that Linger Too Long
If you have a question, that question should be answered by the practice in 24 hours or less. Waiting a long time for a response or having to reach out on more than one occasion, should set off alarms in your head. A consult is one thing, but what if you needed to know whether the medications you take are contra-indicated after a treatment or procedure. A less than prompt reply could be deadly.
9. Last Minute Cancellation
Many practices have a reputation for cancelling appointments at the last minute. Emergencies arise, of course, but a doctor that is constantly juggling surgeries may be doing too much. Check online practice reviews to see if you can learn more.
10. Not Enough Marking Time
Carefully considered, physiologically appropriate marking methods are imperative to success with surgeries such as liposuction, breast augmentation, and an eyelid lift. Marking helps a surgeon map out complex procedures and make incision decisions that will affect scaring. If you are not comfortable with your surgeon’s marking procedures, remember that you are in control and can stop the procedure at any time.
11. You Hear the Clock Ticking
You are the most important patient in the world to you, but what about to your doctor and his team? You should never feel hurried off the phone when you call with a question or be hustled quickly out of an exam room to make room for another patient.
12. Your Surgeon will be AWL after Procedure
Whether your surgeon will meet with you after your procedure is complete, or have you seen to by his nurse of practice fellow is an important question to ask. The complexities of cosmetic surgery need the careful monitoring of a highly skilled professional, not an assistant.
There are so many terrific plastics surgeons, cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists, and aesthetic professionals to choose among. Costhetics reminds you to choose wisely…and stay beautiful.