Traditionally, patients seeking plastic surgery in NYC would call up their cosmetic surgeon and schedule an initial consultation. This initial consultation usually consists of a conversation between the doctor and patient, a dialogue about the patient’s needs, goals, and desires.
During the consultation, the patient expresses his or her concerns and needs, as the cosmetic surgeon outlines the patient’s surgical options, possible risks, and develops a plan to move forward with surgery or treatment if indicated. The plan would be tailored based on the surgeon’s specialty and opinion about the patient’s best options. The patient would sometimes be provided with a range of possibilities and select the one that seems to suit the needs best.
Now, all of that seems to be changing.
According to Latinos Health, a new plastic surgery App offers free plastic surgery consultations to potential patients. Yet, is this App all it’s cracked up to be and is it in the best interest of potential patients? Does the App remove the personalized touch that ensures not only patient safety, but also patient satisfaction? Or, is the App truly the next cutting-edge development in the ever-changing field of plastic surgery?
On the positive side, the App definitely offers patients a quick and easy way to find surgeons in their area and allows them to upload photos of the parts of their body that give them concern. The App provides surgeons a way to get in touch with potential patients and offer initial feedback. If the patient decides to work with a surgeon, he or she can opt to meet with the surgeon in person for a one-on-one consultation. Many herald the App for its ability to make cosmetic surgery accessible to more patients. Patients don’t have to travel long distances to meet with surgeons only to learn that the surgeon doesn’t specialize in the procedure they want.
Yet, the App comes with its critics. One Cosmopolitan writer notes that potential patients are asked to click on a list of concerns they may have. While most patients go into cosmetic surgery knowing what they want, patients with body image issues who may not be good cosmetic surgery candidates in the first place may find themselves finding new areas to be concerned about, or may seek more procedures than they otherwise would.
Perhaps the App works great as an information gathering tool for patients who know what they want, but it should never be seen as a replacement to an in-person consultation. At the end of the day, nothing can replace a face-to-face discussion with a qualified cosmetic surgeon. Your doctor can review your needs, medical history, goals, and get to know you as a person—thus making it more likely that you’ll get the care and procedure you need and the results you deserve.
Even so, the new App is a powerful tool that can increase plastic surgery access.
Dr. Leonard Grossman, M.D. is a qualified plastic surgeon in NYC who is available to speak to you about a range of cosmetic procedures, including Botox, Restylane injections, breast augmentation and much, much more. For the last 10 years, patients who live far from Dr. Grossman and are interested in his uniques procedures have been able to email photos of the body parts or facial features they disliked. In return, Dr. Grossman would let the patient know if they are a candidate for the procedure of choice, making travel experience more pleasant on the patients. Contact Dr. Leonard Grossman today to learn more.
