Your Consultation
What to Expect from Your Consultation
In most cases, you can expect your consultation to last thirty minutes to an hour or more. Most cosmetic plastic surgeons will encourage you to ask as many questions as you feel are necessary. During your consultation, you'll fill out medical history forms, and undergo a physical exam of your nose. You may spend some additional time with an office manager or nurse discussing details about the surgery process or financing. In most cases, you can expect your rhinoplasty consultation to include a discussion of the following topics:
- Your medical history
- What you would like to change about your nose
- Why you would like to change your nose
- Results you can reasonably expect
- Rhinoplasty techniques and incisions
- Length of procedure
- Type of anesthesia to be used
- The person who will be administering anesthesia
- Where your surgery will take place
- Pre- and postoperative instructions
- Common side effects, risks, and complications
- Length of time before you will see final results
- Follow-up visits
- Costs and financing options
Preparing for Your Consultation 
Before your consultation, you will benefit by spending some time preparing for it. The better prepared you are, the more you'll get accomplished. It's a good idea to take a notebook with you so you can jot down notes during your consultation. If you think you'd feel more comfortable taking a spouse or a friend to your consultation, arrange to
have this person accompany you. It's often helpful to have the friend or spouse take notes for you while you speak with the surgeon.
Reviewing Your Medical History
As is the case when you visit any new doctor, you'll be asked to complete a medical history form for your facial plastic surgeon. Key information you should be prepared to disclose includes:
- Previous rhinoplasty procedures
- Other previous surgeries (cosmetic and non-cosmetic)
- Recent or past injuries to your nose
- Any breathing problems
- Allergy and asthma details
- Past or current medical conditions
- Hospitalizations
- Drugs you're taking (prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, herbs, supplements, and even illegal drugs) and their dosages
- Use of nasal sprays
- Smoking habits
Why does your surgeon need to know all this information? Your medical history is important when you're contemplating nose surgery. Previous surgeries or health conditions may affect the surgery you're considering. In addition, certain medical conditions or medications you're taking could put you at risk for complications during and after surgery. As
mentioned earlier, being a smoker can slow the healing process and increase the risks associated with surgery. For these reasons, you should be very thorough and completely honest in providing your medical history. Don't leave anything out of your history because you don't think it's important or because you're embarrassed about it. Concealing any health-related information could put you unnecessarily at risk.
Trying to recall your medical history off the top of your head can be difficult. For instance, do you remember the name and dosage of your asthma inhalant or the date you had your wisdom teeth extracted? If not, you may want to do a little research before your appointment. Some surgeons' offices will send you a copy of the medical form prior to your
appointment so you can fill it out at home and take it with you to your consultation.
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