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Will my Surgeon Be More Likely to Do a Better Job on my Rhinoplasty if I'm His First Surgery of the Day or the Last?

asked 3 months ago by rhandy in Winnipeg, MB
Latest answer by William Portuese, MD
Question viewed 215 times
Tags: expectation, timing

I know it seems like a silly question but its really not. Take for example my hair stylist. I've found she does a much better job if I'm her very first client of the day. Verses being the last when she;s worked all day and tired. I know a stylist goes through a lot more clients in a day then a surgeon, so their not comparable. But i'm still wondering if it makes a difference? I've researched my surgeon and am confident in him but i'm still looking for the best possible results, as is anyone!!

11 answers to Will my Surgeon Be More Likely to Do a Better Job on my Rhinoplasty if I'm His First Surgery of the Day or the Last?

Time of day to have rhinoplasty

Competent rhinoplasty surgeons should perform well throughout the day regardless of the first or the last rhinoplasty of the day. The timing of the surgery during the day has no effect on the results of the rhinoplasty in a very experienced rhinoplasty surgeon’s hands.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

For rhinoplasty, the experienced surgeon is good early in the day and late in the afternoon.

Dear Rhandy: You are not the first patient to raise this issue. The most specialized nasal surgeons often will operate on several noses in a given surgical day. They never want to operate tired. Yes, some patients believe it is best that they be the first case of the day because the surgeon is “fresh”. Other patients believe it is best to be in the middle or the end of the operating schedule because the surgeon and his team are “well... more

Robert Kotler, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

What time of day is best to have surgery

As you can see from the answers, it totally depends on the surgeon. Some surgeons feel they can deliver consistently good results whether first thing in the morning, or last surgery of the day. Others have a strong preference on what time of day they operate. Personally I will only schedule surgery if I feel like I can give it my best, no matter what time it is starting. If I have a difficult or long surgery, I prefer to schedule it first thing in the morning. I prefer to do a combination of... more

Anita Patel, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

First or Last Surgery of the Day

Hi There, Every surgeon is different and has different preferences as to the time of day to perform surgery. My energy level allows me to do surgery all day. I thrive in the operating room. My focus, attention to detail and my mental stamina are magnified in the operating room atmosphere. Thank you, Dr. David Alessi

David Alessi, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Best time of day for Rhinoplasty

Some doctors like to operate in the morning and see patients in the afternoon. Others prefer to operate all day. I find that those that choose the later typically do so because they are so energized from the surgery that they can do several in a day. If they are as good as you think, then they will not over commit and perform more surgeries than they feel comfortable doing.

Philip Miller, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drphilipmiller.com

First case or last? Which will give you the best result?

Every surgeon will have his or her own answer to this question, and each of us will likely be different. Some surgeons actually do prefer their longest or more difficult cases to be first or last, since there are mental and physical challenges with each and every operation, no matter how "routine" or "easy." It just depends on how you wish to address them, and whether or not you prefer to be "done" after a hard case, or get the difficulty out of your mind so you... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Best time for surgery

In my opinion a rhinoplasty should be treated as a complex precision oriented sugery. Good rhinoplasty requires a significant degree of attention to detail and focus. If your surgeon beleives he/she can do a good job as the first or last case that sounds reasonable. Perhaps you coudl ask your surgeon when he/she would schedule a family member or friend.

Adam Bryce Weinfeld, MD
Austin Plastic Surgeon

www.setonplasticsurgery.com

It may be better to have your Rhinoplasty Surgery in the morning, rather than the afternoon.

The maximum number of nose jobs I will schedule for a morning is three. As long as your surgeon is expert at rhinoplasty, you should be fine if your case is within the first three of the day. Rhinoplasty may take around two hours, and after 6 hours of intense concentration (3 cases), I'm ready to leave the surgicenter. Other surgeons may have different levels of mental stamina: this commentary is based on my personal preference. Hope this helps. Dr. Joseph more

Eric M. Joseph, MD
West Orange Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.ericmjoseph.com

Rhinoplasty and order of cases

I do not think it matters what number case you are in the day. To me, I take a break between cases and I an re-charged between.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

First or last - makes no difference

Actually, according to studies done in a variety of fields of surgery there was no difference in complications between the first and last case. Now that doesn't mean you can't have a preference. Personally, if I have a long and a short case, I would do the short case first, but every surgeon has their own preferences. Discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon.

Steven Schuster, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.schusterplasticsurgery.com

Yes

I'm completely agree with you. Not only for the fact of being "the first", but there is important the fact that "cortisol" (an hormone that everybody excrete 90 min. post awakening, makes the difference -not only in your surgeons "hands"- but in your response to a nose surgery (a surgery). Ten years ago I used to operate 3-4 rhinoplasties in the same morning. Nowedays, one day, ONE NOSE!