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If a Surgeon Suggests What He Wants to Do, Can You Say "No I Want to Do This"?

asked 1 year ago by DeniJ
Latest answer by Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Question viewed 260 times
Tags: consultation

I recently spoke to a wonderful plastic surgeon. I showed him my concerns, and then he suggested I would benefit from a "cheek lift and fat injections". I totally agree with the "cheek lift" part, but do not want fat injections. I am interested in cheek implants and a cheek lift. Do you think that most plastic surgeons can work with what YOU prefer and have more than one option in their mind?, and are ok with that?

17 answers to If a Surgeon Suggests What He Wants to Do, Can You Say "No I Want to Do This"?

Following the doctor's advice

The discussion between a patient and a doctor is a very important one. The doctor's recommendations are based on many years of experience. Patients' desires may be based on a single article or anecdote. So discuss carefully with your surgeon beforehand, try to see their rationale without being bound by preconceived opinions before proceeding. It also doesn't hurt to talk to several top surgeons. If you hear a similar plan over and over again, this also is... more

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

Is Your Choice a Viable Alternative?

Yes, as long as what you want to have done is also a viable alternative. In your case, I happen to agree with your decision to go with cheek implants over fat injections as the implants are more reliable and give permanent results.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

drfrancispalmer.com

You have the right to say NO

You’re absolutely right, you should be able to say “no I don’t want to do this” with your surgeon. Your surgeon should really listen to your concerns and understand on the appearance you are trying to achieve. If its maybe sensible to do a consultation with another surgeon to discuss the best way forward for you.

Adrian Richards, MD
London Plastic Surgeon

When what you want is different from what a plastic surgeon recommends

Basically, in your case since you feel the doctor is wonderful, why don't you go back and discuss why he/she prefers a fat injection to prosthetic cheek implants? There is probably a reason and they should be able to explain it to you. Maybe they're more flexible than you think, maybe not. But they will have reasons based on their education, training, and experience (none of which you have). Remember that you would not presume to fly a... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Cheek Implants

In order for a patient to be happy, the surgeon must address the patient's concerns. I start every conversation asking the patient their reason for visiting me and my job is to recommend the treatment options which will best address the patient's specific concerns. There may be several options to achieve improvement. It is the surgeon's job to determine which of these treatments would be the best for the patient based on their facial structure, elasticity of the... more

Michael Sullivan, MD
Columbus Facial Plastic Surgeon

Communicating with your surgeon

It is important to have a good dialogue and to trust your surgeon. It is important to tell the surgeon what is bothering you and your surgeon will give you a list of suggestions to accomplish that goal.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Can you say "no" to your surgeon

The purpose of the consultation is to find out what concerns the patient has and to get to know each other. Are the concerns realistic, can they be corrected with acceptabel risks. The surgeon will never want to do something that the patient has no concerns about. Conversely the surgeon should not do anyhting that the patient wants if those requests are unrealistic or unachievable. In the great majority of the cases patient and doctor come to a mutually satisfactory agreement what the... more

Andrew Pichler, MD
Sacramento Facial Plastic Surgeon

Suggestions From Your Plastic Surgeon

Hello, A great plastic surgeon will have excellent communication with you, and be able to tailor the procedure to best suit your needs while obtaining the best results possible. Your surgeon may suggest things that he/she feels may benefit you, and allow you to achieve optimal results. But ultimately, the final decision is up to you, and it is essential you discuss all of your needs and concerns with your surgeon prior to having any work performed. Thank you, and I hope this helps.... more

Paul S. Nassif, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Different Patient Expectations & Surgeons Recommendations - WHAT TO DO ?

All surgery and in particular Cosmetic surgery, is a doctor patient interaction & collaboration. You need to explain what you want to achieve. Your plastic surgeon will then explain your options and recommend what they feel would be best for you. Your request may be well founded or simply not feasible. Just because you request a procedure, this does not imply that your surgeon will abide by it. It might be: unsafe, the wrong procedure for you... more

Carlos Cordoba, MD
Montreal Plastic Surgeon

Patient-doctor difference of opinion--get explanation or second opinion!

Plastic surgery is a patient-doctor collaboration from start to finish. You need to express your concerns and wishes, and your doctor will explain your options and recommendations. Some will explain more than others; some may "cut to the chase" and just give you their "best recommendation." These days, patients are doing research, talking to friends, and reading about plastic surgery options virtually everywhere. Rare is the patient that does not come with... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Plastic surgeons doing what you want

You should never have anything done on you that you do not want. That said, what you may want to have done should only be done if it can be done safely and effectively. If a plastic surgeon will not do a procedure that you want, you should fully understand the reasons why. You should seek multiple opinions. Just be sure that the plastic surgeon you see is board-certified in plastic surgery, as you do not have to be a plastic surgeon to do plastic surgery, and there are physicians who will... more

Gary D. Breslow, MD
Paramus Plastic Surgeon

Patient preference vs. Plastic surgeon opinion

Hi DeniJ, Gone are the days where the physician gives his/her opinion and the patient follows without question. Modern plastic surgery is a collaboration between the patient and their physician. Good plastic surgeons welcome this open dialogue. Successful plastic surgery is not the result of the procedure alone. Good rapport must be developed between patient and surgeon. Trust, based on realistic expectations and exacting medical expertise, develops in the consulting... more

Houtan Chaboki, MD
Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon

If a Surgeon Suggests What He Wants to Do, Can You Say "No I Want to Do This"?

Either return for more indetailed discussions or seek a second opinion to compare. Most of us welcome an exchange of thoughts in order to achieve a "great" result in a happy patient. From MIAMI Dr. Darryl j. Blinski

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

What Can I do when my Plastic Surgeon suggests something I feel uncomfortable or disagree with?

Regarding: "If a Surgeon Suggests What He Wants to Do, Can You Say "No I Want to Do This"? I recently spoke to a wonderful plastic surgeon. I showed him my concerns, and then he suggested I would benefit from a "cheek lift and fat injections". I totally agree with the "cheek lift" part, but do not want fat injections. I am interested in cheek implants and a cheek lift. Do you think that most plastic surgeons can work with what YOU prefer and have more... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Communication: Physician & Patient Expectations

It is important for you to discuss your preferences and concerns with your physician as it offers them the best opportunity to give you their most informative answer. If your concerns are not relayed, then often the answer remains incomplete… leading to more questions. You should take advantage of having a wonderful plastic surgeon. For completeness let me state that there are multiple surgical approaches that lead to an excellent aesthetic result. Recently there has been a... more

James M. Ridgway, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

It is your body

You must remember that it is your body and you only have to do what you want. It is important that you gather as much information as possible so that you can make an informed decision. Your surgeon can then suggest what options would be appropriate for you and then you can decide which procedure you want to have. If you decide not to have a recommended procedure, it is important that you understand how this will effect your overall results. It is important for your... more

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

There is a difference....

You can get excellent results from fat injections or implants. However, there is more flexibility with contouring using fat and your plastic surgeon should be able to explain it to you. If you still are dissatisfied, get another opinion.