Do surgeons usually follow up in person or have their nursing staff do it for them?

Question

Do surgeon's usually follow up in person or have their nursing staff do it for them? Post tummy tuck, I never saw my surgeon and received no debriefing as to what happened during surgery (i.e. was there muscle repair, if so how extensive, was there a hernia and subsequent repair, etc...) I asked the nurse these questions but the weren't present for the procedure and couldn't confirm. My pre-op exam was only a few minutes , so details of what was to be done were not laid out prior.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear karas_l,
it depends, but I like to do my follow up examinations. I understand your concern. It is best that you consult your plastic surgeon regarding post operative care and management (i.e including massage techniques and timing) specific to your case. Your surgeon knows your condition well and has preferences on when and what to use for faster healing and recovery. Post operative care and management depends on the type of surgery performed and the technique used during surgery among other factors.It is best, however, that you follow your plastic surgeon's advice on post operative care management for a smooth and faster healing and recovery.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question. It would be extremely odd to never see your surgeon before or after surgery and I would have concerns about the practice that you have listed.  I would ask specifically to see the surgeon when you book your follow up appointments.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Your surgeon should be involved in your post operative care, especially if you have questions.  Although some post operative care may be handled by qualified office staff, you should have the opportunity to speak with your surgeon as needed.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Each surgeon has their own way of doing things.

Ideally patients should review everything and have a clear understanding before committing to having surgery.

The fact that your surgeon wasn’t thorough with you during the consultation should’ve been a sign of how they run their practice.

Ultimately your surgeon is responsible for the outcome of your procedure and you are responsible for choosing that surgeon.

I’ve seen the full spectrum and personally would choose providers who do everything themselves and are much more hands-on.

This includes my current dentist who took it upon himself to do my teeth cleaning because he could and had the time.

Personally I have always done one hour consultations for major surgical procedures and have always seen my own patient for every visit.

Consider contacting your surgeons office and requesting a copy of your medical records.(that often gets people a little jumpy) consider requesting an in person postoperative visit with your provider.

Your medical records will include the operative report which will tell you exactly what was done during the procedure though it may be written with medical terminology.

Physicians can legally delegate work to staff and in some fields of medicine what you experienced is pretty standard.

This is especially true for complex surgical procedures like heart surgery and transplant surgery.

For these procedures surgeons often have staff members do all postoperative care as long as it’s routine.

Considering how much money people are paying for cosmetic surgery it seems only decent to at a minimum say hello and make sure your patient is doing well after the procedure.

Typically not doing so tends  to reflect on a providers reputation.

I recommend all patients read all physician reviews and all major physician review websites before committing to surgery.

I also recommend patients avoid providers with any significant number of justified negative reviews.

The absence of justified negative reviews tends to be far more important and more telling than an abundance of positive reviews.

Some providers go into medicine to become medical care providers while others do it as a way to achieve financial success. I’ve seen both.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

Do surgeons usually follow up in person or have their nursing staff do it for them?

Answers (4)

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