Is it ok to take reference pictures to a first consultation?

Dear Ffy0,I think it is a great idea to bring reference photos to your first visit so that the surgeon is aware of your goals and what particular traits you are looking for. This opens up communication between the patient and the surgeon and gives the surgeon a chance to tell you what is realistic and what is not. Best regards,Nima Shemirani

Great question. It is absolutely appropriate to bring in pictures to your consultation – it is helpful to see what you are looking to achieve and gives us a starting point. I employ an advanced 3D imaging program that provides my patients with a simulation of what their nose and face may look like after their surgery. It also helps to ensure that my patient and I are on the same page regarding any limitations, as well as realistic results. I recommend that you make an appointment for a consultation with a specialist plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Good luck!

Dear ffy0,
I encourage my patients to bring their own reference photos just to see their expectation from the surgery. After that we can discuss if that can be accomplished using surgery and if it is the best choice for them. 
Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery 
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your question. It is helpful to bring reference pictures to your first consultation. Keep in mind that the photos you might find in a magazine may not be the right nose for you. It is important that your nose is both proportional and symmetrical to your face because the nose is an individual characteristic. I suggest that you move forward and consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon.
Best wishes,

This can be SO helpful to make sure you and your potential are on the same page as far as end result expectations! Be sure to visit experienced board certified surgeons, most will really appreciate you bringing in "goal photos". Best of luck! Dr. Kim

Yes it is acceptable to bring pictures in to your surgeon, just make sure they are not over- exposed and washed out and not photo-shopped.  Computer imaging of your nose on your face is also beneficial to understand what can be accomplished with a rhinoplasty

Thanks for your question. It's a good idea to take photos to your initial consultation. It gives your surgeon a better idea of your expectations and whether or not those expectations are realistic.  It's always good to establish a clear line of communication with your surgeon before your procedure to make sure you are both on the same page.Good luck!

I always encourage patients to bring photos of their goals as well as younger photos of themselves depending on what type of surgery they are interested in. If it seems unrealistic, your surgeon should be able to give you his or her honest opinion before you commit to a procedure. Even if your "ideal" reference photo is unrealistic, it will give the surgeon a better idea of what you are looking for and they can better explain to you what a realistic result will be for you. A picture is worth a thousand words so don't be afraid to bring some with you. Hope this helps!!Johnson C. Lee, MD Plastic Surgery

It is critical for you to take photos of your desired outcome as one of the most important factors in a successful surgery is to meet your expectations. Photos of your expectations are critical for a surgeon who needs to design your surgery.

Dear ffy0, Patients bring in reference photos often and it is very helpful for the surgeon to understand the patients aesthetic preferences. Often times patients will bring in poster boards they have worked on for some time. At consultation I also use imaging to show the patient the proposed results to make sure we are on the same page. Once the desired nose is determined then I will discuss in length the techniques which will be used. Breast implant sizers and "try on" bras are also available to help with the sizing concerns. See examples of the imaging process and how close in proximity the actual results are to the proposed results in the video above and examples of rhinoplasty before and afters in the link below. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.