Can You Have a Rhinoplasty Consultation Via Telephone and Email For Pictures?

Question

I live no where near a facial cosmetic surgeon. I have flown 1000 miles for one consultation (RE: rhinoplasty), and while it went well, I feel that a second/third opinion may be prudent for such a big decision. Any other surgeon I may choose to see would be significantly further away and probably out of the country. Is it possible to have a preliminary consultation via the phone, along with emailed pictures? I live in Canada - is it advisable to travel to another country (ie. USA) for surgery?

Paul S. Nassif, MD · Answer

Depending on their needs and preference for surgeon, many patients travel for their procedure. We have patients that come in from all over the world for surgery. We offer consultations via Skype, and it is likely that many other practices do as well. I would recommend contacting any prospective surgeons and inquiring as to whether they offer an internet consult. I hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

It is very common for patients to fly in from out of town and out of the country in our practice. Rhinoplasty is a big decision, and it is best to have 2-3 consultations prior to choosing your surgeon. Preoperative photos can be mailed to the office, computer imaging can also be done electronically and securely messaged to patients. It is important to communicate in a HIPPA protected environment when done electronically for protection of patient's privacy. Many practices like ours, have dedicated patient care coordinators for out of state and out of town patients to coordinate your procedure.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

I think a basic discussion can occur via good quality video, however an in-office exam is key.

Stephen Weber MD, FACS · Answer

Online consultations can be highly effective. Skype can be used to have a one on one discussion of your concerns. High quality photos are also very helpful to give your potential surgeon an idea of what you would like to change and also to aid the discussion of what changes are realistic. You can also get a good feeling for your potential surgeon's bedside manner over Skype or over the telephone. Make sure that you are able to review the surgeon's own pre- and post-surgery photos either on their website or ask them to email photos to you before moving forward with scheduling a procedure. I hope this information is helpful.Stephen Weber MD, FACSWeber Facial Plastic Surgery

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

Having plastic surgery consultations from far away is very common today and is a form of patient communication that we do numerous times every week. Initially sending pictures and your objectives/concerns and then arranging for a phone, Skype or Facetime for further discussion can answer a large number of questions of what can and cannot be achieved. While it can never completely replace an actual in-office consultation, it can come pretty close in many cases.

Kimberly Lee, MD · Answer

While it is always best to have an in-person consultation, sometimes distance can prohibit this. However, you should always do your research and avoid choosing a surgeon solely on the basis of proximity. Many physicians often offer phone consultations with photos for out-of-town or international patients. If you choose to proceed with surgery, an in-person meeting can be scheduled for the day before surgery. Please consult with a board certified specialist who can best assist you in achieving the results you seek. You want to do this surgery right the first time to avoid revision.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

We have offered this service for over 15 years as we have a large international clientele. Prospective patients e-mail us photos and then we schedule a telephine consultation to review my findings and recommendations. This has always worked well for us but I guess it does depend on the plastic and cosmetic surgeons ability to understand and follow the proper aesthetics of facial beauty when evaluating photos.

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

Many patients initially contact us via the internet. They forward their questions and pictures - go to our website for instructions on what views to submit for nasal evaluation. We then discuss our evaluation and make recommendations via E-mail and Skype. All final decisions are made at the time of consultation, frequently a day or two before surgery.

Can You Have a Rhinoplasty Consultation Via Telephone and Email For Pictures?

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