Is it possible to set a date for surgery after only a virtual consultation?

Hello! Thank you for your question.Yes it is possible to set a date for your surgery after a video consultation. You have to share all your medical condition with your surgeon and your photos. Anyway you will have a face-to-face consultation with your surgeon before the operation to get a full check-up.Don't worry, many patients proceed that way.Best regards!

In our experience, evaluation of Emailed electronic photos is as good as or better than a virtual consultation. We require an examination before committing to surgery so we can check the nasal airway, and get a good feel for the cartilage and bony framework of someone's nose. Hope this helps! Dr Joseph

It is preferable to be examined in person, by a certified plastic surgeon, prior to booking a Rhinoplasty Surgery. A thorough physical examination of the nose includes palpating the structure and inspecting the nasal cavities with a speculum- this cannot be achieved virtually. I recommend booking an in-person consultation so that the surgeon can examine your nose before booking a surgical date. This will give the surgeon adequate time to determine and compose a safe surgical plan.

In my practice, I have virtual consultations with the patient so that I can see them live. However, I also have them send high-quality photos of their face so that I can get the best idea possible of what needs to be done. Using those photographs, I can also do digital simulation of what their nose might look like after surgery. By doing it this way, the patient can just make one trip for the surgery.

It has been our experience that in many case seeing a patient and discussing surgery over telemedicine consult is very helpful for most plastic surgery related issues. Preoperative visit a day before surgery would give a chance to both patient and surgeon to discuss problem and solution in more details, have a batter understanding of goals and possibilities, and evaluate necessery medical records like labs, EKG, medications, et cetera. In past few years since Covid, we treat significant number of our out of town patient in this fassion and did not have any problems with it. Yes, I am for it and I think it is safe in most situations.. Good luck.

It would really be up to the preference of the surgeon as to whether you could schedule a rhinoplasty after only a virtual consultation. Personally, I would not do this with a patient. A rhinoplasty can be a complicated procedure and it is important to know as much as possible before performing the surgery. The physical exam provides important information that is needed to determine what needs to be done during the procedure and this would determine how much time might be needed for the operation. This information would be needed to schedule the procedure.

This is a question for your chosen surgeon to answer. Some doctors are comfortable reviewing e-mailed photos of the nose from various angles or a video of you turning your face side to side and perhaps looking up and down to assess your existing presentation as a substitute for personal evaluation in the office. This graphic data is combined with your text or virtual consult at which you explain the changes you want to see. From your submitted photos, a simulated result may be created for you to review and either approve as an aesthetic goal or suggest further changes until you're pleased with the simulated result, which is used to create the surgical plan. This is how we evaluate our out of town rhinoplasty patients. Some patients prefer in person consultation in advance to meet me and our staff, to see our office and surgery center, and to plan where in San Diego to stay for their procedure. My preference for visiting patients is that they come for personal consultation TWO days before their procedure rather than the day before. This permits time (an extra day) for them to mentally prepare for the operation and recovery, to settle into wherever they're staying and become familiar with the neighborhood surroundings, and to call us with questions that may arise the day after our personal consultation, which is the day before their procedure. The extra day also provides additional time for me to adjust the plan we proposed virtually, to prepare any special equipment or implant(s), and to mentally walk through the procedure before actually performing it in the operating room, which I almost always do. In person consultation two days before helps us become comfortable with one another, helps the patient develop further trust, and helps me understand patients better and come to appreciate their true beauty which I must protect, preserve, and help to grow.

That is how I work it for virtual consults. I always make sure I see the patient prior to surgery to examine them in person and confirm the plan. Let the office know you would like to see the surgeon the day prior to surgery. I’m sure they will accommodate your request

Great question-- often times patients not only wish to change the appearance of the nose and also breathe better. For patients who also have interest in breathing (functional) procedures it is key to have an in person examination to have your surgeon examine the inside of the nose, but even in patients who wish to only have a cosmetic (external) procedure I believe that an internal nasal examination is a key component of the examination..

Hello! Thanks for the great questions. For out-of-town patients, you certainly can have a virtual consult and be seen a day or two before surgery. It's helpful to have accurate photos prior to allow for planning. Then, the day before surgery, get in-office photos and have a more detailed discussion. Afterward, it'll be important to establish a follow-up plan with your surgeon to ensure the best possible outcomes. Hope this helps!