Dr. Slack's Thoughts on Patient Comfort & Safety
As a board certified Plastic Surgeon and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons I take pride in seeing that my patients are treated with the highest level of care and respect. I value the doctor patient relationship and feel honored when a patient selects me to be their surgeon. For all my patients the goals are the same, educate them about the risks and benefits of the surgery they are considering, be honest with them about the potential for surgery to achieve their goals, get them safely through surgery and recovery and ultimately for them to be happy with their surgical result. I use safe, tested procedures and thoroughly evaluate any new techniques or products before incorporating them into my practice. My staff and I work with our patients to promote quick healing, reduce discomfort and maximize results. It is my hope that this website will provide information that will help you understand how to achieve your personal aesthetic goals through Plastic Surgery.
Making Time for Patients
I believe that you should expect to meet with the Plastic Surgeon during your initial consultation. This should be more then a brief introduction in the exam room and a confirming nod that yes you are a good candidate for surgery. I enjoy sitting down with prospective patients in my office to discuss their goals and desires. As part of that consultation, I feel it is important for you to leave with an understanding, from me, about the potential risks and benefits of the particular surgery you are considering. My intent is not to scare you away from having surgery but to provide you with important information so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not surgery is right for you. If, after meeting with me, you feel surgery is something you would like to pursue then an examination would be performed. Often patients are initially just gathering information about plastic surgery and may not be ready to undergo an examination. I completely understand this and do not have a problem with it. You wonʼt be pushed into having an examination if you are not ready. Since every patient is unique, it is not possible to be completely accurate about what surgery to perform and what it will accomplish without an examination. Anatomical issues that are specific to your body will have an impact in determining what surgery to perform and what kind of result the surgery can be expected to deliver. Sometimes surgery is not the right answer. I feel it is paramount that these things be discussed during the initial consultation.
After surgery you should also expect to been seen by your surgeon. Patients usually have a lot of questions and need some reassurance during their recovery. Shouldnʼt your surgeon see you after surgery to ensure that you are healing properly and to address any concerns you may have? It seems logical but in a busy practice it is sometimes easier to turn the post operative care over to a nurse or physician assistant. I make it a point to see my patients at every follow-up visit no matter how big or small the surgery.
Many patients are under the misconception that cosmetic surgery is not “real surgery”. They think that since itʼs “cosmetic” it isnʼt much more then going in for a make-over or a new hairstyle. Although most cosmetic procedures are not as risky as for instance cardiac surgery, they are real surgeries and there are real risks. Your safety is of paramount importance. To this end I use only board certified anesthesiologists or their board certified nurse anesthetists and perform surgery in fully accredited and liscenced hospitals or surgery centers. Only minor surgical procedures that can be comfortably performed under local anesthesia are done in my office. Should you desire, our anesthesiologists are more then happy to talk with you prior to surgery in order to answer any questions you may have about anesthesia and address any issues you may have had with previous anesthetics.
Hopefully you can appreciate that surgery is much more then popping in for an exam and being told you are a good candidate for a particular procedure. A successful surgery requires thoughtful planning, skilled execution of the surgery and diligent care delivered with compassion and understanding after surgery. Throughout the entire process open lines of communication between you, your doctor and the staff are critical. This is what we strive to provide to our patients at North Texas Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. I hope you will consider scheduling an appointment if you are contemplating the possibility of having a cosmetic procedure in the future. If so, get started today and give us a call at 214-495-6464.
