Does Your Plastic Surgeon Call to Checkup Before/After Surgery?

After more that 30 years in my private cosmetic surgery practice, I have found that 2 phone calls are especially helpful to ease any patient anxiety about having surgery or their recovery. I personally call every patient the night before surgery to see if they have any last-minute questions or concerns about what to expect in the morning upon arrival. This opportunity is also useful to remind them not to eat or drink anything after midnight. Patients often comment that they appreciate this phone call, and many are surprised that I took time to personally call them. In addition, patients receive a complete personalized booklet 2 weeks prior to surgery, which outlines very specific Do’s and Don’ts in careful detail.

The second call I make is on the night following surgery. Because we require a patient to have a person stay with them for 24hrs after surgery, I sometimes speak to the caregiver when I check in to see how everything is going. Every patient is given my direct phone number where I can be reached 24/7 with any concerns about recovery. In my experience, it is always beneficial to have a patient’s questions answered promptly to help alleviate an undue stress. Recovery seems to go smoother with this personal attention that I have added to patient care in the mix.