How many counseling sessions should I go to?

How many counseling sessions should I go to?"

This is a theme that is often explained on social networking sites.

It seems to me that many of you recommend that we have three or four counseling sessions.

I sometimes meet patients who have received more than 10 counseling sessions, and I often feel that the patients themselves do not know what to believe because they have received so much information.

It is more important to make each counseling session meaningful than to worry about the number of counseling sessions. One or two counseling sessions are sufficient if the counseling is meaningful, and 10 sessions are not meaningful if the counseling is of little value.

Preparation for Counseling

Patients need to be adequately prepared to receive meaningful counseling.

From the perspective of a cosmetic surgeon, here are some tips on how to have a meaningful counseling session.

Let me begin by explaining the situation on the physician's side in counseling.

For the first patient, the counseling proceeds in the following general order.

(1) Understanding the content of consultation
(2) Understanding of past surgical and medical history
(3) Examination of the consultation area
(4) Assessment of current condition and proposed treatment plan
(5) If the proposed treatment plan is not accepted, propose an alternative plan.
(6) Specific explanation of treatment plan (treatment methods, downtime, risks, etc.)
(7) Question and answer session on questions
(8) Medical record description of counseling content

It's quite a lot to do, isn't it?

We schedule each counseling appointment for 30 minutes, but the above information must be accommodated within that time. Any time over the scheduled time becomes waiting time for patients scheduled for subsequent counseling or surgery. Doctors are aware of the hourglass that is the counseling slot, and their minds are fully occupied in order to provide a good counseling session.

Although patients may want to consult without being conscious of time, not many clinics can devote more than an hour to counseling patients who are not yet sure whether they will have surgery or not. If this were the case, the clinic would not be able to operate without setting a high counseling fee or a high treatment cost per case. Therefore, it is important for patients to receive meaningful counseling if they are aware that they can obtain the information they want in an efficient manner. The following are some tips on how to have an efficient and meaningful counseling session.

Tips for getting counseling

Tip 1: Narrow down your consultation

If there are too many consultations, we have to dilute the content of our answers to each consultation. If the consultation is only about the eyes or the nose, it is fine, but if it is "I would like to know if there are any other recommended procedures, such as a double-lid incision, glamorous, the corner of the eye, nose, contour, and spots," I am at a loss. I know you have many things you want to discuss with me, but if you focus on the areas you want to discuss as much as possible, you will be able to receive a more thorough consultation.

Tip #2: Read the clinic's website.

A person who has no knowledge of the area to be consulted and a person who has some knowledge of the area to be consulted will have a different level of understanding of the same information explained. However, it is not necessary to read medical books beforehand. Most clinics have explanations of their treatments on their websites. The content is designed to be easy for the average person to understand, and even a quick glance over will provide basic knowledge.

Tip 3: Complete the medical questionnaire thoroughly.

For first-time patients, it is important to include a medical questionnaire. If the patient has had previous cosmetic surgery, it is helpful if information such as the time of surgery and the name of the clinic is included. The doctor will look over the medical questionnaire before counseling, so if there are specific details about the consultation, the counseling can proceed smoothly.

Tip 4: Prepare materials

It will be helpful if you can provide us with photographs or other information to convey the image you want and the image you do not want to have. If you want to return to the original state after a consultation at another hospital, it would be good to have photos that show the state you want to return to.

When the request is abstract, such as "a natural look," there may be a gap between the patient's image of "natural" and the doctor's image of "natural. It is not uncommon for a patient who says, "I want a double fold," to be surprised when the doctor explains that the ideal photo of his or her eyes is not a double fold, but a double fold with a width much wider than a double fold.

Sometimes people bring presentation materials that are several A4 sheets in size, but even a few photos that are close to the ideal image will help them share the image with the doctor. Fortunately, we live in an age when many case photos are available on social networking sites, so it is not so difficult to prepare a few photos of the desired image.

Tip #5: Communicate your wishes and constraints at the outset.

If there are any restrictions on the surgical procedure or downtime, it is better to tell them at the beginning. For example,

I want to have a double surgery, but I don't want to have incisions, I want to do it by implantation."
I want to have parallel bifocals, but I definitely don't want to have a craniotomy."

should be communicated at the outset so that the physician can make an effort to propose a treatment method that meets the patient's wishes. If the desired shape cannot be achieved within the constraints, the patient will be informed of this and an alternative plan will be proposed.

Tip #6: Bring someone in attendance.

Many people may feel uneasy about coming to a counseling session alone, fearing that they may not be able to express their wishes well because they are easily nervous, or that they may be given an exorbitant estimate and forced to sign a contract. If you are not accustomed to counseling, it is a good idea to ask a trusted family member or friend to attend the counseling session with you. Having someone you don't feel comfortable with present will help you feel at ease during the counseling session.

Tip #7: Write down questions you want to ask.

Not many people can slur their words when asked, "Do you have any questions for me?" Not many people are able to ask a question without hesitation when asked, "Do you have any questions? Even if you can't think of it at the moment, you may wish you had asked it later. The clinic's website usually has a FAQ section. When can I start wearing contact lenses?" When can I start showering? When can I start exercising? are not very different at all clinics, so it is a good idea to check the website in advance for general questions.

Since the counseling is the only opportunity to ask questions directly to the doctor, it would be more helpful to ask questions that are difficult for only the doctor to answer, rather than questions that can be answered by a counselor, so that you can get a glimpse of the doctor's particular approach.

Tip #8: Check the social networking sites of the doctors you are counseling.

We live in an era when many physicians are using some form of social networking service to disseminate information. This column, which you are reading now, is one such example. There is no absolute right answer to cosmetic treatment, and each doctor is sharing his or her thoughts through social networking sites. If you quickly read through the SNS beforehand, you will be able to better understand what is being discussed during the consultation. It is also important to have a good rapport with the doctor, so it is also effective to judge the personality that comes through the SNS.

Finally.

I've written a lot of tips and tricks, but at the end of the day, the information you want most from the counseling session is

What is the treatment I need?"

It is. You can find out as much as you want about each procedure on the Internet, but you must consult with a doctor after a medical examination to decide which procedure is necessary for you.

For example, when shopping for something, rather than consulting with a store clerk without any knowledge, it is more likely that you will be able to find a product that matches your preferences if you have some knowledge of the product, right? If the shopkeeper decides that this customer might be interested in buying, he or she will be more accommodating in providing consultation.

It is perfectly fine to feel free to discuss your concerns without thinking that it is a cosmetic counseling session. However, it is more meaningful for patients to visit a clinic with a certain degree of preparation, and it will also help protect them from unscrupulous clinics.

Assistant Director Daiki Kuroda

#Cosmetic Surgery Yoyamatogatari Series