What to expect at an outpatient appointment
What to expect at your cosmetic surgery consultation.
Cosmetic surgery could make a huge difference to the way you feel, as well as the way you look.
The first step to a new you.
Welcome to your cosmetic surgery journey.
Meeting your consultant is your first step towards achieving your goal. It’s a big decision and having cosmetic surgery can seem like a giant step. But it’s a step that could make a huge difference to the way you feel, as well as the way you look.
It’s quite natural to have questions. You may be worried about a particular aspect of treatment, or feel nervous because you’re not sure about what is going to happen.
That’s why we’re here, to answer any questions you have. We listen to you and guide you through every part of your treatment.
Preparing to visit us.
At your outpatient visit, you will chat to the consultant who will look after you throughout your stay in hospital, and perform your procedure. Your consultant can help ease any worries you have.
You may want to think about what you want to say before your visit. You can then jot down a few questions on the page at the back of this booklet, or simply ask us any that spring to mind on the day.
Our approach is helpful, caring and friendly and we want you to feel able to ask any questions you have. We will never pressurise you to have treatment.
We want to make sure that you are fully informed before deciding to go ahead with your cosmetic surgery. If you have a question, we’ll answer it. If certain medical terms aren’t clear, we’ll explain them. If you’d like to bring a friend for support when we talk, no problem.
Your appointment can take from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on your needs. We sometimes need to carry out further tests on the same day, or we may ask you to come back another day. But we will always fully explain why we need to do any extra tests.
If you are on any prescribed medication, please bring the details along to your outpatient visit.
What are your thoughts?
• How do you want cosmetic surgery to make you feel?
• Will cosmetic surgery change your lifestyle?
• What are your particular concerns?
• Do you have questions that we can help you answer?
• What do you want to achieve?
Some of the terms used
Outpatient – being an outpatient simply means you are coming in to see us for an appointment. You don’t stay overnight at this stage.
Consultant – this is the highly trained surgeon who will guide you through and perform your operation. You can talk to him/her about your concerns or ask any questions.
Arriving at the hospital.
We suggest you go to the main reception when you arrive at the hospital. The reception staff will then direct you to the outpatient area. It’s best to let a member of staff know you have arrived.
We will need to check the forms you have brought with you, just to make sure we are up-to-date with all your details.
It’s normal to feel a bit anxious or unsure. We are here to help, support and care for you. If you have any concerns, do let us know and we will help you.
May we have your permission?
When a consultant, nurse or therapist asks you to agree to any form of examination or treatment, we understand that you always have a choice. It’s quite acceptable for you to say no or ask for more information.
Your consent is most important. So, when having any operation, we ask you to sign a consent form to show that you agree to the procedure and fully understand what will happen.
You’ve made a decision. What’s next?
You can take as much time as you want to make a decision; we know there’s a lot to think about, and we won’t pressure you. If you think that cosmetic surgery is for you, we can discuss operation dates that may suit you. We can also tell you more about coming into hospital. And we will advise you of the costs and terms of your surgery, if applicable.
Keeping the hospital spotless.
You can be assured that we take infection prevention very seriously. We train our people to maintain a clean environment, and consultants, nurses and other healthcare staff wash their hands or use the alcohol hand rub before they treat you. You can expect to find that all areas of the hospital are clean and tidy.
Questions? Call us.
Before you come in, you may have some concerns or queries. Please feel free to call us on 0845 603 4346, so we can help put your mind at ease.
