Ask Dr. Pane! When Will (Patients) See You in Person?

At Atlantic Coast Aesthetics, a lot of our patients wonder when they’ll get to meet with the surgeon, including before and after their procedures. This is an entirely understandable concern, because of course it makes sense to ensure everyone is on the same page regarding what’s being done, how it’s being done, and to make sure that there are no last-minute issues that could impact one’s ability to undergo the procedure, such as COVID-19. One representative question of this type came up during a recent Instagram Live session with our Chief Medical Officer and founder, Dr. Thomas A. Pane. The patient asked, “When will we see you in person? Is it post-op or the day of surgery?”

Dr. Pane says, “Usually [we see patients] the day before [their procedures]. It’s not 100% possible, depending on how the scheduling goes. We don’t want to make you wait there a long time, hours and hours, so we have physicians’ assistants that will go over the medical history and things like that. Then you’ll definitely see me the day of surgery. That IS 100%, no question. But typically we see patients the day before, or sometimes even the week before, depending on where you are, like if you come from another area to have a procedure done. Again, we try to see you as many times postop as we can and keep up to date on your postop care. They don’t like you to have to stay there too many hours after your procedure, so we do try to get all that addressed as quickly and efficiently as we can.”

When you meet with your cosmetic surgeon, it’s very important to make sure they’re aware of any changes in your overall health or medical history, especially if you’re dealing with new or acute medical issues such as COVID-19, new or altered medication regimens, or any issue which might have necessitated an ER visit. While we understand the temptation to get in and get the procedure done no matter what, this could leave you in a potentially dangerous situation and compromise not only the swiftness and efficacy of your recovery but the final results.

It is also vitally important that you follow pre-and postoperative directives concerning everything from when and how to change your dressings and medication usage to abstaining from alcohol, smoking, and sun exposure. These directions are intended to make your recovery process as smooth, easy, and stress-free as possible. Alcohol can interfere with the effectiveness of some medications, while smoking (including marijuana) can negatively impact wound healing and make it take longer for your body to recover. Some medications can make you more sensitive to sun exposure, such as certain antibiotics, and the more you expose the areas in question to the open air, the greater the chances that you might develop an easily preventable infection or other complication.

Last, but by no means least, you should make absolutely certain you understand exactly what the preop and aftercare protocols are for your procedure and why they’re important. Some patients simply take their doctor’s word for it that the protocols are what they are and adhere to them, but others want to understand the whys and wherefores of how these protocols are arrived at and how compliance with them, or lack thereof, can impact their anticipated recovery and final outcomes. We strongly encourage you to ask any and all questions you wish and to be sure you have the clearest possible understanding of what aftercare protocols you’ll need to follow even before the procedure. This will help you plan your postop activities and life, schedule any necessary time off work or away from routines like your exercise regimen, and achieve the best possible results with the minimum risk of complications. You know yourself and your body best, and you are your best advocate when it comes to making sure you get the optimal outcomes from your cosmetic surgery journey!

If you have a concern, question, or point of curiosity about anything to do with cosmetic surgery or your cosmetic goals, the staff of Atlantic Coast Aesthetics is always happy to discuss your interests with you. Simply follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter; call us at (561) 442-4116, or click here to send us an email. Your question may even be selected as the focus of an upcoming Ask Dr. Pane segment, helping us inform and educate other patients who share your interests and concerns while giving you the real talk and straight answers you need to make the best decisions about where you want your cosmetic surgery journey to take you and how you want to get there. Remember, at Atlantic Coast Aesthetics, we believe the only bad question is the one you DON’T ask!