One of the most challenging tasks in Plastic Surgery is to try and please patients who are seeking the ‘perfect result’. What I am specifically referring to are three types of patients; a new patient who has never had plastic surgery before, a patient that I have operated on previously and wants the result improved, or a patient who comes in after surgery from another plastic surgeon who is seeking a better result. Every plastic surgeon in practice who seen all of these patients numerous times.
While on the one hand, it is not unreasonable for a patient to be seeking the best result possible, there are also limits to what can be achieved by surgery. Plastic surgery is not, unfortunately, like PhotoShop where any result is achieveable. Plastic surgery is still much of an art form and is ultimately modified by the forces of healing. While most patients understand that, the patient seeking the perfect result does not. They are easily identified by a lot of attention to minor issues (when you have to strain to see it, it is minor!) or the patient who comes in with a lot of pictures to demonstrate what they want. Or the patient that requires two or three consultations to be certain you understand what they want. In these types of patients, I used to think all this attention to details was simply out of anxiety or due to their thoroughness. I now recognize that I may not be able to please this type of patient. Plastic surgery in most of these cases is best avoided, however unpleasant that may seem at the time.
Dr Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana