For male chest reconstructive surgery
you will need a specialist Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgeon.
Doctors and surgeons are service providers
who work for you. You are hiring them for their
expertise and skill doing a medical procedure on
your body. Never be afraid to ask questions, no
matter how trivial or how personal you think
they'll sound. In fact, it's a good idea to
write down your questions before hand, so you
won't forget any of them, and to make a note of
the surgeon's answers as well.
You should feel a bond of trust between you
and your Surgeon, and the whole experience from
the initial consultation right through to post
operative visits should be focused on you, your
comfort and your needs.
A surgeon's experience is his or her most
valuable asset and should also be your initial
guide to gauge competency. Don't be taken in by
glossy advertisements. Not all medical
practitioners performing cosmetic surgery are
plastic surgeons. Some don't even
have formal surgical qualifications so always
check their credentials first.
Formal surgical training in Australia is
demanding and extensive.
The gold standard for Surgeons is rigorous
training requirements laid down by the Royal
Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) or
its equivalent. This is the only accredited
college in Australia and the only recognised
surgical qualification in Australia. Australian
surgeons will have FRACS after their
name.
The gold standard for Plastic Surgeons is
membership of the Australian Society of
Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
For more information —
The Australian Society of Plastic
Surgeons (ASPS) — You can phone
the ASPS information hotline on 1300 367
446 or visit their website to make sure your
surgeon is listed and accredited.
www.plasticsurgery.org.au
Be wary of a surgeon who
- Does not have hospital privileges for
your procedure
- Is certified or completed residency in an
unrelated specialty
- Is unwilling to answer your
questions
- Is impatient or has an arrogant
manner
- Is unprofessional in office or personal
appearance
- Pressures you to add unnecessary
procedures
Ask yourself when deciding on a surgeon
- Does this doctor have the experience to
know how to deal with potential complications
that may appear during the operation?
- Do I trust this doctor to work with me to
get the best outcome if, in the remote
chance, that something goes wrong?
- Is this surgeon is certified by the Royal
Australasian College of Surgeons with the
letters FRACS after their name? Ask whether
the surgeon is registered as a specialist
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon in
Australia.
- Ask to see before and after photos of
other chests the surgeon has done, to see the
range of results the surgeon gets. When
choosing a surgeon, ask around for
recommendations from your GP and other
patients.
- Is the surgeon comfortable with
performing this procedure? How much
experience with male chest reconstructive
surgery s/he has had. How many of these
procedures has s/he performed in the
past?
- Ask what techniques the surgeon prefers
to use on chests and why these are preferred
by your surgeon. Ask which technique s/he
would recommend for you and why.
- Ask about nipple erection and sensation
following the technique proposed for
you.
- Ask about scarring. What scars will be
left and where?
- Ask what will happen in the hospital -
Before the operation? During the operation?
After the operation? Ask about aftercare, and
take notes on the answers. How will you be
followed up?
- Ask what complications the surgeon has
seen and how s/he handles them. Make sure you
ask, what happens if something goes wrong?
You need to be satisfied you will receive
extra special care by competent medical
professionals.
- Ask what is the approximate total cost of
the procedure i.e. including the
anaesthetist, surgical assistant, pathology
tests, hospital costs and postoperative
follow-ups? Are there any Medicare, Health
Insurance or tax rebates applicable and is
GST included in the cost?
- You can learn a lot about a surgeon from
their staff. The surgeon will have chosen
them and taught them to reflect their
attitude to reconstructive surgery. If the
staff are not interested in you as a person,
be very wary; it may also be true of the
surgeon.
- Then ask yourself: Is this the type of
surgery I want? Does the surgeon demonstrate
competency and a good success rate with this
surgery? Does this surgeon's agenda match my
own? Do I feel comfortable with this surgeon?
If you are uncomfortable with any of the
answers, shop around some more.
- It is a lot better to get the surgery you
really want from a surgeon whom you have
confidence in, even if it means a longer wait
or more travel.
The Australian Society of Plastic
Surgeons (ASPS) — You can phone
the ASPS information hotline on 1300 367
446 or visit their website to make sure your
surgeon is listed and accredited.
www.plasticsurgery.org.au
Chest Reconstructive Surgery — part 2
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