Consultation

Choosing cosmetic or reconstructive facial surgery is an important and often difficult decision. One must resolve many issues:

 

Is surgery right for me? 

  • Can it achieve what I want?
  • What is the most appropriate procedure for me?
  • Have I found the right surgeon? Does he understand my goals for surgery, and does he seem confident that he can achieve those goals?
  • Has my surgeon explained the procedure adequately? Do I understand what the typical pre- and post- operative periods will be like?

 

The consultation is your opportunity to have each of these concerns addressed. Our typical consultation lasts 45 minutes to 1 hour. During that time, Dr. Sclafani will:

  • Listen to your reasons for seeking treatment.
  • Help you focus on the changes that are most important to you.
  • Obtain a complete medical history.
  • Perform a complete examination.
  • Discuss with you the procedures he believes will most benefit you, and explain why.
  • Describe the procedure to you, including placement of incisions, stitches, and post-operative bandages.
  • Demonstrate and describe the results you can reasonably expect from the surgery.
  • Discuss how you can prepare for surgery.
  • Describe the day of surgery, from the moment you arrive for surgery to the time you leave for home.
  • Describe the recovery period (bandages, bruising, swelling and aftercare, including post-operative visits).
  • Discuss the pertinent risks of the surgery.
  • Take photographs.
  • Before you leave, Dr. Sclafani's staff will discuss finances with you, including Dr. Sclafani's fees for surgery and approximate hospital and anesthesia costs (when appropriate) and payment options.

 

To book an appointment at either the New York City or Westchester County office, please call (646) 962-2285.

 

Schedule a Video Consultation.

Consultation - Process and Procedure

The Process

Spending time listening to your concerns is an essential part of the consultation. Dr. Sclafani believes that the surgeon must understand exactly what features the patient is seeking to change or restore. Together, patient and physician will discuss the most appropriate methods for achieving this goal.

 

Patients frequently have preconceived notions about a particular procedure, when a different, often less invasive, method can achieve the desired, or better, result. Using diagrams, photographs and often simply a mirror, Dr. Sclafani will explain the anatomy of area of interest and describe the proposed procedure. Learning about the basic anatomy and techniques helps the patient understand how the results are produced, as well as understanding the other factors associated with the surgery such as dressings, medications and post- operative recovery.

 

Any cosmetic procedure must be tailored to the individual patient. A thorough medical history is essential to ensure that treatment is safe as well as effective. If you are taking any medications (prescription or over-the-counter) routinely, bring a list of these (including dosages) with you to the consultation. This will help the doctor better care for you and avoid any untoward drug interactions.

 

Think about any adverse reactions you have had to any medications; which medications, and what happened. Write these down, so the doctor can better plan his treatment. If you use any tobacco products, there are many health benefits to quitting; improved skin and healthier facial tissues are but a small part of the benefits you will reap by stopping smoking.

 

Bring any pertinent medical records, as well as your primary care physician's name and address. Dr. Sclafani will work with your general physician to ensure the safety of your procedure.

The Procedure

Once you and Dr. Sclafani have defined what areas can be improved, he will discuss with you the ways for achieving your goals. Often, there is more than one way to do this, and the success of a particular procedure may depend on subtleties such as skin type or a patient's medical history. Dr. Sclafani may suggest a procedure you may not have considered, and will explain why the procedure is the best one for you. While the exact results of surgery can not be guaranteed, Dr. Sclafani will also describe the results you can reasonably expect from the surgery, either in a mirror or using computer- assisted modeling.


In order to assist you in your preparation for surgery, Dr. Sclafani will describe what you will experience on the day of surgery, from the moment you arrive for surgery to the time you leave for home. The admission process, the methods used for anesthesia and the immediate post- operative recovery will all be described to you, so appropriate plans can be made ahead of time. He will also describe the options for anesthesia, which will vary from procedure to procedure. These options range from numbing the specific area with local injections to intravenous sedation (also know as conscious sedation or "twilight anesthesia") to general anesthesia. Dr. Sclafani will help you decide which type is most appropriate for you.


Dr. Sclafani will describe to you the expected recovery period, including the bandages, bruising, swelling and aftercare. Most patients ask questions like "When can I return to work", "How long will I have bandages or dressings", Will I be bruised" and "When can I wear makeup." While each patient will tolerate surgery differently, general guidelines can be given for a particular procedure.


At the end of the consultation, Dr. Sclafani will take clinical photographs. These will be used to plan your surgery, as each procedure is tailored to each specific patient. The poses are standardized for each procedure, and are designed to demonstrated the pertinent landmarks necessary for accurate surgical planning. After your surgery, photographs will again be taken. Dr. Sclafani continually analyzes his results to continue to refine and perfect surgical techniques.


Finally, Dr. Sclafani's staff will discuss finances with you. The costs of your surgery will include:

  • Dr. Sclafani's surgical fee,
  • The costs of any additional material (such as implants), and
  • The costs of hospitalization (operating room, anesthesia, recovery room).


When you leave after your consultation visit, you will have defined goals for surgery, an understanding of how the surgery will achieve those goals, an idea of what your recovery will be like and a reasonable idea of the total costs of your surgery.


Patients may schedule surgery at this time. Please let us know if you have a specific request for the date of surgery to accommodate a scheduled vacation, school holiday, etc. However, if a patient is still unsure about their surgery, we will schedule a follow-up consultation at no charge. Patients are asked to consider the information given to them during the initial consultation, and return with specific questions. Dr. Sclafani only schedules surgery when he believes patients are comfortable with the planned surgery and are ready to work with him in a partnership. That partnership between surgeon and patient is a key factor that helps ensure exceptional results.