Deciding

Written by Escobar MD     

On some occasions I have seen that the patient is the last one to decide to get the surgery or not. I believe that this is a point that deserves special attention. The patient should be the one to have the initiative to get the surgery, the one who searches for a surgeon, and above all, they should be totally determined to go through with everything that a surgery implies.

Only by being fully determined will the process be satisfactory for the patient, and everything will be easier.

YOU DECIDE Do not let anybody influence you in regards to having surgery. It is clear that an important part of the motivation to get the surgery comes from the people who surround us, but only to a certain extent. Never go into an operating room feeling forced by someone, but don't keep yourself from going in because of an external opinion or the fear of what people will say if you get surgery either...

The opinions of the people around you will help you make the decision of getting the surgery or not, but at the end of the day you are the one who is getting it; if you are over 18, it is your choice. Do not forget!

THE ENVIRONMENT It is usual to see how sometimes a surgery is cancelled because of the opinion of a boyfriend, friends or family when a patient seemed determined. We also tend to see people coming into the practice looking to get a surgery forced by criticism from their environment, to the extent that they believe that getting the surgery will solve all their problems. A rhinoplasty only fixes a nose, not an entire life...

THE SURGEON'S ROLE This is why I reiterate: think about it a lot. Gather all the necessary information, be clear about what your main motivation is, and never let anybody force you to do something  that you do not want to do, one way or another.

A good surgeon should be aware of these situations and give you the best advice possible, from an honest point of view, without putting his interests before yours. The surgeon must select the patients based on experience, helping a possible patient make an informed decision.