Block out about an hour to an hour and a half. That is how long one Houston-area practice tells new patients to plan for a first plastic surgery consultation, and the number hints at what fills the time: education first, examination second, scheduling last.
The outline below follows the visit sequence that Leo Lapuerta, MD, Plastic Surgery publishes for its own patients, from the first meeting through the three-month photo session. Practices differ, but the stages give any first-time patient a map. The practice’s full guide to what to expect from a plastic surgery consultation in the Houston area covers the same steps in its own words.
Before you walk in
A consultation centers on your body and your health history, so a little preparation pays off. Write down the areas that bother you and the outcome you have in mind. Bring a list of your medications and past surgeries, since the surgeon will review your medical history.
Add your questions to the same page. Recovery time, scar placement and the surgeon’s experience with the procedure you want are fair topics for a first visit.
The consultation, stage by stage
At Dr. Lapuerta’s practice, the stated goal of the consultation is to address your areas of concern and educate you on the procedure. The visit unfolds in this order:
- Patient coordinator. You meet first with the practice’s patient coordinator.
- Before-and-after photos. You review photos of past patients. Dr. Lapuerta has more than 3,000 before-and-after images available for patients to review.
- A short video. You watch an informative video that shows what happens during surgery, so the operation feels less abstract.
- The surgeon. Dr. Lapuerta goes over your medical history and performs a physical examination.
- A quote and a plan. Once you and the surgeon agree on a procedure, you receive a quote along with financing options.
- Dates, if you decide to go ahead. If both sides decide to proceed, the team discusses available surgery dates.
The practice says it avoids a factory approach and does not rush patients. In a first visit, that matters most at stage four, where your questions about candidacy and risk belong. Every surgical procedure carries risks, and the examination is where a surgeon can explain how those risks apply to you.
The second visit: pre-op
Patients who book surgery return for a pre-operative appointment. This visit goes into more detail about the days before and after the operation, and it runs about an hour with the patient coordinator, a nurse and Dr. Lapuerta.
- The nurse reviews your post-op instructions and prescriptions with you.
- The team takes pictures and measurements so the proper garment is ready for you after surgery.
- Dr. Lapuerta answers any remaining questions.
Bring whoever will drive you home and help you during the first days, if they can come. Hearing the instructions firsthand helps a caregiver later.
Around surgery day
The day before surgery, someone from the team calls with last-minute details and time for questions. The day after, the team calls again to check in. Patients have 24/7 access to Dr. Lapuerta’s cell phone or to a team member by phone.
Dr. Lapuerta operates in a QuadA (AAAASF) accredited surgical facility that he owns and runs, and he works with physician anesthesiologists. Both are reasonable points to confirm with any surgeon before you commit.
The follow-up calendar
Recovery visits follow a set rhythm at this practice. The team sees patients at the first, second and third week after surgery to change dressings, examine incisions and address concerns. Depending on how healing progresses, the next visit comes one month after that.
Most of these post-operative appointments take about 15 to 30 minutes. The practice takes its after photos at three months from the date of surgery, which gives you a fixed point to compare against the photos taken at pre-op.
If you want to compare practices, ask each one for its own version of this calendar. A surgeon who can tell you the date of your three-month photo before you book has planned well past the day in the operating room.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Results vary from patient to patient. Consult a board-certified plastic surgeon or your physician about your own situation. Written in partnership with Joseph Lambert, a publicist working with Leo Lapuerta, MD Plastic Surgery.
