How to Prepare for Your Plastic Surgery Consultation

A consultation is the most important hour of your plastic surgery process. It is where you find out whether the procedure you have been researching is actually the right one, whether you are a reasonable candidate for it, and whether the surgeon in front of you is someone you trust with your body.

Most people walk in underprepared, not because they are careless but because nobody told them what to expect. This guide covers what happens during a consultation at Empowered Plastic Surgery, what to bring, what to leave out, and how to size up any surgeon, including Dr. Khan.

What happens in the hour

Consultations with Dr. Khan are scheduled for about an hour (current fee policy is stated on the consultation page). That length is intentional. A rushed visit cannot cover what needs covering.

Your goals. Dr. Khan asks what brought you in, what bothers you and what you hope will change. The more specific you can be, the better. “I want my stomach flatter” is a start. “I want the skin that hangs over my waistband gone and I want to stop wearing shapewear” is something she can plan around.

Your history. Previous surgeries, medical conditions, medications, allergies, pregnancies, weight history, nicotine use. Nothing is too small or too embarrassing. These details affect which procedures are safe and how your plan is built.

The examination. For a surgical consultation, this is a hands-on physical exam of the area you want treated. Skin quality, tissue thickness, muscle separation, symmetry and how things sit when you stand, sit and bend. This is where “which procedure” gets answered. A patient who assumed they needed a tummy tuck may learn that liposuction would do the job, or the reverse.

The recommendation. Dr. Khan explains what she would recommend and why, including what the procedure can and cannot change, the anesthesia approach, the recovery and the risks. If she thinks you are not a good candidate, or that a different procedure fits better, you will hear that too.

Your questions. Time is set aside for them. Bring a list.

Next steps. If you decide to move forward, the team walks you through scheduling and pricing. There is no pressure to book on the spot.

What this means for you: Expect to talk, be examined and get a straight answer. If a consultation anywhere feels like a sales pitch instead, trust that instinct.

In-person or virtual

Empowered Plastic Surgery offers both in-person and virtual consultations. A virtual visit is a good first step if you live outside the Houston area, have a demanding schedule, or simply want to talk through options before committing to a drive to Sugar Land.

There is one firm rule: an in-person examination is required before any surgery is scheduled. A screen cannot replace a hands-on exam. If you begin virtually, plan on at least one office visit before your surgery date.

For non-surgical treatments like Botox or fillers, an in-person visit is simplest, since treatment can often happen the same day.

What to bring

A little preparation turns a good consultation into a useful one.

• Your medication list. Prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and supplements, with doses. Many supplements affect bleeding and need to be stopped before surgery.
• Your medical history. Prior surgeries and their dates, chronic conditions, previous anesthesia experiences, especially any problems.
• Prior records if relevant. If you have had surgery on the same area before, operative notes or implant cards are very helpful.
• Goal photos, optional. Images of results you like, or photos of yourself from an earlier time, give Dr. Khan a sense of your taste. They are a reference, not a promise. Your result will come from your own anatomy.
• Your questions, written down. Everybody forgets something once they are in the room.
• A support person, if you want one. A second set of ears helps.
• Comfortable clothing. You will be examined.

What not to send through the website form

The contact form on this site is for requesting an appointment. It is not a secure medical channel, and it is not monitored the way a clinical message is.

Please do not submit through the website form:

• Photos of your body or face
• Detailed medical history, diagnoses or medication lists
• Questions about a specific symptom or a problem after a procedure

Save those for your consultation, or for the secure channels the practice provides once you are an established patient. If you have an urgent concern after surgery, call the office rather than using a web form.

How pricing and financing are discussed

Cost is one of the main things people want to know, and it is reasonable to ask. Here is how the conversation typically goes.

Pricing is not quoted until after the examination, because the price depends on the plan. A liposuction quote for two areas is different from one for five, and a breast lift with implants is different from a lift alone. Once Dr. Khan has recommended a specific plan, the team provides a quote for that plan, including surgeon, facility and anesthesia fees where they apply.

Financing is available through third-party partners, including Cherry, PatientFi and CareCredit. Applications are between you and the financing company, and the team can explain how to apply. Details are on the financing page.

Be cautious with practices that quote a single price before anyone has examined you. Either the price will change, or the plan is not customized.

How to evaluate any surgeon

This section applies to every consultation you attend, not just this one. These are questions to ask in the room, and a good surgeon will answer them readily.

Verify board certification yourself

A surgeon’s website is not verification. Go to the certifying board’s own website and look the surgeon up by name. Find out which board certified them, what that board covers and whether the certification is current. Different boards certify different training paths, so understand what the certification actually means for the procedure you want.

Ask where the procedure will be performed

Office procedure room, accredited surgical center, hospital. Each is appropriate for some procedures and not for others. Ask which setting your procedure would use and why, and ask what happens if something unexpected occurs.

Ask who provides anesthesia

For procedures under general anesthesia or sedation, ask who will be managing it, what their qualifications are and whether they are present for the entire procedure. For awake procedures under local anesthesia, ask what comfort options exist and who administers them.

Ask about experience with your specific procedure

How often do they perform it? Can you see results for patients with anatomy like yours? What happens when a result does not meet expectations?

Ask about the plan for problems

Who do you call after hours? How are complications handled? Is the surgeon the one who sees you at follow-up visits?

Pay attention to how you are treated

Were you examined, or just talked at? Did the surgeon listen, or steer you toward a more expensive procedure? Did they tell you anything you did not want to hear? Honesty in a consultation predicts honesty later.

What this means for you: You are interviewing the surgeon as much as they are evaluating you. Ask these questions directly and expect direct answers. Dr. Khan welcomes them.

After the consultation

Take the information home and sit with it. Read your written quote. Browse the gallery again with fresh eyes. If new questions come up, call the office. It is reasonable to consult with more than one surgeon before deciding, and no good surgeon is offended by that.

When you are ready to book your consultation, request one here.

Questions to bring to your consultation

• Which procedure do you recommend for my goals, and what else did you consider?
• Which board certified you, and how can I verify it?
• Where would my procedure be performed, and who provides the anesthesia?
• How many of this specific procedure have you performed, and may I see results for patients similar to me?
• What are the realistic outcomes, the limits and the most common complications?
• Who do I contact if I have a problem after hours?

This article is general education, not medical advice. Dr. Saiqa Khan discusses your own candidacy, risks and plan at your consultation.