You are here: Home » Cosmetic Issues » Choosing a Provider » Should You Bring a Photo to a Cosmetic Surgery Consultation?

Should You Bring a Photo to a Cosmetic Surgery Consultation?

By Vas Sabeeh | Published on July 27, 2010 | 0 Comments

Chances are, there may be a few things about your appearance that you wouldn’t mind changing. Maybe it’s a little extra skin around your thighs, or there’s something about your nose that has bothered you since childhood. And while some people learn to live and even love these features, more and more people are turning to cosmetic surgery to enhance their natural appearances.

At Beautologie Scottsdale, a cosmetic surgery center in Scottsdale, Arizona, the staff, under the direction of Vas Sabeeh, D.O., F.A.C.S.,  works personally with each patient to understand his or her motives behind cosmetic surgery and the types of changes he or she is hoping to achieve. While verbal communication is important, Dr. Sabeeh explains that photos can help voice your expectations as well.

Should You Bring in a Photo?

Some surgeons may offer different responses to this common question, but at Beautologie Scottsdale, the staff encourages patients to bring in photos of what they want their cosmetically altered features to look like after surgery, especially when it comes to breast enlargements. The reason this is recommended, Dr. Sabeeh explains, is not so that he can mimic the exact shape and size of the photo you’ve brought in, but rather so that the staff has an idea of what your expectations are. In addition to bringing in pictures of a favorite actress or model whose features you admire, Beautologie Scottsdale also has photos of past patients for you to browse through as well so that you can get a better idea of what you are hoping to achieve.

Are Your Expectations Realistic?

Bringing in a photo of what you hope to look like after your cosmetic surgery is also an indicator of how realistic you are being about the results you want to achieve. When a new patient who is coming for liposuction brings in a photo of a model out of a magazine, Dr. Sabeeh often has to point out that the photo has been doctored and is unachievable. Nobody’s skin is perfect without any irregularities, so he wouldn’t give patients the idea that this is what they will look after having liposuction.

Additionally, it’s also important to note that while photos are a great indicator of the “type” of nose or breasts you’d like to have, this won’t be the “exact” feature you leave the surgery center with. Remember, just because you want Jennifer Aniston’s nose doesn’t mean you will look exactly like her after your surgery. And, while Ms. Aniston’s nose looks great on her face, it will look differently on yours. Furthermore, Dr. Sabeeh and his staff use the photos you bring in as a means of opening up the lines of communication as to why you’re getting this surgery in the first place. If you have a great, curvy figure like America Ferrara’s, then you can’t expect to have liposuction and come out with a body that resembles Jessica Alba’s—it’s just not possible, or responsible to promote these types of results.

What Do People Want Today?

For the most part, Dr. Sabeeh says, not very many people bring in photos of celebrities and expect to look exactly like them. In fact, he says, people are much more conservative about the changes they would like to make. To the staff at Beautologie Scottsdale, one of the traits of an ideal patient is someone who says “I still want to look like me,” because it’s very possible to enhance your natural features with just a few tweaks.

Back in the 1980’s and 90’s, Dr. Sabeeh says, it was much more common to have people bring in photos of the exact nose or abs they wanted, but because of all of the information on the Internet and the TV shows on plastic surgery, the public is now much more educated, and thus much more conservative. Take Jennifer Grey, who starred in movies such as Dirty Dancing. When she had a nose job, it changed her entire appearance and made her almost unrecognizable. Today, however, it’s much more common for a person to wish to change just the flare of her nostrils or to smooth out a bump on the bridge of her nose.

Whether you’re certain about the changes you want to see made or you only have a general idea of the surgery you wish to have, if you are considering a cosmetic procedure, you should make an appointment for a consultation with a surgeon in your area. Once you start discussing your possible treatment, it’s probable that all of the details will start to fall into place.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

What People Are Saying.