Unfortunately for us all, busy doctors have little control over their schedule. Because of their skill and training they are in very high demand, especially if board certified in General and Plastic surgery. Emergency call obligations are a constant disruption to the elective surgery and office schedule. I do not think your concerns should be left unaddressed. The staff and the surgeon certainly should be able to fit you in to see and examine you in a timely fashion. I think this element of your aftercare certainly should also be discussed with your surgeon in your next office encounter. You can find another surgeon to take care of you, but many surgeons do not wish to assume that role.

Reviews of other patients not known to you are often a good indicator of what kind of aftercare you'll get. I include career-long annual breast examination after high frequency visits in the year after the surgery. I also include three timed Sciton laser BBL laser treatments to optimize your scar appearance as part of your surgery fee structure. I usually see my patient the day after the surgery, one week later, then 4 weeks later (or any time she wants). In month 2, 3, and 4 my patients get an examination, measurements, and laser treatment of their scars. Then I see you at 6, 9, and 12 months after surgery. Thereafter my patients know they can return any time, but I at least see them annually on their birthday or the month of their surgical date. At each encounter I listen to my patient's concerns and they are addressed in the context of her situation and her physical examination. This makes my patient, staff and myself happy and reassured that all is going like we hope. I discuss this management method prospectively beginning at the time of our initial consultation. I like that my patient engagement and consultation is the beginning of a life long physician-patient relationship.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Sorry to hear you are having challenges. Some plastic surgeons have practices that may involve them being on call for emergency situations more frequently than other plastic surgeons. Four reschedules sounds a bit excessive. I can't speak for other surgeons, by I probably have to reschedule a clinic a few times per year for those kinds of reasons.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Are they "allowed?" Sure, a physician can practice either very attentive care or very detached; amazingly, patients will still go to surgeons who do not actively engage in addressing postop questions, which I find hard to understand as a board-certified plastic surgeon. Sometimes appointments must be changed for emergencies or unexpected issues that come up, or even because surgery runs long and pushes back the clinic schedule, but it is unusual to reschedule a patient four times for the same appointment, especially when the patient has specific concerns.

Published on Jul 11, 2012