In short. The anatomy of a proper aesthetic surgery consultation: history, examination, photographic analysis, options with honest trade-offs, and a written plan — never pressure.
Key points
- The surgeon examines the structure, not just the surface: skin thickness and elasticity, cartilage strength in the nose, bone contour in the face, tissue cover over the chest.
- Standardized photographs are taken for analysis and planning, and imaging — CT for facial bone surgery, ultrasound where indicated — is added when the question needs it.
- Only after this does design begin, because the anatomy sets the menu of what is achievable.
A consultation is not a sales appointment; it is a medical assessment that ends with a decision you make. Knowing what a proper one contains helps you recognize — and demand — the real thing. This article describes how consultations run in Dr. Mao’s practice at Chongqing West District Hospital.
History: what you want and what your health allows
The consultation opens with your concern in your own words: what bothers you, since when, and what change you would consider a success. Then the medical side — past operations and their healing, illnesses such as diabetes or bleeding disorders, medicines including blood thinners, allergies, smoking, and for facial surgery, breathing symptoms; for breast surgery, screening history. These are not formalities: each item can change the plan, the timing, or the answer.
Examination and analysis
Analysis before design
The surgeon examines the structure, not just the surface: skin thickness and elasticity, cartilage strength in the nose, bone contour in the face, tissue cover over the chest. Standardized photographs are taken for analysis and planning, and imaging — CT for facial bone surgery, ultrasound where indicated — is added when the question needs it. Only after this does design begin, because the anatomy sets the menu of what is achievable. A plan drawn before the examination is a template, and templates are how operated looks happen.
Options, with honest trade-offs
You should hear more than one option where more than one exists — including the option of doing nothing — with the trade-offs of each stated plainly: what it changes, the scars it leaves and where, the recovery it costs, the risks it carries, and what it cannot do. Numbers should be honest: scars are permanent although they usually fade; final results take six to twelve months for most operations; every operation has a real, non-zero complication rate. If an option is bad for your anatomy, the honest answer is to say so and explain why.
The written plan and the cooling-off principle
A consultation ends with a written or clearly stated plan: the proposed operation, the anesthesia, the expected recovery, and the follow-up schedule. Booking on the spot is your choice, but no one should need a decision the same day. Taking the plan home, thinking, and returning with questions is normal and welcome. Pressure, discounts that expire today, or reluctance to put risks in writing are warning signs — here or anywhere.
What to bring and what to ask
Bring your medicine list, relevant medical records, and photographs of results you like (they communicate taste better than adjectives). Ask: how many of this operation do you perform, what complications have you seen, who delivers my anesthesia, where would an emergency be handled, and when will I be reviewed afterward? A good consultation leaves you more informed even if you never book — that is its purpose.
Walk away from a consultation that
- Guarantees a result, promises no scarring, or claims a procedure is risk-free.
- Pressures you to commit immediately with expiring discounts or fabricated urgency.
- Cannot say who provides anesthesia or where emergencies would be managed.
Frequently asked questions
What actually happens at an aesthetic surgery consultation?
It opens with your concern in your own words and with your medical history, then examines structure rather than surface — skin thickness and elasticity, cartilage strength, bone contour, tissue cover over the chest — with standardized photographs and imaging where needed. Only after that does design begin.
Should I be offered more than one option?
Yes, including the option of doing nothing, with the trade-offs of each stated plainly: what it changes, the scars it leaves and where, the recovery it costs, the risks it carries, and what it cannot do. If an option is bad for your anatomy, the honest answer is to say so and explain why.
Do I have to decide on the day of the consultation?
No. Booking on the spot is your choice, but no one should need a decision the same day. Taking the written plan home, thinking, and returning with questions is normal and welcome. Pressure, discounts that expire today, or reluctance to put risks in writing are warning signs.
Risks & Limitations
- Bruising and swelling lasting weeks; after bone surgery, months pass before the final result is visible.
- Scars are permanent. They mature and fade over 6–12 months but never disappear.
- Numbness or altered sensation, which may be temporary or, after bone or nerve work, lasting.
- Asymmetry, under-correction or over-correction; final assessment is made at 6–12 months.
- Infection, bleeding or haematoma, which may need drainage or antibiotics.
- Breathing changes after nasal surgery, which may be temporary or require further treatment.
- Revision surgery carries higher risk and is less predictable than a first operation.
When to Seek Care
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath — seek emergency care immediately.
- Rapidly expanding swelling, or a tense, painful, tight area.
- Fever above 38 °C, spreading redness, warmth or pus.
- Bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure.
- Any sudden change in vision after facial surgery or a facial injection.
References & Further Reading
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) — procedure and safety guidance
- International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS)
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, UK) — relevant guidance
- Cochrane Library — systematic reviews in facial plastic surgery
This page is patient education, not medical advice, and it does not cite individual studies. Discuss your own case with a qualified clinician. To arrange an assessment at Chongqing West District Hospital, see Contact & Consultation.