COVID-19 has had a major impact on the lives of people all over the world. Dr. Vitenas and his team value the health of patients and those who work at the practice and for that reason have temporarily closed the office as a precautionary measure.
Although the office is closed, that doesn’t mean that you can’t explore your options for plastic surgery such as breast augmentation. During the pandemic, Dr. Vitenas is scheduling virtual consultations with patients to help them plan and prepare for the future. If you’ve been considering breast augmentation and you’re ready to take the next step, you can schedule a video conference with Dr. Vitenas to ask questions and learn more about what to expect from the surgery.
Just as you would for an in-person surgical consultation, it’s helpful to prepare a little for your online conference. A virtual consultation can be more convenient for you as a patient, as you don’t have to drive to the office or sit in the waiting room. Here’s what you can do to make the most of your consultation.
Make a List of Questions to Ask Your Surgeon
You probably have a lot of questions to ask about breast augmentation and what you can expect from the surgery and recovery. To help yourself remember your questions, it’s a good idea to write them down in advance and to have them in front of you during your video conference.
Ask questions about the surgeon’s experience, the surgery itself, and the recovery period. Some questions you might want to ask can include:
- What is your experience? How many breast augmentation surgeries have you performed?
- How safe is the surgery?
- Do patients experience side effects and complications? If so, what are they and how common are they?
- How long does the surgery take?
- What type of anesthesia do you use during breast augmentation?
- What types of implants are available?
- How do I choose the right implant size?
- What happens after surgery? How much time do you recommend taking off from work?
- Can you combine breast augmentation with a breast lift? Do you think a combination procedure is a good option for me?
- What else should I know about breast augmentation or plastic surgery in general?
Prepare Your Medical History
Your virtual breast augmentation consultation will be a two-way street. It’s a chance for you to learn more about the surgeon and the procedure, and it’s also an opportunity for Dr. Vitenas to learn more about you and to assess your candidacy. Be prepared to discuss your reasons for wanting surgery and to chat about your expectations.
Your surgeon will also want to learn more about your medical history. Some people aren’t necessarily ideal candidates for plastic surgery because of health conditions or other medical concerns. If you have any ongoing conditions, make a list of them.
It’s also important to write out the names and doses of any medicines you take. Include prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements in your list, if you take them regularly.
Certain medications can increase the chance of complications during and after surgery. If you take a medicine that increases your risk of bleeding or another side effect, your surgeon might be able to work with you to come up with a workaround, such as temporarily pausing the medicine or switching to a different drug.
Make Sure Your Internet Connection is Strong
The quality of your virtual breast augmentation consultation will not only depend on how prepared you are for the meeting but also on how good your internet connection is.
It’s important to have a strong connection during the call.The better your connection, the less likely the call is to freeze or disconnect. While you might have very little control over your internet service provider, there are a few things you can do to help improve the connection quality. If possible, close other programs and windows on your device before you begin the consultation. Having programs running in the background can slow down the video and affect quality.
You’ll get a stronger connection by plugging your device into a router or modem compared to using WiFi. If WiFi is the only option you have, try to be as close to your router as possible. If other people are in your household, ask them to hold off on streaming videos or browsing the internet while you attend your consultation.
Find a Private Place to Hold Your Consultation
A virtual consultation lets you meet and chat with Dr. Vitenas in the comfort of your own home. If you happen to live with others, such as a spouse, children, or roommates, try to find an area that’s out-of-the-way and private, so that others are less likely to interrupt your call.
Going into a room with a door that locks is ideal. You also want to keep pets out of the room, as they have a tendency to “video bomb” and jump into online conferences, causing chaos and breaking the focus of the meeting.
You might find that wearing headphones improves your sense of privacy and makes it easier to hear the surgeon during the call. Headphones also help to reduce any echo on the call.
Send Photos Before the Consultation
When you schedule your virtual consultation, someone from our practice will ask you to send in three photos of yourself, with a focus on the surgical area. The photos will help Dr. Vitenas make the most appropriate recommendations to you during your consultation. Include at least one photo from the front and one from the side.
If you’re ready to set up your video consultation with Houston’s Dr. Paul Vitenas, use our convenient form to request your appointment. Let us know what you’re hoping to get out of surgery and remember to attach your photos before sending in the form. If you have any other questions or need help booking the appointment, feel free to call the practice at 281-484-0088.
