When you have decided to proceed with aesthetic plastic surgery, and no later, the search begins for a physician whom you can trust and with it the agony then also of making a choice: who is reputable? Who has the clinical experience and the scientific background to perform your operation with professional competence? Who, besides a background of extensive training and a substantial number of challenging operations, brings aesthetic passion along with him? Only a personal planning discussion with the physician of your choice will give you clarity about that. Actively assist your physician and other specialists during the planning!

1. Write down your personal questions during the preliminary stages of the discussion. Prepare your list so that you can note the answers during dialogue with the surgeon. See to it that all of your questions – unpleasant ones as well – are answered. Ask questions as needed.

2. The discussion should be individually tailored to your needs without any time pressure. If you are not sure, take a friend, your partner or another person you trust along.

3. Do not let yourself be confused by the flood of offers from television, the newspapers, the Internet and dubious advertisements. A reputable physician will present your prospects realistically, without excessive expectations and with the corresponding risks.

4. Let yourself be informed in detail about anaesthesia or other methods such as deep sleep, analgesia, etc. Inform yourself about the duration of the outpatient or inpatient stay, the course of the healing process, the type of aftercare and the follow-up examinations. Here specialists from the fields of medical cosmetics and anti-aging will be at your side. Do not hesitate to insist on a discussion with the appropriate experts.

5. In any case, obtain a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan. Several specialists may participate in this plan. Do not be afraid to request a discussion if things do not seem clear afterwards.

6. Ask about the method and the techniques that your surgeon wants to use in your treatment and find out if these are proven and established scientifically. Do not hesitate to ask your physician how often he - and not perhaps one of his assisting physicians - has already performed the operation that you desire. Ask to be shown before and after photographs of patients who have had the operation. You may also enquire about “testimonials”, that is, about patients who have had the operation and are willing to provide honest information about their operation experiences.

7. Ask about possible measures in the preliminary stages before the operation that could positively influence the end result, including information, for example, about nutrition, exercise, the avoidance of sunlight and special cosmetics. Here, too, you can consult specialists from other complementary fields.

8. As a patient, state the things that bother you personally as precisely as possible and always why they bother you as well. Describe your own expectations with regards to the desired outcome so what is medically feasible can be brought into line with your ideas.

9. Do not let yourself be talked into an operation in case you should have misgivings during the discussion. Request a further discussion at a later date if need be.

10. Make sure that you have set enough time aside to think your decision over and that the date selected for the operation optimally suits your personal and professional situation.

11. Allow enough time for recovery before and after the operation and ask how long you will have to avoid public appearances.

12. Include your environment in your external wishes for change. For not only you but also your environment will be affected by the outcome. In the process think especially about your partner, your children, your friends and your professional colleagues.

13. Do not hesitate to consult with different physicians. As a rule, obtaining two to three alternative opinions will be sufficient.

14. Enquire precisely about the costs. Most aesthetic operations are not covered by insurance. Ask for a written preliminary estimate of the costs.

15. When you have decided on an operation, be relaxed and trusting.