Speaker offers breast augmentation consultation pearls at AACS

NEW ORLEANS — A speaker highlighted the importance of patient selection and offered various pearls for preoperative consultation and the physical exam for potential breast augmentation patients during the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Annual Scientific Meeting, here.

Clement Qaqish, MD, believes the ideal breast shape is subjective and cultural, but involves a certain amount of upper-pole fullness and breast projection.

Clement Qaqish

His consultation takes place in various steps, moving from the initial consultation, to history-taking, providing patient education, conducting a physical exam, tailoring the treatment and providing concluding remarks.

“I tell my patients, ‘If you think you are going to have one breast surgery for the rest of your life, you are greatly mistaken,’” Qaqish said. “You do not have to try to scare the patient away, but help them make an informed decision. Most patients will appreciate your candor and honesty.” Offering an honest, objective opinion is the most poignant part of the consultant, he said.

Qaqish employs the process of verbal informed consent. Rather than handing the patient a clipboard and asking her to initial and sign every page, he personally asks the patient whether she knows where the scars will be placed and how big they will be.

Noting asymmetries is also a key part of the consultation process, according to Qaqish.

“Patients will tolerate asymmetry much better preoperatively then they will postoperatively, and you need to highlight even minor asymmetries to patients,” he said.

This helps to ensure they have a more realistic vision of their end results, he said. – by Abigail Sutton

Reference:

Qaqish C. Patient selection, consultation and physical exam. Presented at: American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Annual Scientific Meeting. Jan. 13-17, 2015; New Orleans.

Disclosure: Qaqish has no relevant financial disclosures.