Capitalizing on Patient Satisfaction with Aesthetic Pre- and Postoperative Care
Coastal Illustrated, St. Simons Island, GA

   There's an easy way to increase patient satisfaction and strengthen patient relationships. Add an aesthetician to the existing practice. The aesthetician can provide valuable pre- and postprocedure care, advice, and product recommendations. The result? More time for the doctor to concentrate on their area of specialty - surgery, and happier patients who return and recommend the office that provided superior results.
    By providing time, expertise, and product knowledge, the aesthetician fulfills the missing piece of the puzzle for the patient. Their role is to offer appropriate pre- and postsurgical care in concert with the physician's orders. These recommendations, from vitamins to exfoliation, can make a significant difference in recovery time and results.
    Prior to surgery, the aesthetician can see to many important details. First, they can take the time to explain the procedure in depth. They can detail what will happen from the minute the patient arrives at the hospital to what occurs once the patient is in surgery. Fine points, such as how a topical anesthetic will feel, are often some of the patient concerns. Giving the patient plenty of information will set their mind at ease and allow them to be more relaxed throughout the procedure. The aesthetician can recommend appropriate presurgical products that will hydrate and strengthen the skin. Retinal creams, glycolic peels, toners, potency multi-vitamins promote healing, accelerate wound closure, and reduce scar formation and bruising, if taken for several weeks prior to surgery. In addition, patients who increase their supplement and vitamin intake feel better and recover their energy levels faster.
    The aesthetician can recommend appropriate skincare treatments prior to facelifts. For example, a microdermabrasion treatment to help reduce fine lines or a comedone extraction to boost the appearance of the skin post-surgery. These simple procedures can greatly increase patient satisfaction with surgery.
    Postsurgery: Several days after surgery and once the sutures are removed, the aesthetician steps in to be a help during postsurgical care. They can provide information on appropriate home car, including continuation of antioxidants, hydration, and skin treatments. In connection with the doctor's recommendations, the aesthetician can schedule the patient for treatments, if necessary.
    A major surgery, chemical peel, or CO2 laser procedure can dramatically alter the texture and responsiveness of the patient's skin. With the help of an aesthetician, the patient can find an appropriate long-term skincare program. Patients often have many follow-up questions long after the surgery is complete. The aesthetician can provide a valuable resource without tying up the surgeon's time. Makeup usage or camouflage products are additional areas of responsibility for the aesthetician, giving patients much needed product information to improve their overall appearance.
    However, one of the main functions of the aesthetician is to provide a healing mental connection. Surgery is often fraught with many emotional issues for patients, ranging from the decision to undergo the procedure to concerns about their postsurgical appearance. Sometimes they need a professional to confide in, to ask those questions they feel uncomfortable asking their surgeon. It's important to make the patient feel that the aesthetician is a partner in care, providing the last link to highly successful results.
    Patients are not just seeking professionals who can repair a chin or remove a scar - they are investing their trust in the practice and want to feel they have a relationship with the doctor's office. The physician certainly does not have the time to spend building that framework with every patient. The aesthetician, on the other hand, is there to provide that link to human contact. It is in an aesthetician's nature to be a hands-on helper, providing the human touch patients need.