Our Special Approach to Plastic Surgery Patient Care

Your Initial Consultation

Your experience begins with a personal consultation with one of our doctors. You should come to your consultation prepared to discuss your concerns and goals frankly, as that is the only way you can benefit from Dr. Magassy or Dr. Mehan's expertise and experience. And while Dr. Magassy or Dr. Mehan will be happy to offer suggestions as to how to achieve your goals, only you know what you want.

After you've discussed what you would like to achieve, your Washington, DC area plastic surgeon will outline recommendations. The suggested procedures, the risks and benefits, as well as the pricing will be clearly described in layman's English and/or Spanish. After you have completed your consultation, you can take your first concrete steps toward realizing your goals by scheduling your procedure.

Pre-Op Appointment

Ten to fourteen days prior to your scheduled surgery you will be seen in our office for a pre-operative appointment. This is where you will be given specific instructions on what to do before your surgery, prescriptions for any medications you might need, and general information about what to expect immediately after your surgery. You will also complete the documentation necessary for the surgical procedure(s) that you will have. Any balance due for surgery, facility or anesthesia fees must also be collected at this time. This is a great time to get any questions answered that you've been thinking about.

Anesthesia

Anesthesia for plastic surgical procedures requires a high level of skill and experience. Each member of the anesthesia team clearly meets that requirement having more that 25 years experience in every facet of anesthesia practice from pediatric anesthesia to anesthesia for open heart surgery. Our staff of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA's) has worked closely together for many years to develop anesthesia techniques specifically designed for patients undergoing plastic surgery in an ambulatory facility.

At PSA there is one charge for the surgical procedure, one charge for the anesthesia, and one charge for the facility. Because there is only one charge for the facility, you know exactly what the costs for your surgery will be. Generally, the cost of ambulatory facilities are considerably less than similar services provided in a hospital.

Post-Op and Follow-Up Care

The most common questions asked of Drs. Magassy and Mehan have to do with the period following surgery. Will it hurt? How much? What kind of care do I need afterwards? How long before I can resume my regular routine?

First, you will need someone to drive you from our facility to your home or wherever you will be staying following your surgery. You will also need someone to stay with you for at least 24 hours after your surgery. Please understand that this is for your own safety and must be taken seriously. This individual will be given specific post-op instructions. If you follow these instructions you will give yourself the best chance for a more comfortable and quicker recovery. Most people feel quite well within 24 to 48 hours following their procedure. However, bruising and swelling are common and can be minimized by the use of ice packs (you'll receive specific instructions). Most people plan to take it easy for at least a few days to allow the swelling to subside.

The most difficult questions to answer are those about pain, because there simply are no objective measurements. However, it's safe to say that while most people do experience some discomfort and pain after their procedure, it's less than they were worried about. Many report no significant discomfort at all.

• Get directions to our plastic surgery center.
• Get printable patient forms.
• Read about our special approach to patient care.
• Learn about accommodations for out of town patients.

Call our McLean, Virginia office at 703-790-5454 or toll-free at
866-804-8222 to get more information or to schedule your personal consultation.