Consultation is an important part of your treatment where you will be able to judge whether the surgeon is the person whom you can trust before deciding to proceed with the surgery.
During the consultation you can expect the following:
- A detailed medical history including your concerns, expectations and aims for surgery, as well as your allergies, previous health problems, and medications you are taking.
- A careful clinical examination and evaluation is then carried out by the surgeon. Here you should feel free to raise any concerns you may have at this stage.
- Clinical photographs are obtained with your consent, as a record of your pre-operative status and as a basis for discussion. You will also be counseled with regard to the best approach and procedure for your requirements.
- A computerized planning session may or may not be required at this point, with possible review of photographs of recent similar procedures.
At the end of your consultation, you should have a realistic appraisal and a clear idea of which procedure would be best suited for your purposes.
Why do some doctors provide free consultation whilst others charge for consultation.
In my opinion cosmetic surgeons who charge consultation fees are not being greedy and I believe they do so because they personally feel it is in the patient’s best interest, as well as their own.
Paid Consultations
A few reasons why a surgeon may charge a fee:
- They feel that a fee removes the potential for a patient to anticipate “sales” pressure, since they have paid for the doctor’s time already.
- They feel it is fair to be compensated for their time and expertise, just as an attorney, accountant or other highly-trained professional would be.
- Often, these surgeons want to maximise one-on-one time with patients. Charging a fee can make it more feasible for them to take the necessary time to ensure a patient has all the information needed to move forward.
- Having a consult fee is a good way to ensure a prospective patient is serious about pursuing a procedure, which can make for a more productive consultation experience.
Free Consultations
Not charging a consultation fee does not mean that a surgeon is desperate for patients or less reputable. Just like those who do charge, cosmetic surgeons who offer free consultation believe that waiving the fee is in the patient and surgeon’s best interest!
Possible reasons why surgeons don’t charge for consultations:
- They are confident in their ability, skills, staff, and services, and feel they receive adequate compensation from the many patients who do go ahead and choose to have a procedure with them.
- They don’t want a fee to be a barrier for prospective patients to learn more about cosmetic surgery from a highly qualified physician—especially given many prospective patients are more willing to explore options they’ve been privately considering if offered a free initial consultation.
- They want to be available to patients who are on their second, third or even fourth consultation, who may begin to worry about consultation fees adding up.
- They don’t want patients to feel any pressure to go through with surgery because of a fee, particularly a refundable-with-booking fee.
How much does a cosmetic surgery consultation cost?
Consultation fees for specialist in Malaysia is RM235.00 per session which is set by our Ministry of Health. Most surgeons who charge for consultations will apply that fee toward your procedure if you choose to schedule surgery with them. That said, you shouldn’t feel pressured to pick a certain surgeon just so you won’t lose this money. It is a tiny price to pay if it means that someone else is better suited to achieving the outcome you want.
Whether or not you paid for your consultation shouldn’t factor into your choice of a cosmetic surgeon. A doctor’s training, credentials, experience and ability to understand and achieve your goals are far more important.
On the other hand, it may not be in your best interest to only meet with surgeons whose consultations are free—you could be missing out on the right surgeon for you.
When making a decision, whether or not you paid for your consult is the least important criterion to consider. Instead, choose a cosmetic surgeon based on their:
- Training & credentials. Ask about board certification and specific cosmetic surgery training, including residency and fellowship training in cosmetic surgery.
- Cosmetic surgery experience, particularly in the procedure(s) you are considering.
- Before and after images of previous patients who’ve had your procedure.
- Reviews of the surgeon and their practice.
We hope this information has cleared up any questions you have about cosmetic surgery consultation fees.
Sister Kay McNaught 