Importance of positive interaction in the initial meeting between plastic surgeons and patients: a survey

The aesthetic plastic surgery patient represents a particularly sensitive and highly demanding client within the whole patient population. There is no doubt that a kind and understanding response to his problems and needs, which are often rather complex, contributes decisively to the establishment of a basis of confidence and it predominantly determines the further course of any interpersonal relationship with the surgeon. A kind response, i.e., positive interaction, signifies the complete acceptance of the patient, both verbally and nonverbally. The surgeon must be all ears to the requests and concerns and must attentively concern himself with all the patient's physical impairments that have grown into a problem. Positive interaction also means assessment and understanding of the patient's personality, including his self-image, his view of reality, and his present condition in order to choose correctly the suitable level of communication. Finally, positive interaction means the precise analysis of the patient's rational and irrational fears and his conceptions and expectations. There must be discussion of his wishes and the therapeutic and surgical possibilities in order to map out an acceptable path of treatment.