Patient Education

Patient Education

At Criswell & Criswell, we believe that the more you know about plastic surgery and your procedures the better off you will be. From the first face you see at the front desk to our Patient Care Coodinators, nurses, and surgeons, we will do everything to understand what you are looking for and help you understand everything you need to know to give you a great result. Our patients from Charlotte and all over the Carolinas tell us time and time again that what sets us aside from other practices is the time we take with our patients. From our Patient Care Coordinators to our staff, nurses, and surgeons, we will spend time talking with you about your plastic surgery goals and how different procedures can help you reach them. Read on for more information, and please don’t hesitate to ask us if you have questions.

Outpatient Plastic Surgery Is Safe During the Covid-19 Pandemic Results of a July 2020 Los Angeles Survey and Literature Review

This data demonstrates that plastic surgery can be safely performed during a COVID-19 surge.

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Choosing your Plastic Surgeon

If you’re like most people, you have many questions about how to choose your plastic surgeon. The fact is, any licensed physician can claim to be a plastic surgeon. When looking for a plastic surgeon, it is vital that you make sure your surgeon has been trained as a plastic surgeon and that he or she is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. For more information regarding choosing your surgeon, read on….

Choosing your surgeon

Accredited Facilities Only

Our surgeons at Criswell & Criswell only perform surgery at accredited facilities. Did you know that in North Carolina, doctors can perform surgery in non-accredited office exam rooms? Plastic surgery performed by board certified plastic surgeons is only performed in accredited ambulatory surgery facilities – also known as outpatient surgery centers or same day surgery centers. So ask your surgeon, “Where do you perform surgery?” and “Is this facility accredited and by whom?” Furthermore, ask if your surgeon has privileges to perform the procedure you are interested in at a hospital. If the surgeon is reputable, he or she will have credentials to operate in at least one major hospital.

Both Dr. Kara Criswell and Dr. Bryan Criswell operate in our Quad A accredited surgery center and have privileges to operate in almost all greater Charlotte area hospitals. For more information please read on...

Accredited facilities

More Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon

So now you know you should only have plastic surgery performed by a board certified plastic surgeon in an accredited facility. So what other things should you ask your surgeon? See here for more details...

Questions to ask your surgeon

For Our Cosmetic Patients: What to expect during your consultation

The success and safety of your plastic surgery procedure depends very much on you being completely candid during your consultation. By being actively involved in your consultation, problems, concerns and questions you may have can be addressed by our surgeons at Criswell & Criswell.

Before your Consultation:

• Talking with Patty: When you first contact us, you will likely talk with our Patient Care Coordinators, Darla and Patty. Take advantage of their knowledge of plastic surgery and ask any questions you’d like. Also, please give them as much information about yourself as you can, sharing your goals and expectations. Be prepared to discuss the approximate cost of your procedure, how you plan to finance it, and what your time frame is for surgery. Our Patient Care Coordinators will often ‘pencil you in’ for a date for surgery if you are clearly interested in moving forward. Also, you may be asked a few questions about your overall health and any particular details related to the procedure you are interested in.
• Complete your health information and demographics on our Online Web Portal prior to your consultation, you will be required to complete our Online Web Portal questions. This is important for your safety, giving our doctors the information they need to give you the best quality care. Also, by completing this form online, before your consultation, you will have more time to spend talking with the doctor.
• Read our welcome letter and consent forms. This is important for you to be able to understand our practice’s policies, and at your consultation you will be asked to sign that you have read them.

At your consultation:

• Arrive a little early. Bring a photo ID and plan to sign that you have read our welcome letter and consents.
• Be prepared to discuss and answer questions about:
• Your plastic surgery goals and desires
• Why you want surgery, your expectations and desired outcomes
• Your general health status, any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
• Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments
• Use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs
• Previous surgeries
• Family medical history

Your surgeon will also:

• Examine you and ask you to point out what areas you are interested in changing
• Your surgeon may take detailed measurements of certain areas
• Your surgeon will likely point out features of your body that you may or may not have noticed before, like asymmetry, shape, and skin quality
• Discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment
• Discuss likely outcomes and any risks or potential complications
• Discuss the use of anesthesia during your procedure

Your Nurse will then:

• Take photographs for your medical record to assist in surgical planning
• Help you try on breast implant sizes if your consultation involves breast augmentation
• Answer any further questions you may have

Completing your consultation

• Patty will meet with you to proceed with surgical planning and scheduling. They will give you a financial quote for the procedure or procedures that your surgeon recommended. You will be asked to sign this quote, acknowledging that you are aware of the fees associated with your individual procedure. There are no hidden fees in your quote. All quotes will include the cost of the procedure, facility costs, and any anesthesia costs. All of your preoperative and postoperative visits are included in the surgical package, as well as your initial surgical garment and supplements if applicable. If needed, your doctor will write a prescription for medication for surgery; the cost of these medications is not included.

Insurance Related Procedures: What to expect during your consultation

The success and safety of your plastic surgery procedure depends very much on you being completely candid during your consultation. By being actively involved in your consultation, problems, concerns and questions you may have can be addressed by our surgeons at Criswell & Criswell.

Before your Consultation:

• When you first contact us, you will likely talk with our Surgical Scheduler and Patient Coordinator. Please give her as much information about yourself as you can. Be prepared to discuss your insurance plan, including your copay and deductible, and what your time frame is for surgery. You may be asked a few questions about your overall health and any particular details related to the procedure you are interested in.
• Complete your health information and demographics on our Online Web Portal: Prior to your consultation, you will be required to complete our Online Web Portal questions. This is important for your safety, giving our doctors the information they need to give you best quality care. Also, by completing this form online, before your consultation, you will have more time to spend talking with the doctor.
• Read our welcome letter and consent forms. This is important for you to be able to understand our practice’s policies, and at your consultation you will be asked to sign that you have read them.

At your consultation:

• Arrive a little early. Bring a photo ID and plan to sign that you have read our welcome letter and consents.
• Be prepared to discuss and answer questions about:
  • Your general health status, any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
  • Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments
  • Use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs
  • Previous surgeries
  • Family medical history
• Your surgeon will also:
  • Examine you
  • Your surgeon may take detailed measurements of certain areas
  • Your surgeon will likely point out features of your body that you may or may not have noticed before, like
  • asymmetry, shape, and skin quality
  • Discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment
  • Discuss likely outcomes and any risks or potential complications
  • Discuss the use of anesthesia during your procedure
• Your Nurse will then:
  • Take photographs for your medical record to assist in surgical planning
  • Answer any further questions you may have

Completing your consultation:

• Our Surgical Scheduler will then either meet with you at the end of your consultation or call you to proceed with surgical planning and scheduling. Plan to bring your day planner in order to choose a surgical date.