What To Watch Out For During Virtual Cosmetic Surgery Consultations

COVID-19 has resulted in a surge of clinics offering virtual or digital consultations in place of the standard face-to-face practice. However, when it comes to cosmetic surgery, the normal consultation method has certain differences versus skincare – so what should you know before booking an online surgery consultation?

“Lots of clinics, including The Private Clinic, have had to quickly adapt to new ways of working to keep things as stable as possible during lockdown” says Mr Adrian Richards, The Private Clinic’s Consultant Plastic Surgeon. “It’s imperative that if you’re thinking of booking a video consultation with a clinic, that you’re equipped with the right knowledge to ensure the consultation adheres to guidance and standard industry practice” he continues. 

As a result, The Private Clinic, one of the UK’s leading, award-winning cosmetic surgery clinics, has provided advice on how to ensure consultations follow best practice, as well as guiding prospective patients through what to expect – and perhaps more importantly, what to watch out for. 

Checklist For Virtual Consultations: 

1. Digital consultations should be conducted on a secure video hosting platform, as opposed to FaceTime and What’s App video calls. A good example of a secure platform is Zoom - the key is to ensure that there is a waiting room function and that the room is ‘locked’. A consultation should be a private, confidential space, without the risk of any unexpected guests joining. 

2. Never accept a video call from a practitioner calling directly from their personal phone or computer. The resulting data or imagery may not be secure and may be stored on a personal device, rather than a secure encrypted clinic software system. Storing patient data on personal devices is a breach of GDPR and it’s for this reason The Private Clinic advises against the use of personal phones and devices for consultations. 

3. Normal surgical consultations always have a chaperone present to accompany the patient and ensure everything is handled correctly – so video consultations should be no different. Always check you have confirmation from the clinic that your call will have a chaperone (usually the surgical nurse or someone from the clinic team) to ensure protocols are still followed.

What To Watch Out For

4. Never undergo a consultation without first filling in a detailed medical history form and providing any information relevant to the consultation. This is to ensure the surgeon takes into account your particular needs and that you get the most out of the appointment. 

5. There should always be a ‘cooling-off’ period following consultation before any bookings are taken. Don’t be pressured into booking in any dates on the call - this should always be a few weeks later to give you time to consider all the information presented and allow you to make an informed choice. 

“By following the above guidance, patients can be safe in the knowledge that their consultation is being carried out in a professional, safe and legal manner” comments Mr Adrian Richards. The Private Clinic is currently building its own secure virtual consultation room, following the above guidelines. “We hope to have this live in the next week so we can continue to provide the very best advice and care to our patients.”