Good Morning, Doctor!

When the Great Recession started back in 2008, one of the major reasons people wanted cosmetic plastic surgery was because  of work. Many wanted:

• New jobs and careers
• Promotions
• Increased self-confidence in the workplace

Cosmetic surgery still provides all that but then a monkey wrench of sorts was thrown into the mix.

During the economic downturn, companies had no choice but to drastically cut back on travel and distant conferences, taking up the slack with video, phone and Skype meetings. Now that our economy is gaining more steam, those same firms have forsaken expensive travel for the new, cheaper way of going to meetings.

Even your humble cosmetic plastic surgeon/blogger went with the new trend, offering potential but distant patients travel reductions by mailing or emailing their:

• Before pictures
• Pre-surgical clearances
• Other medical records

Then, we just phone chat about surgery. We also went with the flow by offering consultations over Skype.

(Also read more about how we help cosmetic surgery patients avoid needless travel to Beverly Hills for surgery in a single trip. Blog post continues below.)

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The patient below cured his receding, double chin and bunched up neck tissue with only a chin implant. The after picture was taken only 10 days after surgery. (Photo: Dr. Kotler.)

Left, before chin implant only. The beard hides the fresh scar under his chin. (Robert Kotler,.M.D. Photo)

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But the bottom line remains: people still must show their faces. Sometimes, depending on your computer screen, the electronic sight of your working self can be, well, unflattering.

The New York Times, for instance, recently observed that people usually look down into their video chat devices. That’s not the most favorable angle because looking toward the floor shortens the face and causes any extra neck tissue to bunch up.

(One Virginia-based plastic surgeon even designed a special face lift procedure to enhance your features while appearing in Skype meetings, according to the N.Y. Times article, “Ready for My Video Chat Close-Up”)

We’re not sure that is necessary, but the other work-related reasons for having rejuvenation surgery still hold true, especially having more self-confidence thanks to improved features and feeling better about yourself.

If you do a lot of video chatting and can’t lift your chair seat, be sure and tell your plastic surgeon before neck surgery or chin augmentation that, if all possible, you would not like the scar visible to your distant colleagues.

Dr. Kotler Speaks on Virtual Consultations on Skype

Today’s technology is allowing us to consult with people all over the world.  That doesn’t mean that patients necessarily come here to Beverly Hills; now from the comfort and privacy of their home, patient’s can consult with me at the office.

The key is computer technology by which we can morph a patient’s digital “before” photo into a “after.”  We can show the patient the predicted result of the cosmetic procedures or skin treatments.  That is all done through our website.  It is really quite something.

Now we are enhanced by Skype.  Not only can we share with the patient our predictions for the result, but we can see the patient, speak with the patient, make some evaluations and have even more information at hand to make proper recommendations. 

Virtual consultations are wise, economical and practical.  Often, we can tell patient’s that they might not be a candidate and save them the trip either across the state or country, or across the ocean. 

We have been a devotee of virtual consultations and continue to be so because there is nothing like chatting with the patient “face to face” and having the chance to discuss and have a meeting of the minds regarding the outcome that the patient hopes for and we predict will be achieved.