“Any doctor providing elective non-essential services – not just cosmetic services – should assess the patient’s mental health. I use a more informal assessment that includes 1) Evaluation of the patient’s conversation with the receptionist when he/she initially calls to schedule the appointment; 2) Assessment when they arrive and check in; 3) Assessment by the nurse in the exam room; and 4) Final assessment by the doctor. This essentially provides four opportunities to evaluate the patient – rudeness, tardiness for the appointment, and being unfriendly to the office staff but exceedingly nice to the doctor are red flags. During the exam by the doctor, it’s essential to understand the patient’s expectations from the requested procedure and whether they are reasonable and attainable. This will help provide insight as to whether they’re doing it for the right reason or not.”
Now, this is not to say that if you already have breast implants or if you’re considering getting them in the near future that you’re doomed. It’s simply a reminder that when undergoing any type of cosmetic surgery, you must do it for the right reasons as Dr. Kaplan mentioned earlier in his statement. Because let’s face it, if you’re lacking on the inside, there’s nothing you can ever do to make yourself love what you see when you look in the mirror.
Like Beyoncé said in her deeply personal single, “Pretty Hurts”: “We try to fix something, but you can’t fix what you can’t see/ It’s the soul that needs the surgery.”
Are Women With Breast Implants More Likely To Commit Suicide? was originally published on blackdoctor.org
