Analysis

A thorough analysis usually takes some time. It is wise to think over all the ideas discussed and then meet again for further clarification of all of the alternatives. During this process by showingdifferent drawings that are different suggestions of changes that might be considered, we may be able to helpchoose from the various possibilities.

The preliminary goal will be the patient's choosing and will be the improvement in appearance they would like to consider. It will involve the choice from drawings or sketches on photocopies of the subject's photographs or digital images in different views. With these in front of us, we can have a detailed discussion and description of what it would involve if we chose to seek and achieve each of the possibilities.

Buying even the right pair of shoes takes time. A suit of clothes, even more time. And this is not only more important than all the clothes a person owns, but also how the person will appear to everyone who sees them the rest of their lives. We can change the clothes easily.

As onecomedienne and author says on television and in her book, forget the new clothes andthe new car. It is how the person looks that is important.

And a person has no objective idea how they can look until some study,which we begin as an analysis, is done.

If we want to know if the appearance can be improved or how much it can be improved, we will want to get all the information we can, such as all the pros and cons, how muchbenefit there can be, and what it would be like to go through it.

To find out more aboutmany of theethical rules that are suggested, see Principles and Ethics in the index. One that applies here to persons who are unsure is " If on the fence (undecided) stay on the fence." And another, "When in doubt (about some change or some surgery), leave it out."

The purposeof the analysis is to develop a concept or a plan based on the possibilities. And then the purpose of drawings is to communicate all of the concepts and possibilities, so that whatever benefit could be possible can be visually seen and studied. Then, if there is great benefit, the basis for decision becomes clearer.

Generally, the purpose of having something done is to look as good as we can . The first question, therefore, is How good can we be made to look? The answer is derived from an analysis of the face. As with architecture, the planning is as important if not more important than the doing.

The first and most important information that you can get about what you are considering is an accurate assessment of what can be done for the benefit of your appearance . In other words, how will you look after you've had whatever it is you are considering? What are the possibilities?

This analysis and study of the face with drawings can reveal small details that may or may not be improved on that might otherwise not have been seen. Many drawings of different views can be made. Sometimes more than a hundred are done. In the stages of fine-tuning the drawings we can do new drawings showing different appearances and possibilities faster than one per minute.

All drawings are given to the patient to take home. It is a good idea, if possible, to show the drawingsto trusted friends or relatives.and bring the most skeptical of the bunch with you to see us.As in the emperor's clothes, the truth may come from a child. And as many persons as possible should be consulted.

We communicate with the aid of drawings made on copies of the subjects photographs. We have done drawings of every face surgery for more than thirty years. This method allows each person to choose the appearance that best suits them. We can choose how we want to look everyday for the rest of our lives.

Only when the drawings of the face are so attractive that they cannot be improved upon by ourselves or any other persons or artist do we want toconsider making those changes. When the drawings are chosen by the patient, we call that choice the goal . The goal may change many times.

We have more than 200,000 photographs, negatives, and slides. And while you cannot see them all we have more than 8000 in books of different types of surgery. All of these before and after photographs are of persons who had drawings done.

And anyone may askto see the drawings of any of them so that a reasonable determination can be made ofhow close to the chosen goal drawings the results of surgery are.

We also have a Results Questionnaire that is given to every patient months after their surgery. The majority say that we equal or exceed the drawings that they chose as their goal. Almost all say they have no visible scars. The summary of hundreds of these questionnaire answers are on another page.And all of this can be useful information.

If it is a part of your face, the number one thing we want to know is what benefit to the appearance there will be if something is done. From all of the possibilities a goal should be chosen. For each alternative goal that can be chosen, we will explain tothe patient all of the pros and cons and what it would be like to accomplish that goal.

It is necessary to have some idea what the goal is before all the pros and cons can be estimated.

The First Visit

On the first visit, some drawings may be completed, thenphotographs are taken. The patient is given copies of all drawings. We will discuss all of the possible alternatives and answer as many questions as possible. To see many before and after photographs, to see the drawings being done, to have questions answered and to discuss and understand all the pros and cons of the experience of the process of having surgery and having a happy result may take a two or more hours.

If what is heard is of interest and we wish to proceed with a more complete study of how good the face can be made to look, then another visit, or several more visits may be needed. For persons who live far away, pictures can be transmitted and discussions had by by email or mail.

Plans will be made to meet again in a few days or weeks for a more thorough analysis and review of the face, photographs, and drawings. It can be helpful if pictures of faces with desired features are brought in for consideration. These may be of when a person was in school and very young, or of other faces that are considered attractive.It is also good to bring a close friend or relative who is supportive of your wishes and who can help by discussing with you what is explained.

The way we find the answer to what benefit cosmetic surgery can be for a specific person is from a thorough study and analysis of the physical features and photographs of the person. Then, we could determine what would be the best and most attractive appearance.

After a brief health history and a few questions regarding the persons wishes, we would do this study routinely in five different ways:

1. Mirror examination.

2. Digital drawing and /or pen and pencil sketching.

3 Photographic analysis and sketching on copies.

4. Comparisons with other faces, including before and after photos.

5. Physical examination, often with a microscope.

6. Study of the face and pictures searching for all the details.

And then, there is explanation and discussion of all of these findings.

Each person is given copies of all of the drawings and sketches for independent study at home.

Among all of the possibilities and alternatives explored is the search for:

1. The best appearance that can be accomplished.

2. The most improvement in appearance with the least change.

We want to find for each person the most benefit with the least amount of surgery, and the maximum improvement in appearance. Then, in addition to those two things, we want to find all the alternatives and possibilities.

The photographic analysis and sketching is the real planning phase. It is approximately equivalent to an architects plan for a building. It is very important because the result may look almost exactly like the chosen plan.It is more important than any building.

And yet many more hours are spent planning some buildings. An architect friend who worked with Frank Gehry who designed the Guggenheim in Spain and many other buildings explained to me that the model for the new Guggenheim yet to be built cost millions of dollars. Our plans don't cost that much.

Looking through hundreds of before and after photographs of people who have had work done often will reveal someone who had similar features to the patient and showwhat changes were made. These are important because they are factual representations, and opinions anddecisions are on a more solid foundation when based on as many concrete,true facts as possible.

Our goal on each visit is to provideas much clear and factualinformation as possible and to find all the alternatives, includingthe maximum benefit that may be obtained from an improvement in appearance.

For any face surgery the analysis of the face is for the purpose of determining how good the person can look . We acquaint everyone withthis technique on the first visit. Then, we continue this process on subsequent visits.

Via this analysis of the face, we can give the answer to the number one most important question: What is the benefit from having something done?

The first drawings take about an hour. The further analysis and subsequent review requires another hour or two.