Psychological Management of the Unhappy Patient: Perspective 2

The goals and expectations of patients seeking plastic surgery are complex. Surgeons must understand these expectations and the psychological needs of patients in order to achieve patient satisfaction. Successful outcomes in plastic surgery require the surgeon to carefully select patients and develop effective communication styles. The surgeon must screen patients during the initial consult to determine who is appropriate for surgery and who could be a patient likely to be unsatisfied. The personality and stress level of the clinician can also negatively impact management of the difficult patient. Physicians must understand the patient’s perspective by using reflective listening and applying patient-centric communication styles to convey empathy and compassion in the clinician-patient relationship.