You're in consultation with a teenager who's considering plastic
surgery. This is what you might say:
"It's natural to
have concerns about this procedure. I'm going to take a minute to explain
a few things and then I'll be happy to answer any questions.
"Let me
emphasize that this decision is yours. You may choose to bypass surgery and
allow your injuries to heal on their own. I'm here only to advise you. But
as a plastic surgeon who's performed more than 100 operations, I can offer
some professional insight.
"All surgeries have risks, especially those
that involve anesthesia. The main side-effect of plastic surgery,
however, is the pain that accompanies recovery. Your face will be swollen
and sensitive. It'll just plain hurt for a number of weeks. But we can prescribe
you medications to minimize the pain and keep you comfortable while your body
heals itself.
"And the length of time it will take you to recover is
also shorter than it would have been a few years ago. Modern bandaging techniques
and strong antibiotics and oxygen treatments can shorten recovery time to
less than six weeks.
"Finally, the best news of all may be that your
surgery will almost assuredly yield good results. These surgeries result in
permanent changes and the amount of scar tissue created will be minimal. Any
scars can be hidden beneath your hairline.
"Surgery is one option that
could help you put this accident behind you and get back to the business of
being a teenager."