Before You Book Surgery: Inside a Plastic Surgery Consultation in DC

Deciding to see a plastic surgeon usually takes months, and by the time you sit down to book, you have probably read a great deal about the procedure itself. What is far harder to find is a clear account of the visit, which is often the part patients feel least prepared for.

You may know the name of the operation you want. What you may not know is what the hour itself involves, what your surgeon is quietly assessing while the two of you talk, and how long the gap between the consultation and the operating room really is.

Here is what that visit looks like at Cultura Dermatology & Plastic Surgery in Washington, DC, so that you can walk in knowing what to expect.

Booking the Visit, and What It Costs You Up Front

Surgical consultations at Cultura are with Dr. Kelly Bolden, MD, FACS, and they carry a consultation fee, which you are prompted to pay when you schedule. This is worth knowing before you book, because it is a common surprise. Our fees and financing page sets out the current amount, the payment methods we accept and the two third-party financing partners we work with.

Note that surgical care at Cultura is self-pay. Dermatology consultations with Dr. Battle are a separate pathway, and the virtual consultation is complimentary, so if you are unsure which side of the practice your concern belongs to, say so when you book.

The Hour Itself, Start to Finish

Your History and What You Want Changed

The visit opens with your medical history: prior surgical procedures, current medications, conditions that affect healing, smoking status, weight history and anything relevant to anesthesia. Dr. Bolden, MD, FACS uses this to identify risk factors before any surgical plan is discussed, not after.

Then your goals, in your own words. Being specific helps more than being technical. What bothers you, when you notice it, and what you want to look like afterward are more useful than the name of a procedure.

The Examination

A physical examination follows: tissue quality, skin elasticity, symmetry, underlying structure and your proportions. This is the part that most often changes the plan, because what is achievable is set by your anatomy rather than by a reference photograph.

The Plan, and What It Rules Out

You should leave with a clear account of which surgical procedure is being recommended, what it involves, what recovery requires of you, what the risks are, and what it will not fix. A consultation that only tells you what is possible has done half the job.

What to Bring and What to Settle Beforehand

Your Health Documentation

Bring a current medication list including supplements, records of relevant prior surgical procedures, and any recent imaging or lab work. Gaps here are the most common reason a surgical plan has to wait.

A Clear Account of Your Goals

Reference images are useful as a way of showing what you mean, not as a target. Your result will follow your own anatomy. Dr. Bolden, MD, FACS will tell you plainly where a reference is and is not achievable on you.

Your Questions, Written Down

People forget them. Write down what you want to know about recovery time, time off work, scarring, revision policy and who to call afterward, and bring the list in.

Why the Decision Takes Longer Than You Expect

Seeing More Than One Surgeon Is Reasonable

Nobody at Cultura will treat a second opinion as a slight. For an elective surgical procedure it is sound practice, and a surgeon confident in the plan will say so.

Non-Surgical Options Sometimes Come First

Depending on what you want changed, a non-surgical route may be the better starting point, whether that is body contouring, Botox or work on acne scarring. Being told you do not need surgery yet is a legitimate outcome of a surgical consultation.

Planning for the Cost and the Time Off

Because surgical care here is self-pay, the financial plan and the recovery plan have to be built at the same time. Both belong in the consultation rather than after it.

The Surgeon You Will Be Sitting With

Dr. Kelly Bolden, MD, FACS is a double board-certified plastic surgeon and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. She earned her medical doctorate at Baylor College of Medicine, trained in general surgery at Emory University and in plastic surgery at UT Southwestern, and completed microsurgery training at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore with a focus on cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery. She is an Assistant Professor at Howard University Hospital.

She and our team work across the full range of skin tones, and surgical planning for melanated skin accounts for scarring behavior and healing from the outset rather than as an afterthought. You can read more on Dr. Bolden, MD, FACS and her profile or across the wider team.

Questions Patients Ask Before They Book

How long should I set aside?

Plan for a full appointment rather than a quick visit. History, examination and planning all have to happen, and the discussion at the end is the part worth not rushing.

Does a deeper skin tone change whether I am a candidate?

It does not rule you out. It does change how scar placement and healing are planned, which is precisely why it belongs in the conversation rather than being left unsaid.

Can I see Dr. Battle and Dr. Bolden, MD, FACS on the same visit?

Ask when you schedule. Dermatology and surgical consultations run as separate appointments, but our team can often arrange them close together.

Is there anything I should stop before I come in?

Do not stop prescribed medication on your own. Bring the list and let Dr. Bolden, MD, FACS advise on what to pause and when.

How soon could surgery be scheduled afterward?

That depends on the procedure, on your health clearance and on scheduling. You will get a realistic window at the consultation rather than a date on the day.

Where to Start When You Are Ready

The consultation is where a vague idea becomes a plan you can actually weigh up, including the parts that are harder to hear. You do not need to be certain before you come in. Wanting that clarity is reason enough, and helping you reach it is what the visit is for.

Schedule a surgical consultation online, read what to expect on a first visit, or call our Washington, DC office if you would rather talk it through first.