Assemble the record first
Operative reports, discharge summaries, device documentation from any previous plate or implant, and a list of clinicians involved in earlier care are the most useful items. AREOLA can begin with partial information, so send what you have rather than delaying an appointment to complete a file.
Write down the questions that matter to you
Patients consistently report that the questions they most wanted answered were the ones they forgot to ask. Writing them down — including questions about appearance, permanence, revision, cost and daily life — gives the care team a clearer sense of what a useful conversation would look like for you.
Think about priorities, not products
It is more useful to describe what you want the result to do — how visible, how durable, how much ongoing attention you are willing to give it — than to arrive with a plate model in mind. Material, profile and finish decisions follow from clinical planning, not the other way around.
Bring someone if it helps
A support person may attend consultations and is welcome to ask questions. Patient Services can also arrange an interpreter or accessibility accommodation in advance; requests made at least several days before the appointment are easier to confirm.
Content is reviewed with the relevant clinical, nursing, materials or administrative department before publication.