A plastic surgeon's dilemma: telephone calls, WhatsApp conversations & blind messages.

I get quite a few telephone calls and WhatsApp messages from people who have seen my profile somewhere, heard about me from another patient, or are just blindly calling based on a Google listing or social media listing, trying to decide where to go.

The usual questions are:

The questions are genuine. They deserve an answer and should be answered also.

But the problem is, it is not that straightforward to answer.

There are countless nuances attached to each of these questions. Each question is actually not one question. It is four or five questions masquerading as one single question.

So, I start asking those questions back.
And that is usually where I hit a wall.

Sometimes you are confused. Sometimes you simply don’t know. And quite often, you get irritated and angry. The tone changes.

Finally, I am forced to give vague answers.

You are not happy.
I am also not happy.

Then there is another group. Some people have studied their problem, have read about it extensively and know quite specifically what they want to ask and understand.

That’s the happy lot.

Those conversations are much easier, and I am quite happy—and actually enjoy—answering their questions.

Then comes the next question.
The most intriguing of all.
The one that puts me in a rather tough situation.

The pressing issue for me is this.

We might have spoken for five minutes. Maybe ten.

Somehow, in those few minutes, you have developed enough confidence in me that you are willing to share some of your most private pictures with me.

The ones you otherwise would probably never send to anyone. Or rather, would only share with someone very close to you.

Suddenly, you are willing to send them over to me on WhatsApp.

And that carries a lot of responsibility—at least from my perspective.

So when you ask,

My thinking behind this?

Not because the pictures are useless.
Not because I don’t want your trust, warmth, belief or confidence.

They will help, but only to an extent.

I might be able to understand your problem a little better. I might be able to give you a little more clarity.

But will it be enough for me to give you a concrete plan?

Most probably, no.

And if it is not going to give us a concrete plan, I don’t think it is worth you sending your private pictures over WhatsApp just to get a slightly less vague answer from me.

Once there is a definitive plan, suddenly all those questions become much easier to answer.

In all probability, by then, most of those questions would already have been answered—or you would have found the answers yourself.

You already have the answers.
Now you only need to confirm your answers with me.

Of course, yes.

Some basic doubts can be cleared. You can get a broad idea. I can probably tell you what to read, what to understand and what the possible options are.

And if you are looking for a vague or broad answer, that’s perfectly okay.

But don’t expect a definitive answer from a WhatsApp conversation or a telephone call.