How should I prepare for an online consultation as an international patient?

Let me set the expectation first, because it shapes everything else: the purpose of an online consultation is to define the mechanism of your concern — not to sell you a procedure. The better your preparation, the more precise that definition becomes, and the more disciplined and honest the plan I can offer you.

For international patients especially, the online consultation does a great deal of work before you ever travel. It is where we decide whether surgery makes sense, what approach fits your anatomy, and what is realistically achievable. So the quality of what you bring directly determines the quality of the plan you receive.

Here is exactly how to prepare.

The mindset: mechanism, not quick selling

Before the practical checklist, understand the spirit of the appointment. I am not trying to fit you to a procedure I already have in mind. I am trying to understand why your contour looks the way it does — whether the driver is volume, skin, structure, or something else — so the plan is built around your reality.

That is why context matters as much as photos. A clear image tells me what your anatomy looks like; your history tells me how it got there and how it is likely to behave. I need both.

The context I need to understand

A few specific pieces of history make an enormous difference. Please come prepared to tell me:

• What bothers you most, in one sentence. This sounds simple, but distilling your main concern to a single clear statement is one of the most useful things you can do. It tells me what you are actually trying to solve, which is not always what I would guess from a photo.
• How stable your weight has been. Recent weight change, or active fluctuation, directly affects both planning and the durability of any result.
• Whether you have a history of pregnancy or prior abdominal surgery. Both change the abdominal wall and skin and influence what is possible.
• Whether you have had prior liposuction. Previously treated tissue behaves differently — it can carry scar planes that narrow the safe range of correction — so this is essential to know in advance.

The more precisely you can answer these, the more accurately I can read your case.

How to take useful photos

Photos are the other half of the input, and a few simple rules make them far more useful. Please send clear photos from the front and the side, taken in a relaxed, neutral posture. A few simple guidelines make a real difference:

• Good lighting — even, natural light, without harsh shadows or dramatic angles.
• Not a selfie — it is best if someone else takes the photos, so the proportions read accurately. For body procedures, aim for about 1 meter (around 3 feet / 39 inches) of distance; for face procedures, about 50 cm (around 20 inches).
• No filters and no editing — the images should show your skin and contour exactly as they are.
• Clear visibility of the area — make sure the region we are assessing is fully and clearly visible.
• For body procedures, your face does not need to be visible — please feel free to keep it out of the frame.

The reason for these simple conditions is to separate true anatomy from angle effects. A flattering or unflattering pose, harsh lighting, or a filter can hide or invent a problem. Honest, unedited photos let me assess what is really there.

The language of expectations

This is the part international patients most often overlook, and it is where good planning is won or lost. Because we are planning at a distance, clear expectation language is invaluable. Before the consultation, think through and be ready to describe:

• What “refinement” means to you — the specific change you are hoping for, in your own words.
• What trade-offs you accept — for example, whether you are willing to accept scars in exchange for tightening, or a more conservative result in exchange for safety.
• What outcomes you consider unacceptable — the results that would make you feel the surgery was not worth it.

Knowing your limits and priorities in advance lets me design a plan that aims squarely at what you value and avoids what you fear. Vague hopes produce vague plans; clear expectations produce disciplined ones.

Why precision pays off

The common thread through all of this is the same:

The more precise the input, the more disciplined the plan. Clear history, honest photos, and well-defined expectations are not formalities — they are the raw material of a safe, realistic, and personalized recommendation.

When you arrive at an online consultation with a one-sentence concern, an accurate history, clear and honest front and side photographs, and a clear sense of your own trade-offs, we can use the time for what it is meant for: understanding your anatomy and building a plan you can trust — long before you book a flight.

This article is intended for general education and does not replace an individual consultation. A personalized plan can only be determined through a personal evaluation of your anatomy, health history, and goals.

---

Take the next step

If you are ready to put this preparation to use and get a clear, honest assessment of what is realistic for you, the best place to start is a personal evaluation. In an online consultation we can review your photos, your history, and your goals together, and define a disciplined plan built around your anatomy.

Book your online consultation — prepare your photos and history as described above, and let’s define the right plan for you.

Op. Dr. Mert Demirel

European Board Certified Plastic Surgeon (EBOPRAS)

ISAPS & ASPS Member

Istanbul, Turkey