Non-Invasive Body Tightening and Contouring

Why Integrating a Wellness Lounge into Your Practice Makes Sense By Jan Ramiro, BSN, RN

With the multitude of information available on the internet, patients are increasingly taking their health into their own hands. Why not encourage patients to come into your practice by giving them the tools and guidance to do just that? Mind the Gap

At Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery (PHPS), we first noticed a gap in care with patients who were interested in cosmetic surgery but weren’t quite healthy enough to justify an elective procedure, most notably, patients with a high Body Mass Index (BMI). Studies have shown that increased BMI is associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

A Wellness Lounge that focuses on obesity and overall health can help! Instead of turning down the patient and saying, “Come back when you’ve lost some weight,” PHPS offers a Medical Weight Management Program (MWMP) that provides structure and lifestyle coaching for patients to decrease their BMI. Not only does this increase business by keeping a patient who would otherwise be lost, but it helps build a rapport with patients that makes them feel more at ease on their surgery day. Reasonable expectations are managed over time, resulting in much happier patients. The Benefits

Being as close to their goal weight before an elective plastic surgery procedure typically correlates to better final results for the patient. While plastic surgery can remove excess skin and fat, it does not change the patient’s frame or muscle definition. Working on these things prior to surgery gives the plastic surgeon a solid base for optimal body contouring. Patient willingness to invest time and commit to the MWMP likely translates into compliance postoperatively, and patients are given tools to make healthy lifestyle changes that maintain their results in the long-term. You’re Not Alone: Resources to Consider

If this type of growth sounds intimidating, don’t fret! There are bountiful resources to help! Two of the most practical and informative tools available are the American IV Association and BuildMyHealth. The American IV Association (AIVA) is a resource for anyone who is considering adding IV hydration therapy to their practice or starting their own IV hydration therapy business. BuildMyHealth is a platform that can be integrated into your current website to allow potential patients to check pricing for services online. Patients add the services that they’re interested in to their “wishlist” and a price estimate gets emailed to them immediately. Furthermore, patient information is collected when they are checking pricing, which builds a database of potential patients for the practice to market to.

The converse can happen, as well. Patients may discover the practice through the MWMP and depending on how much fat is lost and excess skin a patient has once they reach their goal weight, they may consider additionl treatments to maximize their results. Therefore, one side of the practice is feeding a market demographic to the other.

Furthermore, a MWMP fuels the need for vitamin therapy, including B-12, B complex, and Lipo-C injections. Consider offering a discount on injections to patients who are currently enrolled in the MWMP. Among other things, these services both increase a patient’s metabolism and energy levels—the perfect supplement for a MWMP that also creates a new revenue stream for the practice. Vitamin therapy attracts a much larger market. Patients who are not quite ready to commit to a full MWMP or plastic surgery may be interested in less invasive procedures, such as vitamin injections. These services become a less intimidating way for patients meet the staff, discover the practice, and learn about other potential services.

Let’s Talk Drips

Vitamin B-12 and Vitamin B complex are two of the original ingredients in the famous Myer’s Cocktail. While the Myer’s Cocktail has proven to be an effective treatment for a wide range of clinical conditions, in the realm of plastic surgery, there are two important categories: aesthetics and recovery post-surgery. Also the Rapid Recovery contains vitamins, minerals, and medications to help post-op patients during their recovery period, including vitamin C and reglan. Not only does vitamin C support the immune system and decrease the risk of post-surgical infections, but it is also required to make collagen, which aids in healing of surgical incisions. Reglan addresses post-op nausea and constipation. On the other hand, the Diva is designed to improve skin health and prevent wrinkles with ingredients such as glutathione and biotin. Glutathione improves overall skin complexion by brightening skin tone and reducing dark spots. Biotin makes hair and nails strong and healthy.

These two specific IV hydration cocktails are geared to patients who are interested in plastic surgery and aesthetics. However, creating other IV hydration cocktails will fill different needs and, therefore, widen the prospective market to help drive patients into the practice.

Our Conclusions

While that does sound like a lot of work for a plastic surgery / aesthetic practice it doesn’t have to be! So, what’s the benefit? First, your practice becomes a full-service suite, which sets your practice apart from others. Patients can conveniently visit one location for various needs. Second, there are more touch points to get to know the patient, build trust, and set them up for success. Regardless of the type of appointment a patient has, they will be seeing the same staff. The ability to nurture these relationships translates into happier patients who are more likely to return for other non-surgical services in the future, such as neuromodulators , fillers, IV therapy, or vitamin shots. Lastly, by offering a wider variety of services, the market demographic for potential patients increases. While the end goal for a potential patient may be to book a surgical procedure, you now have multiple sales funnels to reach that goal.

About: Jan Ramiro, BSN, RN. Perioperative Nurse at Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery IV Hydration Therapy Specialist at Dr. Bae’s Health and Wellness Lounge Member, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses; ACLS and PALS certified Paid contractor for AIVA, providing training and consulting services on a part time basis

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