Rohrich, R. J. (1999). Streamlining cosmetic surgery patient selection-Just say no!! Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 104(1), 220-221.

ABSTRACT. This article is brief and to the point. According to Dr. Rohrich, the major determinant for uniformly successful cosmetic surgery is proper patient selection. He credits Dr. Mark Gorney with the following acronyms: "SIMON" warns of potential problems in the Single, Immature Male who is Overly expectant and Narcissistic. SYLVIA describes the female patient who is a Secure, Young Listener who is Verbal, Intelligent, and Attractive. The SYLVIA patients tend to do much better after cosmetic surgery (Gorney, 1988). Dr. Rohrich also recognizes the work of Dr. R. Goldwyn in his book The Patient and The Plastic Surgeon where Dr. Goldwyn lists patients to avoid. The bottom line according to Dr. Rohrich, "trust your judgment; good judgment usually comes from bad experiences. Remember, you can just say no!!"

COMMENTS. This is a quick easy read, but it sends a powerful message. Listen to your gut and trust your judgment. We as nurses are not the decision makers as to who will have the surgery, but sometimes you may need to wave the red flag in your boss's face. The boss may see or delight in the challenge that a patient presents, but if you sense that the challenge is not worth the headache, or the potential for problems in the long run, speak up and at least express your thoughts. I like the acronyms, they could serve as a useful tool in a quick assessment.

SK

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