WELCOME

Welcome! This information is designed to put you at ease by giving you as much information about our practice as possible, and to anticipate questions and needs regarding your health and appearance.

This practice specializes in facial plastic and cosmetic surgery as well as liposuction of the body. This practice also specializes in surgical and cosmetic problems associated with the nose and functional nasal disorders.

POINTS OF INFORMATION

Purpose: The cornerstone of good medical care is mutual understanding, respect, and trust. Our aim is to offer you the best and highest standards of medical care.

Office hours: Regular office hours are from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and 8:30 – 12:30 on Wednesday and Friday.

Appointments: By necessity, we must work by appointment. This gives us the opportunity to allocate time and proves to be more convenient for the patient. Unfortunately, patients do no become ill on schedule, operations do not always proceed according to schedule and emergencies do occur: hence, delays in schedule are inevitable. A sincere effort is made to adhere to the schedule when possible.

Cancellations of appointments: If you cannot keep an appointment, please try to inform us as soon as possible. This courtesy makes it possible to give the time to another patient.

Why all the paperwork? Requested personal information is a necessary part of our medical records. The information will help us at a glance obtain essential data about you. All information given to us is confidential.

Examination and treatment: Once in a private room, questions will be asked by the physician about your past medical history and details about you present concern. Give serious thought to your medical history beforehand; this will help prevent omission of important facts. The initial examination will include a complete study and discussion of the area of complaint as well as a review of your treatment plan.

Computer Imaging: Digital photography and computer imaging may be performed during your facial cosmetic and liposuction consultation. This serves as a communication tool between you and the staff and aids in having better understanding of the goals of the discussed surgery.

OFFICE POLICIES

Telephone Calls: The doctor-patient relationship is a privilege. For this reason, we do not give out information about the patients to others. We receive a large number of phone calls each day, for the doctor to leave a patient being examined for every phone call would obviously be unfair to the patient being seen. The office staff is well trained to take information from callers and relate the information to the physician. Your chart will be reviewed and Dr. Lyons will answer your questions.

An answering service is always available to answer emergency calls, during surgery and during holidays and weekends. Please limit after hour calls to emergencies only.

Telephone Numbers: For appointments, patient care, bookkeeping and insurance inquiries: 251-344-0044

Emergency Answering Service for non-office hours, weekends and holidays: 251-460-8413.

Insurance: Our insurance department exists as a courtesy for our patients. We are happy to assist you in filing a claim for surgical procedures. Insurance forms for surgery are due in the office prior to surgery with the patient’s portion completed and signed.

Fees: In general, fees charged in this office are comparable to those charged by competent specialists in this area.

It is expected that fees for office visits and minor procedures be paid at the time services are rendered. Itemized receipts will be supplied. In view of the fact that in this office we perform cosmetic facial plastic surgery, the total fees for this type surgery are paid in advance of the surgery. Surgical fees are discussed with each patient individually after evaluation. A specific period of postoperative care will be included in the charge. This includes routine treatment directly related to the surgery but not unexpected complications or unrelated conditions.

It has been our experience that the majority of insurance companies will not pay for surgical charges in full therefore, you will be required to prepay an amount that will be based on your surgical fee. Any overpayment is promptly refunded.

Summary: The cornerstone of good medical care is mutual understanding, respect and trust. Our aim is to offer you the best and highest standards of medical care. If you desire another medical surgical opinion, please do not hesitate to request one. The patient/physician relationship is unique, sacred and confidential and we shall strive to keep it that way.

Thank you for allowing us to participate in your care and welcome.

Sincerely,
Michael B. Lyons, M.D., F.A.C.S.