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Doc to offer plastic surgery consults on-line
Delray surgeon looking to implement Internet consultations for potential clients
Boca Raton News
Monday, July 21, 2003
by Aaron Shea
The Internet can be boundless.
From an opportunity to purchase one of Elvis Presley's teeth to the deep dark secrets of Hollywood's elite to dating, the World Wide Web has become the planet's source for oddities, information and interaction.
Now a Delray Beach plastic surgeon wants to offer his services to the world with on-line consultations.
Dr. Jonathan Berman is in the early stages of developing a proficient system in which potential patients can receive his expert opinion on-line without stepping foot in his office on South Military Trail.
Although the concept is not overly complex, it is relatively new. Basically, Berman said, potential patients would e-mail photos of their "problem" areas and an explanation of what their expectations are directly to him and he would then determine whether the person is a candidate for surgery. He would also use his private e-mail for follow-ups.
"Consultations can be very expensive and time consuming. It takes a lot of time to come to a plastic surgeons office," explained Berman, who performs everything from nose jobs to breast enlargements. "This is something people can do after hours and I could do after hours. I can be at home and pull up some commentaries on my laptop. I would also be more prepared when a patient comes in."
Berman, who stressed the Internet consultations would not be the final word on whether a patient is a candidate for surgery, said he came up with the concept while corresponding with several of his out of state and out of country patients by e-mail.
"I had people set up appointments from Germany," he said.
Berman said he plans to implement on-line consultation in the next two to three months.
"It's still in the virgin stages," said Berman, who is considering charging a fee for the services. "I have to discuss the legal ramifications with my attorney."
Berman could take some tips from Dr. Cory M. Lessner, president and medical director of Millennium Laser Eye Centers in Sunrise.
For the past two years, the Broward County eye center has been providing on-line consultations to potential patients.
With a comprehensive form on its Web site, www.mleye.com, Millennium, which specializes in LASIK surgery to correct vision, has on-line consultations down to a science.
Following the completion of the free consultation form, which delves into a person's eye history and some personal information, the potential patient instantaneously receives a response that determines whether a person is a laser eye surgery candidate or not.
Lessner, who is the official eye surgeon of the Miami Dolphins and Florida Panthers, said more than 1,000 eye consultation forms have been filled out sine he implemented the system.
"Nobody else has anything like this," he said. "People are too busy to come in. This way they can sit down at midnight and fill out a consultation in the privacy of their own home or office. I think there is a place in this world for cyber-medicine."
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