But the real damage occurs if trust, hope, or communications breakdown. Problems, or failure to meet expectations, may alter attitudes. Four major attitude impediments to the reconstructive process include The Patient Fallacy, The Surgeon Fallacy, The Karma Fallacy, and The Fiscal Fallacy. Let's examine briefly each one. The Patient Fallacy is typified by a patient who wants all the scars removed, Hollywood-style.
Expectations are unrealistic, given our current technologies.
It's an inflated expectation of what is possible with reconstructive surgery. If expectations are not realistic, any reconstructive effort is doomed to failure. When I encounter this Fallacy in my practice, I reaffirm to my patients what I've learned by helping many burned people over the past several years. First, there is a God. Second, I'm not Him.