How to Dress When You Go to the Doctor
/By Crystal Lindell
I always wear mascara when I go to the doctor.
In fact, every time I have a doctor’s appointment, I leave myself plenty of time beforehand to shower, curl my hair, put on a nice outfit, and do my makeup.
It may sound unrelated to medical care, but it’s worth it.
You see, there’s actually a dress code for doctor’s appointments that nobody at their office ever tells you about. Rather, you just have to figure it out on your own.
The common misconception is that you should look as sick as possible when you show up for a visit. A lot of patients assume that looking disheveled while wearing pajamas is the best way to convey just how crappy you feel. Not to mention the fact that being sick means you probably have less energy to dress nicely anyway.
But doctors are just as ableist as the rest of society, and the truth is they don’t actually like people who look too sick. In my experience, doctors will actually treat you better if you get a little bit dressed up.
Not too dressed up, obviously. You don’t want to show up in a suit and tie, or a dress. But you do want to look at least as nice as you’d look for a casual date. Showered, business casual clothes, and light makeup if you present as female.
Dressing nice conveys that you are trying to take care of yourself, and doctors like that. In essence, they want to invest their time and energy into patients who are also invested, which dressing nicely conveys.
In 2010, Consumer Reports surveyed 660 primary care physicians and found that being “respectful and courteous” was the second most important thing doctors said patients could do to get better care. 61 percent of physicians said it would help very much.
Note the word "respectful." And how doctors admitted that showing them respect leads to better care. Make no mistake, doctors very much see how you present yourself in appointments as a sign of how much you respect them.
It all makes sense, when you consider how many doctors love their own dress codes, e.g. their famous white coats, which they use to convey authority.
I know it is tempting to show up to appointments in the comfiest clothes available. I also know that it’s not always ideal to use precious time and energy to shower and pull yourself together. But it’s one of the few ways you can control how good your medical care is.
So it really is worth it to grab a nice shirt and a little mascara before you head to the doctor’s office.
