Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon
For anyone sitting down with a plastic or cosmetic surgeon, for any procedure, who wants to decide on facts before paying a deposit. The list follows the consultation: the surgeon's training and record, the plan for your body, risks and safety on the day, recovery, the full cost, and what to settle before you book. Each question has a note on what a good or a worrying answer sounds like, and none of it is medical advice.
The questions
Each question, and why to ask it
The surgeon
Which board certified you, and is that certification in plastic surgery?
Why ask it
Certifying boards and protected titles differ by country, and some certificates with similar names cover other specialties. Note the board's full name and search for the surgeon on that board's own website, which is a better check than the practice's. A good answer comes quickly, with the name spelled out.
How many times have you done this exact procedure in the past year?
Why ask it
A number, even a rough one, is a good sign, and 'lots' is not a number. If the figure is small, ask what they operate on most, because that shows where the practice is really centered.
Where did you train for this operation, and how long have you been doing it?
Why ask it
A residency or fellowship in the specialty is different from a short course in one technique, so listen for which it was and where. Newer surgeons can be very good. What you are checking is whether the account is straight, not whether it is long.
Do you have privileges to perform this procedure at a hospital near here?
Why ask it
Where hospitals vet a surgeon before letting them operate, privileges for this same procedure are an outside check, even if yours will be done elsewhere. Get the hospital's name and confirm it with the hospital. 'I don't need them' deserves a follow-up about why not.
Have you ever been disciplined by a medical board, or had your license restricted?
Why ask it
It feels rude to ask, and a surgeon with nothing to hide answers it without fuss. How much of a doctor's record is public depends on where you live, so find out whether there is a license lookup or register and check that as well.
Do you carry malpractice insurance that covers this procedure?
Why ask it
Whether a surgeon has to be insured, and whether a patient can confirm it, differs by state and country, so ask how it works where they practice. An insured surgeon says yes in a word. A long explanation of why they go without is worth weighing, most of all if you are traveling for the surgery.
Will you perform the whole operation yourself?
Why ask it
In teaching hospitals and larger practices, trainees or assistants may do part of the work. That need not be a problem, but you should hear who does which step, and you can say that you want the surgeon you chose to do the main part.
The plan
Now that you have examined me, am I a good candidate for this procedure?
Why ask it
Listen for reasons that come from you: your skin, your anatomy, your health, your weight history. A yes that arrives before any exam or medical history is a sales answer.
How exactly would you do it in my case, and why that technique over the others?
Why ask it
Most operations can be done more than one way, with different incisions, scars and recovery times. You are not there to judge the technique. What you can judge is whether the reason given is about your body or about what this surgeon always does, and the name of the method is worth jotting down for a second opinion.
What are my other options, including a smaller procedure, a non-surgical treatment or leaving things as they are?
Why ask it
Hearing the alternatives tells you why this operation was picked over them. Be wary if the only option on the table is the most expensive one, and equally if you are offered a lesser treatment that cannot do what you came for.
What result is realistic for me, and what will this surgery not change?
Why ask it
The second half is where the useful answer is. Hearing that an asymmetry will remain, or that the skin will not tighten, means the surgeon is describing your result and not the brochure's.
Can I see before-and-after photos of your own patients who started out looking like me?
Why ask it
Check that the 'after' shots match the 'before' in lighting and pose, and find out how long after surgery each was taken. Three comparable cases tell you more than a wall of the practice's best work, and having none to show is an answer too.
Can you show me a result you were not satisfied with, and tell me what you did about it?
Why ask it
Anyone who operates for long enough has a few. One who can show a so-so outcome and explain the fix is being straight with you, and 'that doesn't happen here' is the reply to worry about.
Where will the scars be, and what do they usually look like after a year?
Why ask it
Have the lines drawn on you or on a diagram, and look at photos of healed scars, not just fresh ones. Mention any thick or raised scars you have had before, since that history changes the conversation.
How long should the result last, and what could undo it?
Why ask it
Aging, weight change and pregnancy alter many results, and some treatments have to be repeated to keep their effect. Whatever upkeep the surgeon describes for year five and year ten belongs in your budget alongside the quote.
Will anything be left in my body afterward, such as an implant, mesh or filler, and what should I know about it?
Why ask it
If the answer is yes, get the maker and the model in writing and keep it with your records. You will want it if the product is ever recalled, or if a different surgeon treats you years from now. The maker's warranty, and who pays for a replacement or a removal, are the two follow-ups.
If you show me a simulation or a marked-up photo, how closely should I expect the real result to match it?
Why ask it
Treat the image as a shared sketch of the goal. A careful surgeon tells you unprompted where real tissue will fall short of the software. Keep a copy, so that months later you are both remembering the same picture.
Is there anything in my health, my medications or my habits that makes this riskier for me?
Why ask it
Give the whole list: prescriptions, supplements, nicotine in any form, alcohol, past trouble with anesthesia or bleeding. The surgeon can only plan around what they have been told, so the uncomfortable details are the ones worth saying.
Would you do everything in one operation, or split it into stages?
Why ask it
Combining procedures can mean one recovery instead of two, and it also means a longer time on the table. Find out how many hours they are planning and at what point they would rather stop and come back another day.
Is there any reason you would ask me to wait, or tell me not to have this done?
Why ask it
Surgeons who sometimes say no have standards for saying yes. If you are planning a pregnancy, still losing weight or going through a hard stretch in your life, say so here and see whether the advice changes.
Risks and safety
Will the operation be in a hospital, a surgery center or an office operating room, and who inspects it?
Why ask it
Rules for accrediting and licensing operating rooms depend on where you live, so get the name of the body that inspects this one and look it up. 'We meet all the standards' with no name attached does not count.
Who will give the anesthesia, and what are that person's qualifications?
Why ask it
You are hoping for a trained anesthesia professional who stays with you throughout and has no other job in the room. Who may do this varies by place, so find out how it works there, and request a conversation with that person beforehand if anesthesia has gone badly for you or a close relative.
What type of anesthesia will I have, and how long will I be under it?
Why ask it
General anesthesia, sedation and local numbing differ in risk, in cost and in how you feel that evening. If there is a choice, have the surgeon explain which one they normally use for this procedure and what would make them switch.
What are the common complications of this procedure, and which are the serious ones?
Why ask it
You want two short lists: what happens fairly often and is usually manageable, and what is rare but dangerous. Be more wary of a surgeon who says there are no real risks than of one who takes five minutes over them.
How often have your own patients had those complications?
Why ask it
Published averages and one surgeon's record are separate things. Someone who tracks their outcomes can give a rough count for the last few years, and a shrug tells you nobody is counting.
How often do patients of yours come back for a touch-up or revision of this procedure?
Why ask it
Some revisions are a normal part of any surgical practice, so a claim of none at all is less believable than a modest figure. The reasons are as useful as the rate: healing, a change of mind about size or shape, or something the first operation missed.
If something goes wrong during surgery, what is the emergency plan and which hospital would I be taken to?
Why ask it
A good answer is specific: the equipment and trained staff on site, the named hospital, how you would get there and who would treat you on arrival. 'We have never needed one' is not a plan.
What do you routinely do to lower the risk of infection and blood clots?
Why ask it
The reply should sound like a routine the team follows for every patient, not something made up on the spot. Then ask what your share of it is, before the day and in the first week.
What do I have to stop, change or have tested before surgery, and how far ahead?
Why ask it
Instructions often cover nicotine, certain medications and supplements, and tests or a sign-off from your own doctor, but the list and the timing are your surgeon's to give. Get it on paper with dates, and check with whoever prescribed a medicine before you stop taking it.
Recovery
What will I feel and look like in the first few days?
Why ask it
Swelling, bruising, tightness and tiredness vary a great deal from one procedure to the next, so press for the plain version. Knowing in advance what day three looks like keeps you from mistaking ordinary healing for a disaster.
Will I go home the same day, and does someone need to stay with me?
Why ask it
Many practices have firm rules about a ride home and an adult in the house that first night, and some will not operate without them. Settle who that person is before you pick a date, especially if you live alone or look after someone else.
When can I go back to work, drive, exercise and lift things?
Why ask it
Describe your real job and your real week: the lifting, the commute, the toddler, the gym. Get the usual range and the slow end of it, then book time off for the slow end.
How will pain be managed, and what will I be prescribed?
Why ask it
Have them walk you through the first few days: what you take, how often, and who you call if it is not holding. If you would rather avoid a certain kind of painkiller, or have had problems with one, say so now, before the prescription is written.
Will I have drains, dressings, stitches or a compression garment to look after?
Why ask it
Each of these is a small job you or a helper will do at home, sometimes for weeks. Find out who teaches you, whether garments and supplies are in the price, and when each item comes off or out.
When will I see the final result, and what will it look like along the way?
Why ask it
Results often look worse before they look better, and the middle weeks are when people panic. A timeline in weeks and months, with photos of the in-between stages if the surgeon has them, makes that stretch easier to sit through.
Which symptoms mean I should call you immediately, and which are normal?
Why ask it
Leave with a short written list for each side, since you will not remember it while groggy. Give a copy to whoever is looking after you, because they may be the one who notices.
If I call at night or on a weekend, who answers, and can they reach you?
Why ask it
A direct line to the surgeon, or to a covering doctor who knows your case, is the answer you are hoping for. If the reply is to go to an emergency room, ask whether the surgeon would be told and would see you there.
How many follow-up visits will I have, and will they be with you?
Why ask it
The schedule shows how long the practice stays involved after it has been paid. Check whether those visits are in the price and what happens if you need extra ones.
Cost
What is the total price, in writing, with every fee listed?
Why ask it
An itemized quote names the surgeon's fee, anesthesia, the facility, any implants or materials, garments, medications, tests and follow-up visits. A figure that covers only the surgeon can be a long way short of what you end up paying.
What could make the final bill higher than this quote?
Why ask it
Typical answers are a longer operation than planned, an overnight stay, lab work on removed tissue or extra supplies. Ask how each would be charged, and how long the quote stays valid.
Could any part of this be covered by insurance, and who finds out?
Why ask it
Coverage for surgery with a medical or reconstructive purpose depends on your plan and your country. Even if the office offers to check, call the insurer yourself and get the answer in writing before you rely on it.
If I have a complication, who pays for treating it?
Why ask it
Nobody plans on a complication, which is why this one gets left out. Whether ordinary health insurance pays for problems after a cosmetic procedure depends on the policy and on where you live, so put the question to the practice and to your insurer. Some practices sell or include separate complication coverage, and its exclusions are worth reading.
If I am unhappy with the result or need a revision, which fees would I pay again, and how long does that offer last?
Why ask it
Revision terms differ from practice to practice: one may charge nothing for the surgeon's time and still bill for the operating room and the anesthesia, and many set a deadline. Have the terms added to your paperwork, along with who decides whether a revision is warranted.
What are your terms for deposits, cancellations and changing the date?
Why ask it
Get these in writing before any money changes hands. Three cases to cover: you change your mind, you fall ill the week before, and the practice itself postpones.
What payment plans or financing do you offer, and what does the financing cost in total?
Why ask it
Medical financing is a loan, however it is presented at the front desk. Get the interest rate, what happens when a promotional period ends and the total you would repay, then compare that with borrowing elsewhere or waiting until you have saved.
Before you book
Can I take a few weeks to decide, and will the price or the date change if I do?
Why ask it
'Of course' is the right answer. A discount that expires today, or a push to leave a deposit before you go home, is a reason to slow down.
Would you be comfortable with me getting a second opinion?
Why ask it
Surgeons who are sure of their plan agree easily, and some will tell you what to ask the next one. When you have both opinions, compare the recommendations before the prices, and if they differ, ask each surgeon why.
Can I talk to a former patient who had this same procedure with you?
Why ask it
Practices choose who they put forward, so use the call for practical detail and not as a verdict: what the first week was like, how easy the office was to reach, what surprised them. Read reviews on sites the practice does not control as well.
Can I take the consent form and aftercare instructions home to read before I commit?
Why ask it
The morning of surgery, in a waiting room, is too late to ask anything about them. A practice that hands them over early expects informed patients, and whatever you do not follow becomes your list for the next call.
What do you need from me to get the best result?
Why ask it
This turns the conversation around and usually brings out the things patients underrate: a steady weight, no nicotine, keeping the follow-up visits, patience with swelling. It also shows the surgeon you plan to hold up your end.
Is there anything I have not asked that you think I should know?
Why ask it
Save it for the end. Thoughtful surgeons use it to raise what people in your position tend to miss, and a quick 'no, that's everything' after a ten-minute visit tells you how much attention you were given.
Getting straight answers at a plastic surgery consultation
Practical guidance for the conversation itself
Before the consultation
Check the credentials at home
Look the surgeon up before you go: the certifying board named on their website, the license register if your country or state publishes one, and the hospital or surgery center where they operate. Then the appointment can go to the questions only the surgeon can answer.
Write down what bothers you, in your own words
One or two sentences on what you want changed and why now. Surgeons plan from the complaint, not from the name of a procedure, and you may hear that a different operation, or none, fits it better.
Bring a few photos, and say what you like in each
Two or three pictures of results you like, and one you do not, are plenty. Point to the specific thing in each. A photo of another person shows a direction, and the surgeon should tell you how far your own starting point lets you go.
Bring your medical history
List your conditions, past operations, medications, supplements, allergies and any trouble with anesthesia in your family. Include nicotine and anything else you might be tempted to leave out. The surgeon's answers about risk are only as good as this list.
Ask about the consultation itself when you book
Find out whether there is a fee, whether it comes off the price if you go ahead, how long the appointment is and whether you will meet the surgeon or a coordinator. If you would not meet the person who operates, book somewhere you will.
During the visit
Pick your questions in advance
Nobody gets through the whole list in one appointment. Mark two or three from each group, put the safety and cost ones early so they are not squeezed out, and ask whether the rest can go by email.
Take notes, or take someone
A friend who writes while you talk will catch what you miss, and you can compare impressions on the way home. If you go alone, ask whether you may record the explanation of the plan and the risks.
Notice who does the talking
In some practices most of the visit is with a patient coordinator whose job includes booking. That person can answer questions about price and scheduling. Questions about your body, the risks and the result belong to the surgeon, and you should get enough time with them to ask.
Say the awkward ones plainly
Discipline history, complication rates and who pays if something goes wrong are fair questions to put to any surgeon. Say them in a normal voice and watch how they land. Irritation at a fair question is information.
Leave with paper
Before you go, ask for the itemized quote, the revision and cancellation terms, the name of the facility and the instructions for before surgery. What was said and what is written sometimes differ, and the written version is the one you can hold the practice to.
Comparing surgeons and deciding
See more than one
Two or three consultations for the same concern show you how much plans and prices vary, and make it easier to tell a careful answer from a smooth one. Put the same handful of questions to each so the answers line up.
Compare the plans first, then the prices
If two surgeons recommend different operations, the cheaper quote is not for the same thing. Go back and ask each why they would not do it the other way. A low price that leaves out anesthesia, the facility or aftercare is not low.
Signs to slow down
A yes before any examination. No mention of risks. A discount for booking today. A facility nobody will name. A surgeon you would not meet until the day. Any one of these is a reason to pause, and several together are a reason to leave.
If you would travel for surgery
Ask who looks after you once you are home, how long you must stay nearby before the journey back, and what happens if a problem shows up weeks later. Standards, oversight and your options if something goes wrong differ by country, so find out how they work there before you compare on price.
Give the decision some time
Sleep on it for a few nights, reread your notes and see whether your reasons still hold. An elective operation can be booked next month as easily as today, and a good practice will tell you the same.