Questions to ask before and after surgery

When do I meet the medical oncologist, and will they have the final report and slides in advance?

If the oncologist is at another hospital or practice, records do not always travel on their own. Find out who sends them, then call the oncologist's office a few days ahead to confirm they arrived.

From: Questions to Ask Your Surgeon After a Lumpectomy

Will you go in through the front of my neck or the back, and why that way for me?

The reason should come from your scan: where the pressure sits, how many levels, the curve of your neck. The two routes tend to carry different trade-offs, the front more about swallowing and voice and the back more about sore neck muscles, so this answer tells you which of the later questions to press on.

From: Questions to Ask Before Neck Surgery

Will I lose hair in the months after surgery, and is there anything that helps?

Teams commonly warn of shedding that starts a few months in and usually describe it as temporary. It is worth hearing what this programme advises on protein while it lasts, and at what point they would want a blood test to look for another cause.

From: Questions to Ask a Bariatric Surgeon

What anesthesia or sedation are you proposing, who gives it, and how am I monitored?

Local anesthetic, sedation, and general anesthesia carry different requirements. Ask who administers it and what training they hold, what monitoring is used, whether you need someone to take you home, and how long you should not drive.

From: Questions to Ask About Dental Implants

Will this be a day case or an overnight stay, and what decides that?

Many hip procedures now go home the same day, but that depends on anaesthetic, pain control, and whether someone is with you at night. Plan for the overnight version even if a day case is expected.

From: Questions to Ask Before Hip Surgery

What will hold the tendon to the bone, and does it stay in my shoulder for good?

The usual answer is suture anchors: small implants set into the bone with stitches attached, placed in one row or two. You are not there to judge the technique. What you can use is what the anchors are made of, whether they are ever taken out, and what they mean for a later MRI of that shoulder.

From: Questions to Ask Before Rotator Cuff Surgery