Cosmetic Surgery Consultation Questions to Ask Your Doctor

The best questions to ask during a consultation with a plastic surgeon include: What are the complications associated with this procedure? How are charges for complications or revisions handled in your practice? How many of these procedures have you performed? Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery? Is the surgical facility certified by AAAASF (American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities)? And don't be afraid to ask for references from other... more

The consultation process has many aspects. The most important is that does the doctor and staff communicate clearly and are you comfortable with how you are treated. The patient should be comfortable in communicating their needs and objectives to the surgeon, and the surgeon should then provide a honest evaluation of the procedure(s) that can be performed and the degree of improvement that a patient can expect. At the end of the initial consultation, the patient should know: The... more

There is endless information about plastic surgery available online, some of it helpful, some of it hogwash. Many patients learn about treatment options and narrow their search for a plastic surgeon with the help of their computer. And then they make one or two or more appointments, and on the basis of these encounters decide on a surgeon. Some patients already have a particular plastic surgeon in mind, based on the recommendation of satisfied patients or the surgeon's reputation... more

1. What are your credentials and training experience?Patients are often referred to a surgeon by word of mouth; so, it is important to know what qualifies the surgeon to perform your procedure. Ask your surgeon if he/she is “board certified” in plastic surgery. ASPS Member Surgeons are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and are trained specifically in plastic surgery. They operate only in accredited medical facilities, adhere to a strict code of ethics and... more

It is very important when going in to a plastic surgical consultation to think through what questions you have and what information you need to learn to receive the maximum benefit from the visit. Having a written list can be helpful in organizing these questions and can assure that all are answered. Key points in my opinion are: Make sure your visit will include significant time with the doctor, not just one of the staff. Be certain the doctor is American Board of Plastic... more