QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK THE DOCTOR BEFORE UNDERGOING ANY PROCEDURE

1. What is the procedure and how is it performed? Surprisingly, many physicians try to schedule you for a procedure without telling you what they are going to do to you. If incisions are to be made, you may want to know where they will be placed, how visible they will be, and if there is any chance of nerve damage. Also, what is the doctor going to do on the inside once the incisions are made?

a. Will that change the way my face moves (expression)?
b. What will be removed?
c. How will it feel?

If machines that use ultrasonics or laser are to be used:

a. Exactly how do they work?
b. Will the laser be used as a cutting instrument or for surface burning?

2. How many or these procedures has the doctor performed? When contemplating a cosmetic procedure (or any medical procedure) you want a very experienced physician. These procedures can be complicated and difficult to perform well. As a doctor does more procedures, he not only gets better at the procedure but he gets safer too. Most doctors would not have any medical procedure performed on themselves or their family members unless the treating doctor has experience on at least 500 patients.

3. What are the possible complications?

a. Also, what is his personal rate or occurrence of these complications?
b. Has the doctor experienced any of these complications?
c. What can be done if they occur?
d. What is the worst possible scenario/complication?

4. If you are trying to decide between two different procedures:

a. What are the advantages of this procedure (B)?
b. Do you feel it is more effective and why?
c. Do you feel it is safer and why?
d. How do their possible complication compare?

5. Who is going to perform the procedure? Some doctors have assistants; other doctors, doctors in training, or nurses who perform part or all of their procedures. This is particularly true with liposuction procedures.

6. What exactly will I be going through during the immediate post-op period and during the next week or two of healing? How will I be bandaged and what discomforts can I expect?

7. What will my immediate post-op appearance be like and how soon can i resume normal activities, work, and travel?

8. Is any aftercare offered during the healing time or am I on my own? If it is offered, what will it cost and who will be doing it?

9. Very Important: Does the doctor have a referral list for you? Do not accept excuses like patient confidentially. Any doctor who has performed a number of procedures on satisfied patients should be able to provide you an ample referral list. He should also be able to provide 2or3 happy patients you could actually meet with should you desire.

10. What type of anesthesia will be used?

11. What happens if you are unsatisfied with your surgery/procedure? Is there a routine way of fixing problems and what will it cost?

12. Could I see some examples (pictures) of your work? If the doctor is well experienced he should be able to provide numerous examples, of his work as well as some examples that are very similar to your case and problem.