(Newswire.net — September 19, 2019) — Patients who ask more plastic surgery consultation questions during their consultation end up satisfied with the result. Before meeting a potential surgeon, there are important questions you should ask. The questions will help you decide if the surgery is necessary and guarantee your safety.
Plastic Surgery Consultation Questions
The professional must be a board-certified plastic surgeon-asking if they are will assure you that they know what they are doing. Asking how many times a surgeon has performed a procedure may sound rude but it is very important. You want to be assured that the surgery will be successful and what better way is there than to know your plastic surgeon has done it countless times successfully? The anesthesia they use, who will administer it and your recovery process is information you need before the surgery. Do not forget to ask about the total cost of the entire procedure based on the type of surgery you want.
Are You a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon?
To be a certified plastic surgeon, one must have completed three years of integrated residency training in general surgery and plastic surgery. The other option involves completing a residency program in general surgery that lasts five years followed by a 3-year plastic surgery residency program. To verify if the plastic surgeon is certified, you can run their name on the American Board of Plastic Surgery’s (ABPS) website and do additional research on their website and online.
How Many Times Have You Performed this Procedure?
If a plastic surgeon has performed the procedure numerous times, there are fewer chances that the results will be botched. Ask to see before and after photos of past clients who have undergone the same procedure you want. This will give you a deeper insight into their work and also help you decide if they are the best option for you. While on the same question, it is important to know how many times the procedure will require you to be under the knife. Some surgeries require different procedures done at intervals.
What Anesthesia Will I Receive and Who Will Administer It?
All anesthesia is considered safe when provided by a certified anesthetist. Local anesthesia is usually used if the surgeon needs to communicate with you during the surgery while general anesthesia is used on complex procedures. Others like regional anesthesia and IV sedation may be used. The person who will administer it should be a certified registered nurse anesthetist or a board certified anesthesiologist. Regardless of the type of anesthesia the plastic surgeon recommends, having a professional administer it will assure safety.
What is the Recovery Process for this Type of Procedure?
Depending on the procedure you want done whether it be breast surgery or something else, it is important to know the approximate recovery time. This will help you schedule your activities. It will also help you decide if you can have the procedure done immediately or reschedule it. Knowing what to avoid in terms of physical restrictions and if a change of diet and foods you can eat will be necessary is also part of this question. You can ask if there is an alternative procedure if the recovery process for the intended one proves to be too much to handle.
What is the Total Cost of the Surgery?
There is more to the cost of the entire procedure than the surgeon’s fee. Other fees like anesthesia fee, OR fee and others can greatly affect the total fees. Get a written total to help you decide if you will go ahead with the procedure.
Bottom Line
Asking all these plastic surgery consultation questions will give you a better idea of what to expect and how to go about it. Do not be afraid to ask for more information where you did not understand. Knowing the risks involved in a procedure and the success rate will also help you decide if it is really necessary.