Consultation Checklist: Questions to Bring

Print this page or save it to your phone and bring it to every consultation. Tick each question as you ask it, and write the answer down before you leave. A surgeon who welcomes thorough questions is giving you useful information about the practice, not just about the procedure.

Print-friendly: every item below is a checkbox you can tick on paper. Bring a pen and leave space for notes beside each section.

The consultation itself

What does the consultation fee cover, and is any of it applied to the surgical fee if I book?
Will I meet the operating surgeon, or a coordinator first?
How long is the consultation, and how can I ask follow-up questions afterward?
What should I bring: medication list, reference photos, prior records?
Will I leave with a written summary and an itemized quote to review at home?
How many follow-up visits are included, and what do they cover?
Who is my contact between consultation and surgery day, and how do I reach them?

Experience with your exact procedure

How often do you perform this exact procedure?
How many patients with similar anatomy and goals have you treated?
What is your revision rate for this procedure?
What complications have you seen with it, and how did you handle them?
What are the most serious risks, how likely is each, and what would you do if each happened?
Am I a good candidate for this procedure, and why or why not?
Is there a less invasive alternative that could meet my goal?

Before-and-after photos

Can I see photos of your own patients with similar anatomy and goals?
Are the photos unretouched, with consistent lighting, distance, background, and angles?
Can I see results photographed well after surgery, once swelling has settled?
Do you have photos of average results, not only your best cases?
Can I speak with a previous patient who had this procedure?

Total cost and what the quote includes

What is the total quote, itemized: surgeon, anesthesia, facility, tests, garments, medications, follow-up visits?
What is NOT included in this quote?
Is the quote in writing, and how long is it valid?
What drives the price up or down in my case?
If I combine procedures, how does the total change versus having them separately?
What would a revision cost, and what would treatment for a complication cost?
What is the deposit, is it refundable, and what happens if I postpone or cancel?

Paying for surgery

What payment options do you accept, and when is full payment due?
Do you offer an in-house payment plan, and what are its written terms?
If a financing plan is advertised as interest-free for a period, what happens if the balance is not cleared in that period?
What is the total I would repay, including interest and fees, not just the monthly payment?
Can I take the financing paperwork home before signing?

Facility and anesthesia safety

Where will the surgery be performed, and is the facility accredited, and by which body?
Do you hold hospital privileges for this exact procedure, and at which hospital?
Who provides anesthesia, and what are their qualifications?
What emergency equipment and protocols are in place at the facility?
What happens if I need hospital care during or after surgery?

Recovery and time off

What is a realistic recovery timeline for this procedure?
How much time off work should I plan?
When can I drive, exercise, lift, and return to normal activities?
What help will I need at home in the first days?
What garments, dressings, or supplies will I need, and are they included?

Scarring

Where will scars be placed, and how visible are they likely to be?
How do scars typically change over the first year?
What can I do to support good scar healing?
What options exist if a scar heals poorly?

If something goes wrong

What is your revision policy, and what does a revision cost?
Who pays for treatment if a complication occurs?
How quickly can I reach you after hours if I am worried?
What symptoms should prompt an urgent call versus waiting for a routine visit?

Implants, where relevant

Which implant options suit my anatomy and goals, and why?
How long do implants typically last, and what does replacement involve?
What are the signs of rupture or other implant problems?
What is the plan if I later want the implants removed or exchanged?

Red flags and pressure

Is there any reason I must book today to keep this quote or these terms?
Can I take time to think and seek a second opinion?
Are the risks and limitations explained as clearly as the benefits?

Second opinions

Would you support me getting a second opinion before deciding?
If another surgeon recommended a different approach, how would you explain the difference?

Traveling for surgery

If I travel for surgery, how long must I stay nearby afterward?
Who handles follow-up care once I return home?
What happens if a complication arises after I have traveled home?

Insurance: reconstructive versus cosmetic

Could any part of my procedure qualify as reconstructive rather than cosmetic?
Will the practice submit a prior authorization request?
What documentation would support a claim of medical necessity?
If coverage is denied, what is the appeals process, and what would I owe if the appeal fails?

Deciding

What is the single most important thing I should weigh before deciding?
What would make you advise me NOT to have this procedure?
What do I need to do before surgery day: tests, medications to pause, lifestyle changes?

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