Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon

All Members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery have the proper credentials, training and certifications to perform plastic surgery. If you receive a referral or are unsure of the surgeon’s qualifications here is a general list of questions to ask:

  • Are you a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery?
  • Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada?
  • Where and how will you perform my procedure?
  • Do you have hospital privileges to perform my procedure? If so, at which hospitals?
  • Is the surgical facility accredited by a nationally or state-recognized accrediting agency, or is it state-licensed or Medicare-certified?

If you are considering surgery outside the United State or Canada, please see Guidelines for Cosmetic Surgery Abroad.

Procedure-related questions:

  • Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
  • What will be expected of me to get the best results?
  • What is the length of the recovery period, and what kind of recovery help will I need?
  • Will I need to take time off work for my recovery? If so, for how long?
  • Are there alternative procedures I could consider? What are their pros and cons?
  • Who on your staff will be performing my procedure and what are their qualifications?
  • What risks and complications are associated with my procedure and how are they handled?
  • What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the outcome?
  • Do you have before and after photos that illustrate this procedure and show results that are reasonable for me to expect?

Injectable-related questions:

  • Is the injectable procedure I have chosen sufficient for the result I am trying to achieve?
  • What can I expect in terms of swelling, discomfort, and recovery time following the injectable treatment?
  • Is the cosmetic injectable approved by the FDA?
  • If my injector is a nurse or physician’s assistant, will my plastic surgeon be on site and supervising the procedure?
  • Am I aware that injectable procedures do not provide permanent results?