Remember, you’re looking for a surgeon who’s a good fit for you, so don’t be afraid to approach this like a job interview. You could be putting your body and health at risk if you’re in the wrong hands, so it’s important you find the perfect candidate and have a deep understanding of what you can expect.
General Questions:
- Are you board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (US) or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Canada)? (If you are considering surgery outside the United States or Canada, please see plastic surgery abroad)
- Are you a member of The Aesthetic Society?
- Do you have hospital privileges to perform my procedure? If so, at which hospitals?
- Do you practice at an accredited surgical facility (accredited by a nationally or state-recognized accrediting agency, state-licensed or Medicare-certified)?
- Am I a good candidate for aesthetic plastic surgery?
- What procedure (or combination of procedures) do you recommend for me based on my desired outcome?
- What are the benefits and risks associated with those procedures?
- How many of these procedures have you performed?
- What technique will you use?
- Will you be making any incisions? If so, how many and where?
- Where will you perform my surgery or treatments?
- What do I need to do to best prepare for my procedure?
- Will I need anesthesia? If so, what kind of anesthesia do you recommend for me?
- How many surgeries or treatments will I need, and how long will each take?
- Are the results I am seeking realistic?
- Do you have before and after photos that illustrate this procedure and show results that are reasonable for me to expect?
- What do you expect of me to get the best results?
- Will I have any scars, and will they be visible?
- What risks and complications are associated with my procedure, and how are they handled?
- What kind of recovery period can I expect?
- What kind of recovery help will I need?
- Will I need to take time off work for my recovery? If so, for how long?
- When will I be able to resume normal activities?
- What are the costs associated with my procedures?
- Do you offer any financing options?
- What are my options if the outcome of my aesthetic procedure does not meet the goals we agreed on?
Injectable-Specific Questions:
- Is the injectable procedure I want sufficient for the result I am trying to achieve? Or is there another procedure you would recommend?
- What can I expect in terms of swelling, discomfort, and recovery time following the injectable treatment?
- What injectable brand do you recommend?
- Is the injectable approved by the FDA?
- If you (the aesthetic plastic surgeon) won’t be doing the injection yourself, who on your staff will be performing it and what are their qualifications? Will you be on-site and supervise the procedure?
- How many treatments will I need to get my desired results?
- How long will my injectable results last?