Consult Clarification

You’re smart. You’ve made it this far – done your research, weeded the “ehhh” doctors out, scheduled several consultations.

 And here you are – in a reputable, board-certified surgeon’s office, waiting for the doctor to see you. But what do you ask? How do you differentiate between the top three or four in the specialty? Their level of experience is about the same, they all have great reviews, happy patients, lots of before and after photos, fees in line with each other. Here are a few questions that may help you make that final decision.

• Are you Board-Certified? By what board?
• How many years have you been performing this specific procedure?
• How many of this specific procedure have you performed?
• How many procedures do you perform a day?
• Where will my procedure be performed?
• If in-office, what type of accreditation does the surgical suite have?
• Am I a good candidate for this procedure? Why?
• Are my expectations in line with your anticipated results?
• What type of anesthesia will I require?
• What are the risks associated with this procedure?
• How are complications handled?
• What facilities do you have privileges at?
• Will I require pre-op clearance or bloodwork?
• What is the recovery timeline for this procedure?
• How do you handle follow up and when will I need to be seen again?
• When can I expect my final results?
• Do you have before and after photos of case similar to mine?
• Can I speak to patients that have had similar procedures?

NOTE: I am a firm believer in vibe. Sometimes, when you have done your due diligence and it’s between two top docs, you go with your gut feeling. Remember, choosing a plastic surgeon is essentially starting a relationship. From the consultation process to the pre-op appointments, the procedure, the post-op care and subsequent appointments – your surgeon will be a part of all of it. You have to like and, most importantly, trust the person.