Consultation Checklist

The consultation itself: what it includes, and what to ask

• What does the consultation fee cover, and is any of it applied to the cost of surgery if I book?
• Will I meet the surgeon who would operate on me, or will I meet a coordinator first?
• How long is the consultation, and can I ask follow-up questions afterward if I think of more?
• What should I bring — a medication list, reference photos, prior records?
• Will I leave with a written summary and an itemized quote I can review at home?
• How many follow-up visits are included in the price, and what do they cover?
• Who is my contact between the 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 like me — similar anatomy, similar 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 three worst things that can happen with this operation, 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?

Before-and-after photos: how to judge them

• Can I see before-and-after photos of your own patients with similar anatomy and goals?
• Are these photos unretouched, with the same lighting, distance, background, and angles?
• Can I see results photographed well after surgery, once swelling has settled — not only early results?
• 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: what a quote should include

• What is the total quote, itemized — surgeon, anesthesia, facility, pre-op tests, garments, medications, and 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 — anatomy, technique, facility, combined procedures?
• If I combine procedures, how does the total change compared with having them separately?
• What would a revision cost, and what would treatment for a complication cost me?

Paying for surgery

• What payment options do you accept, and when is payment due in full?
• Do you work with third-party medical financing, and which companies?
• If a plan is advertised as no-interest for a promotional period, what happens if the balance is not paid in full within that period?
• What is the total I would repay, including interest and fees — not just the monthly payment?

Facility and anesthesia safety

• Where will the surgery be performed, and is the facility accredited — and by which accrediting body?
• Do you have hospital privileges for this exact procedure, and at which hospital?
• Who will administer anesthesia, and what are their credentials?
• Will I meet the anesthesia provider before surgery?
• What is the emergency plan if something goes wrong during surgery, and how quickly can I be transferred to a hospital?
• Will I stay overnight, and where?

Recovery and time off work

• How much time off work should I plan, for my kind of job — desk work, physical work, lifting, public-facing work?
• When can I drive, lift, exercise, and return to full activity?
• What will recovery feel like as it progresses, and when will I see something close to the final result?
• Will I have drains, and when do they come out?
• What garments or supplies will I need, and are they included in the quote?
• How many post-operative visits are included, and what happens at each?
• What warning signs mean I should call right away rather than wait for the next visit?

Scarring

• Where will the scars be, and what pattern will they follow for my procedure?
• How do scars typically change over the months after surgery?
• What scar care do you recommend, and what should I avoid — including sun exposure?
• What do you do during surgery to keep scarring as discreet as possible?

If something goes wrong: revisions and complications

• What is your revision policy — what qualifies for revision, what does it cost, and within what timeframe?
• If I am unhappy with the result but nothing went wrong medically, what are my options?
• How are complications handled, and who pays for complication care?
• Who can I reach after hours, at night, or on weekends if something feels wrong?
• What is your infection rate for this procedure, and how are infections treated?
• If I need a revision, would you be the surgeon doing it?

Implants: choices and longevity

• Which implant type and placement do you recommend for me, and why does it fit my tissue and goals?
• How long do implants typically last, and what monitoring or imaging do you recommend over time?
• What signs mean an implant may need attention — rupture, firmness, shape change, pain?
• If I want my implants removed later, with or without replacement, what does that involve?
• How do weight changes, pregnancy, or aging typically affect the result over time?

Second opinions

• Should I get a second opinion, and would you be comfortable if I did?
• If another surgeon recommends a different approach, how should I compare the two plans?
• Why do you recommend this procedure over the alternatives — including doing nothing, or a non-surgical option?
• What would make you tell me NOT to have this surgery?

Traveling for surgery

• How long should I stay in the area after surgery before traveling home?
• When am I cleared to fly, and what should I know about flying after surgery?
• If I recover in a hotel room or a recovery center, who checks on me, how often, and what medical experience do they have?
• Should I bring a companion, and what would they need to do for me in the first days?
• Who handles follow-up care once I am home, and who do I call if a problem appears after I leave?
• If a complication arises after I am home, do I return to you or see someone local — and who pays for that care?

Insurance: reconstructive vs. cosmetic

• Is this procedure ever covered by insurance, and what makes a case medically necessary rather than cosmetic?
• What documentation would my insurer need — symptoms, prior treatments, letters from treating clinicians?
• Do you work with my insurer, and will you seek prior authorization in writing before surgery is scheduled?
• If coverage is approved, what would I still owe — deductible, copay, facility fees?
• If coverage is denied, what is the appeal process, and can the submission be strengthened and resubmitted?
• Does my plan require a minimum amount of tissue removal, a body-size threshold, or other criteria I should know about?