Breast surgery is a major life choice, and you’ll want to be thoroughly apprised of what you’re getting into before you go under the knife. Here are some questions to ask about breast surgery when you talk with your surgeon during your consultation. Get answers to these questions before you schedule your surgery.
Find out first whether this surgeon is the right surgeon for you. Is he or she certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the regional equivalent? How many times has the surgeon performed this particular surgery, and how much experience does he or she have with surgery in general? Find out not only about the surgeon, but also the surgical team. Ask the surgeon for details about the surgery—where it would be performed and when, how long it would take, and what kind of anesthesia you will be under. Sometimes there is a choice, so ask about all the options and the risks associated with each. Also ask if there are any other risks or complications to breast surgery that you should know about. Find out how many of the surgeon’s past patients as a percentage experienced complications, and if possible, find out what types of complications there were and why they occurred.
See if the surgeon can show you some breast surgery before and after photos for his or her past patients, and also ask if you can call up any of them as references to learn more information on the surgeon and the experience as a whole.
If at this point you’re still interested in using this surgeon, ask about the pricing breakdown. If you are satisfied with that information, you can call the references provided and find out more. Once you’ve satisfied yourself with their responses, you can then take the next step in the process and schedule your surgery.
