Questions to Ask Your Surgeon during Consultation

San Diego plastic surgeon Abhay Gupta received an overwhelming response to last month’s blog post in the rise in plastic surgery nationwide. Our practice heard from many interested men and women who want to discuss their cosmetic enhancement options with Dr. Gupta and have a consultation scheduled with him. 

To better serve these patients and anyone considering a consultation with Dr. Gupta, the doctor has compiled a list of questions to ask during consultation. Although he normally covers all of these questions in consultation, this list should give you a better idea of what to expect (and what to bring up, if needed).

Get to Know Your Plastic Surgeon

• Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
• Do you belong to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery or the American College of Surgeons?
• How long have you been in practice?
• Are you licensed to practice in California?
• Where do you have hospital privileges?

Learn More about Your Selected Procedure

• Am I a good candidate for the surgery I am interested in?
• How many times have you performed this procedure?
• Is there a less invasive or non-surgical technique that could adequately fulfill my needs?
• What techniques do you use to perform the surgery?
• Where do you perform the operation?
• What kind of anesthesia is used?
• Who on your staff helps you during surgery? What are their qualifications?
• What can I do to get the best results?
• What are the possible risks of this surgery?
• How do you handle complications that arise?

Familiarize Yourself with What to Expect

• Is there anything I should do to prepare for surgery?
• Do I need to stop taking any medications ahead of time?
• How much time will I need to take off from work to recover?
• Is there anything I should avoid after surgery?
• What are the side effects I can expect after surgery?
• Will I have scarring? Can I do anything to minimize noticeable scars?
• Do you have before and after photographs of patients that have had this procedure?
• Do you have any written patient testimonials or reviews that I can read?

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gupta, please call (858) 408-6100 today.

Fun Fact of the Month: We recently turned our clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Saving Time (DST). This year marks the 100-year anniversary of DST, originally observed in Germany in 1916 as World War I ramped up. The U.S. adopted DST in 1918.