Questions worth asking before any cosmetic procedure

Who is operating, and what are their qualifications?

Ask directly who will perform the procedure, what their surgical qualification is, and whether they will be present throughout. In some settings the person who consults is not the person who operates.

Qualifications in plastic surgery are verifiable. It is reasonable to ask, and a reasonable surgeon will not mind being asked.

Where will the surgery take place?

Surgical procedures should be performed in an accredited facility with appropriate anaesthetic cover. Ask which facility, and who provides the anaesthesia.

This matters more than the decor of the consultation room.

What happens if I need a revision?

Revision is a normal part of some procedures, rhinoplasty in particular. Ask how it is handled, what the timeline would be and what it would cost.

A clinic that has never mentioned the possibility of revision is not describing surgery accurately.

What exactly does the quote include?

Surgeon's fee, anaesthesia, facility, implants or devices, garments, follow-up appointments and any planned second stage. Ask for it in writing.

A verbal figure that excludes the facility and anaesthesia is not a quote.

What are the alternatives, including doing nothing?

A good consultation includes what else could be done, what a smaller intervention would achieve, and when the honest answer is that surgery is not indicated.

If no alternatives are discussed and no reason is given for the recommendation, that is worth noticing.

What is the recovery, honestly?

Ask for the real restrictions: lifting, driving, childcare, exercise, work. Ask what most patients underestimate.

Recovery plans fail on practicalities more often than on medicine.