Questions for Your Surgeon 

Surgeon:____________________________ Date: _____________ Time: ___________ AM PM

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Referrer: ______________________________________________________________________

Certification (circle all that apply)

ABPS - American Board of Plastic Surgery
ABS - American Board Surgery
ABFPRS - American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
ABOto - American Board of Otolaryngology
  FPRS - Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABOto)
  PSHN - Plastic Surgery within the Head and Neck (ABOto)
RCPSC - Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
  OtoHN - Otolaryngology Head and Neck (RCPSC)
  OtoPS - Otolaryngology Plastic Surgery (RCPSC)

Other certification:

General Assessment Rating (circle one)
Patient referral list available yes   no
Answered all questions yes   no
Experience / Proficiency poor   fair   average   good   excellent
Bedside manner poor   fair   average   good   excellent
Communication skills poor   fair   average   good   excellent
Attitude of staff poor   fair   average   good   excellent
Appearance of surgeon poor   fair   average   good   excellent
Office appearance poor   fair   average   good   excellent
Overall Rating poor   fair   average   good   excellent

Experience and Perspectives

  1. What made you decide to become a Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon?

  2. How long have you been practicing as a cosmetic plastic surgeon?

  3. Are you "board certified", and by whom?

  4. What, if anything, was your medical specialty before you chose to practice cosmetic surgery?

  5. What is your favorite procedure to perform and why?

  6. How many primary rhinoplasties do you perform on average, annually?

  7. How many primary rhinoplasties have you performed?

  8. How many revision rhinoplasties do you perform on average, annually?

  9. How many revision rhinoplasties have you performed?

  10. How many revisions of your own work, on average, do you have to perform?

  11. Have you ever been disciplined by the board or by the state? If yes, when and why?

  12. Has your malpractice insurance ever been been denied, suspended or revoked?

Surgical Procedure

  1. Do you have hospital privileges, should I choose to undergo my procedure in a hospital?


    If not, did you lose those privileges (if so, the surgeon must disclose this information)?

  2. Do you have an on-site accredited Surgery Center? May I see it?
    AAAASF - American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities
    AAAHC - Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care
    JCAHO - Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
    Medicare
    State


    How is a medical emergency handled? Make sure the facility has a "crash cart" with the medications and equipment to handle a life-threatening emergency.


    Do you have transfer privileges (to admit a patient) at a nearby hospital?

  3. Do you perform your procedures open or closed? Why?

  4. After surgery, will the nose be packed? With what? For how long?

  5. Are there other techniques, newer ones perhaps, that I am not aware of?

  6. Have you or would you be willing to perform this procedure on a loved one or family member?

  7. What are the complications for (revision) rhinoplasty?

  8. I have heard of patients developing a hematoma; this is a serious concern. What is it, how often does it occur and how do you deal with it?

  9. What anesthetic will you use (circle one)?   local+sedition (awake),   light-sleep,   general
    Why?

  10. Who will administer anesthesia (circle one)?
    anesthesiologist MD,   certified nurse anesthesiologist,   surgeon,   nurse

  11. I have heard that general anesthesia can make a patient sick to their stomach, is this true?


    What can you do to lessen this effect?

  12. Operating room monitors (circle all that apply)?   EKG,   Pulse Oximetry,   Blood Pressure,   Capnograph (CO2)
  13. Recovery room monitors (circle all that apply)?   EKG,   Pulse Oximetry,   blood pressure
  14. What is the certification of the person that will be present in the recovery room (circle one)?   RN,   CPR,   Advanced Cardiac Support?
    Will this person have other duties?   yes,   no
  15. What structural changes will be performed (circle all that apply)?
    hump-removal     narrowing     deprojection
    shorten     straighten (bridge and tip are not vertically aligned)
    tip-modification     nasal-spine-reduction (and tethering from upper lip to collumela)

  16. Would there be any reason that I would not be a good candidate for this surgery?


    If yes, would it be an open or closed procedure?

Post-Surgery Issues

  1. When should I expect to look "normal" again?

  2. Will I have scaring? If so, how bad will it be?

  3. For this amount of reduction that will be done, do you expect there to be loose skin? If so, how long will it last?

  4. How long do you recommend that I take off from work, school, etc. to heal properly?

  5. How long until I will be able to walk, exercise, run or participate in contact sports?

  6. Must I abide by any special diet, both pre-operatively and post-operatively?

  7. What suggestions do you have for me to ease discomfort and pain?

  8. What types of medications will I be given and which pain medications do you normally prescribe?

  9. I am sensitive to Vicodin and Codeine (if applicable - it makes some people nauseated), what alternative medications do you offer?

  10. I take (birth control, diet pills, antidepressants, etc.) will I have any adverse reactions from the prescribed medications or anesthesia? Please view the Medication & Supplement List.

  11. Will I need to use cold compresses or ice packs on top of the splint after surgery? How long, and often, must they be used?

  12. I have heard SinEcch, a pharmaceutical grade derivative of Arnica montana, helps with the swelling and bruising if taken before and after my surgery. Do you recommend it?


    What about Bromelian (also found in pineapple juice)?


    What about the topical gels?

  13. If I have an emergency the night after surgery, what should I do?

  14. If such an emergency arises, will you be the attending physician?

  15. If I need anything after-hours, how will I be able to get in touch with you or your staff?

  16. What are your policies on post-operative care?

  17. If I need sutures (stitches), when will they be taken out?

  18. I wear eye-glasses. Will I be able to wear them the day after surgery on top of the splint? When the splint is removed, what allowances must be made for the glasses? When can glasses be worn normally?

Results

  1. Do you believe my expectations can be met?

  2. If my results are not what I wanted, what is your policy on a revision?

  3. What would you do if I were to choose to undergo the surgery and I had a complication?

Request for Information

  1. Do you have a video tape available of a (revision) rhinoplasty that I may check out?

  2. May I view your before & after photos, and not just your "perfect" ones?

  3. May I speak with some of your patients who have had a (revision) rhinoplasty performed by you?

Financial Issues

  1. Are there any hidden costs that I should know about? For lab work, post-operative check-ups,
    additional medications?

  2. Do you offer financing (if applicable)?


    Do you expect full payment up front? Credit cards? May I pay in increments?
    (or any other financial questions you might have)

  3. What if I change my mind and back out, will my money be refunded?

Miscellaneous

  1. How far in advance is it necessary to schedule a surgery date? I'm want have the surgery done at your-desired-date, would this be possbble?

Notes
Updated Fri Nov 30, 2001