What questions should I ask my surgeon at the consultation?

It is a good idea to make a shortlist of three to four surgeons. Then contact each one in turn. You may be able to have a ‘free’ short consultation over the phone or via email but you will have to pay for the full consultation itself.

This can be a bit of a stressful time and you might forget what to ask so it helps to have a list of questions written down beforehand. You can then go through each question individually and tick off each one in turn.

You may want to record the conversation between you and the surgeon.

Questions to ask should be concerned with the surgeon him/herself, the clinic/hospital, the quote, the surgery itself and aftercare.

Here is a checklist of questions which are designed to ensure you get as much information you need before making a decision:

  • Do you specialise in blepharoplasty only or do you perform other procedures?
  • How much experience do you have?
  • How many blepharoplasty operations do you do each year?
  • What are your success rates?
  • What are the benefits of this surgery?
  • What can I expect from this surgery?
  • Will you explain the procedure in detail?
  • What are the complications/risks and how likely are they to happen to me?
  • Are there any non-surgical alternatives to surgery?
  • Do you have any information I can look at? Any reading material or published papers?
  • Can I talk to any of your former patients?
  • Do you have any case studies or testimonials?
  • Do you have any ‘before’ and ‘after’ photographs I can look at?
  • How often do you perform this surgery?
  • What do I need to do before surgery?
  • Will there be much pain and/or discomfort?
  • How long do the effects of blepharoplasty last for? Will I need further surgery?
  • Other members of my family had puffy eyelids after a certain age, will I get the same?
  • Are there any other cosmetic procedures which can be combined with this surgery to get a better effect?
  • What type of blepharoplasty do you perform?
  • How long will the recovery take?
  • Is there anything in my medical history that could rule me out from surgery or could cause complications?
  • Are you a member of BAPS/BAAPS/BAPRAS or The British Association of Cosmetic Surgeons? Are you an NHS consultant? Are you listed on the GMC’s Specialist Register of Plastic Surgery?
  • Will the surgery be performed at a clinic or a private hospital? Do I get a choice of hospital?
  • What is included in the quote? What isn’t included in the quote?
  • If something goes wrong and I require further treatment will I have to pay extra for that and how much?
  • When about aftercare? When do I attend my first follow up visit?
  • How long will it be before I can return to work and/or normal activities?

What is equally important is that you like and trust your surgeon. There needs to be a rapport between the two of you. You want to feel comfortable and relaxed with him/her and be reassured by his/her professional competence.

You also want someone who is compassionate, objective and professional.

If he/she is none of these or is keen for you to undergo other procedures then look for another surgeon.

Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) Guide Index:

COSMETIC SURGERY TREATMENTS

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