Questions to Ask the Doctor Before Surgery. 1. Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons? 2. Are you a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons? 3. How many procedures of this type have you done? 4. Do you have hospital privileges (the right to admit patients to or perform surgery in a spe¬ cific hospital)? 5. What specific risks are associated with this surgery? 6. How long will my recovery take? What limits will I face in my daily life (including work)? 7. How much will this procedure cost? Is it cov¬ ered by insurance, or will we set up a payment schedule? Questions to Ask about the Surgical Site 1. Is the hospital where this procedure will occur accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations? 2. If the procedure will be done at a freestanding outpatient facility, is the facility accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. or the American Associa¬ tion for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities? 3. Is the facility associated with a nearby hospital in case an emergency arises? 4. Is the person providing anesthesia for this procedure a board-certified physician (anes¬ thesiologist) or a certified registered nurse anesthetist? 5. If the doctor performs procedures in his or her office, is there lifesaving equipment available in case of emergency? Questions to Ask Yourself 1. Do I have a health condition that would rule out the surgery I am considering or make it more complicated than expected? 2. Can I comply with any medical regimens or tasks required to make my surgery successful? When deciding to have elective surgery, one has the chance to elect. That is, to choose to have the surgery and to choose, at will, the surgeon. To do this well and safely, it is essential to get complete answers to all the questions listed above before proceeding.
