The Biggest Questions You Should Ask Before A Procedure, Straight From Our Plastic Surgeon

Once stigmatized and exclusively associated with the rich and famous, plastic surgery is now becoming increasingly common for everyday folks. Still, research is key if you're thinking of going under the knife, and as the celebrities who have opened up about their plastic surgery experience will tell you, so is finding a surgeon you trust. Aside from ensuring the surgeon makes you feel comfortable, it's important to have an open conversation with them so you can iron out any concerns before going in. 

Speaking exclusively to Glam, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Youn, founder of Youn Beauty, reveals that there are a few questions you should always ask ahead of time to ensure that you're making the right decision. "How many of these procedures have you done?" he suggests as your first question, then adding, "How many do you do per year?" These will help you get a feel for the surgeon's experience; while everyone has to start somewhere, it's okay to prefer a more experienced surgical provider, particularly with more advanced procedures. Next, Dr. Youn advises asking if the surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery since it's not a good sign if they're not. Notably, board-certified doctors may claim to be plastic surgeons despite receiving their certification in another field. While they may be doctors, not being certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery means they might not have completed the necessary six years of surgical training, extensive examinations, or minimum number of surgeries (in the thousands) required.

Dr. Youn also feels you would be remiss not to discuss surgery-related complications and how they would be treated with your doctor. Nobody goes into the operating room hoping for the worst, but you should be prepared for complications by asking your surgeon about those worst-case scenarios ahead of time.

In the last 100 hundred years of plastic surgery, we've learned that things can and do go wrong. According to a 2019 study published in the journal Plastic Surgery, that was just 5.78% of surgeries performed by the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program between 2012 and 2016, but the possibility is still worth preparing for. "If I have a complication, who will see me?" Dr. Anthony Youn says is an important question to ask during your consultation, adding that you'll want to double-check that your surgeon will see you after hours if you need them. Speaking exclusively to Glam, he notes that it's important to clarify with the surgeon how you can get ahold of them if a complication arises or you're simply concerned about anything relating to the procedure. Providers who don't offer a clear path of communication or action plan for such an event should raise alarm bells. 

Along the same lines, Dr. Youn recommends asking if the surgeon has "hospital privileges to perform the surgery." This essentially means that the hospital has confirmed that the surgeon's training, education, and experiences meet its standards. It will also give the surgeon access to hospital resources, emergency care, and help from other specialists, among other privileges.

Once you have the honest answers to these questions, it's okay to decide that the surgeon you consulted with doesn't work for you and look elsewhere. Sometimes, your surgeon might be perfectly qualified, but they're difficult to talk to or feel comfortable with, and that's understandably a deal-breaker when you're going to be in such a vulnerable position. Ultimately, you have to feel 100% happy with your surgeon on all fronts, whether you're going in for a complicated procedure, like a rhinoplasty, or one of the many cosmetic procedures that have short downtime.