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8 Important Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Surgery

Health Tips

By Tracie JohnsonPublished 2 years ago 4 min read
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Over the past one hundred years modern medicine has advanced greatly. A surgeon's abilities and skills have evolved a considerable amount. The things that surgeons are capable of today were works of science fiction yesterday. All types of surgery are meant for one thing: to improve the lives of the patient. Whether that be cosmetically or in a traditional lifesaving manner, surgery is useful. Surgery is also sometimes stressful, especially if you're not used to being operated on. Therefore, it's a good idea to ask your doctor questions before your surgery, and here are eight important questions to ask your doctor before surgery.

1. What Is Your Experience?

Perhaps one of the first and finest questions that you may want to ask a surgeon before your surgery is to hear more about their experience. Ask to see some examples of their results and talk in-depth about their previous work. You may wish to ask things like:

  • When was their last job similar to yours?
  • How do they handle complications?
  • How long have they been doing procedures like yours?
  • What is their worst-case scenario?
  • If you can see examples.

Get creative and ask your surgeon about who they are and their work. The better you feel being around your surgeon, the better things will turn out.

2. What Should I Be Doing Before Surgery?

Another important question to ask is if there's anything that you should be doing before the procedure to achieve the best results. For cosmetic procedures, this may include reading something like Facelift Recovery - What to Expect as sometimes self-education is helpful. Ask your surgeon about things like medications you should hold off on, and if there's anything you should do to prepare your body for surgery, such as exercise, diet changes, and the like.

3. What Type Of Anesthesia Will Be Administered?

This question is exceptionally important should you have allergies to any type of anesthesia or medication. Your healthcare provider should know this, but they should also be able to tell you exactly which medications will be administered to you, both during and after surgery. Be sure to be hands-on when it comes to the medications offered to you. If you're not comfortable with a certain medication, be vocal about this before your surgery date.

4. What Can I Expect From Recovery?

Knowing what you can expect from your recovery is important to the success of your surgery. When you know what to expect, you're better able to prepare your body and purchase what you'll need to help your recovery go smoothly. For some, this includes special bandaging, clothing, toiletries, toilet accessories, and more. You may also wish to purchase some comfort items, such as new comfortable pajamas. Knowing what to expect from your recovery also helps you know if things are healing correctly and how long you may expect your life to be disrupted, such as from work or school.

5. What Will Surgery Day Look Like?

Knowing what to expect on your surgery day will help you better plan for it. You'll know who is able to visit or wait for you, and you'll know if you need to set up special care for any pets or children at home. You'll also go into surgery feeling less scared or uncomfortable should you know what to expect.

6. What Are The Costs?

This is an important question because you'll need to know how to plan your finances around your surgery. Your provider should be able to share with you the estimated cost, or at least the total cost should no complications arise. Most surgeons will require a down payment before surgery day, usually around $500 or so. Asking this question early will also help you figure out if your insurance will cover any of your costs.

7. What Are The Risks?

Nearly any surgery comes with risks and understanding them before having the surgery will help you prepare should they occur. Of course, these risks are usually unlikely, and most procedures go rather smoothly these days, but it's always a good idea to go into a procedure with knowledge of every outcome. This will also help you assess the importance of the procedure.

8. Where Will The Surgery Be Performed?

This may seem like an obvious answer. However, many surgeons will operate out of different offices or hospitals. Some surgeons may require you to travel to the next city, or even further. Knowing this upfront will help you prepare any necessary travel, and also how long you'll be away from home. Knowing where the surgery is performed may also help ease any anxiety you may have about being in a strange location.

Closing Remarks

There are many valid reasons as to why you'd need surgery. Whether you're looking for cosmetic surgery, such as a facelift, or something else, it's a good idea to be as prepared as possible. A good way to help yourself prepare for surgery is by asking as many questions as you deem necessary. Questions are the pathway to knowledge, so it's never bad to ask your healthcare provider questions, even if you may feel silly doing so.

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