The questions worth asking your facelift surgeon
Most consultations are spent listening. These are the questions that tell you what you actually need to know.
In short
- Ask what technique they use and, more importantly, why it suits your face specifically.
- Ask how often they perform the operation, not how many years they have been qualified.
- Ask to see results of patients who resemble you, not their best case.
- Ask what happens if something goes wrong, and who pays for it.
About the operation itself
- Which technique would you use for me, and why that one rather than the alternatives?
- Which layer are you working in, and what is being repositioned?
- Will my neck be addressed, and how?
- Where exactly will the incisions be, and what will the scars look like at six months?
- How long will the operation take, and what anaesthetic will be used?
A surgeon who cannot explain the plan in language you understand either does not have a specific one, or is not interested in your understanding it. Both are relevant.
About their experience
- How many of these do you perform in a typical month?
- What proportion of your practice is facial surgery?
- What is your revision rate, and what are the usual reasons?
- Are you willing to show me results from patients with a similar face and age to mine?
Frequency matters more than seniority. A surgeon who does this operation weekly is in a different position from one who does it occasionally.
About safety
- Where will the surgery take place, and is it accredited?
- Who gives the anaesthetic, and what are their qualifications?
- What are the specific risks in my case, given my health and anatomy?
- What is the plan if I develop a haematoma in the first night?
- How do I reach you after hours in the first week?
About the result
- What will this operation not change?
- How long should I expect the result to last?
- What would make you decline to operate on me?
That last question is the most revealing in the list. A surgeon with clear criteria for saying no is applying judgement. One who accepts every patient is not.
About money and aftercare
- What exactly does the quoted fee include?
- What are the costs if a revision is required, and under what circumstances would you perform one?
- How many follow-up visits are included, and over what period?
Get the answers in writing. Not because anyone expects dishonesty, but because memory after an emotional consultation is unreliable.
Common questions
Should I get more than one opinion?+
Yes, particularly for an elective operation on your face. Two or three consultations give you a sense of the range of opinion and of who explains things in a way you trust.
Is a surgeon who discourages surgery a bad sign?+
The opposite. A surgeon willing to tell you that you are not ready, or that a smaller procedure would serve you better, is demonstrating judgement rather than losing a sale.
What if I feel rushed in the consultation?+
That is information. An operation on your face deserves an unhurried discussion. If you cannot get one before surgery, consider what aftercare will feel like.
How do I check qualifications in India?+
Ask for their registration details and where they trained, and verify with the relevant state medical council. Any legitimate surgeon will expect the question.
Have a question about your own face?
The most useful answers are personal ones. A consultation is an honest, unhurried assessment of your face and your goals, with no pressure to proceed.
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