Questions to ask at your Consult & Pre-op Appointments

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Topic Questions to ask at your Consult & Pre-op Appointments (22095 hits)

By FAQ Staff On 10/31/02 07:35 pm

The information in this section is made available through the generous support of Dr. Grant Stevens.

Questions to ask at your consult and pre-op appointments

Here is a list that you can use to formulate your own list of consult questions and pre-op questions.

You will probably not have time to ask all of these at one consult appointment. Break the questions down into what's most important to you to have answered immediately - such as information about FNG (free nipple grafts), how many breast reductions the doctor does per week, etc. If you still have questions, schedule another consult until you are satisfied. Some of the questions are appropriate to be asked at a pre-op appointment as well.

It's recommended by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and BreastHealthOnline to have at least 3 plastic surgery consults. More consults may be in order if you are facing a free nipple graft so that you are sure you have done all you can to save your nipples. You may also need more than three if the consults you had just were not the right surgeons for you. Take your time when selecting a plastic surgeon - you want the best plastic surgeon you can find.

-How many years have you been performing breast reduction surgery?

-How many BRs do you perform per week?

-Am I covered by my insurance?

-How long have you been in practice?

-Approximately how many BRs have you done in your career thus far?

-What are the three worst things that can happen after this surgery?

-What are the chances of each of those happening?

-What do we do if those things happen?

-How much time do I need to take off work?

-How do you treat keloid or hypertrophic scarring if it occurs?

-What is the procedure you would use on me, and WHY?

-What determines whether I have a free nipple graft?

-If I meet the criteria for a free nipple graft, would you try to do the inferior pedicle first and then proceed with the free nipple graft if it doesn't work?

-Will there be ANY sensation left if I do have a free nipple graft?

-Do you have any before and after pictures to show me? If not, why?

-If you do the breast reduction in accordance with the proportions of my body, what do you see as "in proportion" to the rest of my body? (ask for a ballpark size, i.e. - between a B and a C)

-Since this is my body, do I get any say in what size my breasts will be?

-Since proportion is subjective, Is it my right to choose a size that is different from what you think looks good?

-Can you guesstimate the gram removal?

-Does the tissue get sent to the lab after removal for analysis?

-Can you tell me approximately how long the surgery will be?

-How do you determine the size of the nipple/areola complex?

-Do you prefer to use drains? If so, when will the drains be removed?

-At which hospital will the surgery be performed?

-Will I stay overnight?

-Will I have the opportunity to meet the anesthesiologist prior to my surgery?

-What pain medications will be given to me? Demerol, Percocet, Codeine, Morphine?

-Can I discuss anti-nausea medications and concerns with the anesthesiologist?

-What if I get a cold before my surgery?

-Do I continue to take my regular medications before surgery?

-What medications do I NOT take before surgery and immediately after surgery?

-Do I require any special tests prior to surgery?

-What can I do to help reduce scarring, if anything?

-What can I do to help reduce bruising?

-How soon can I drive after the surgery?

-When can I return to exercising?

-Are there any special garments that I need to wear after surgery?

-Do I bring my own bra to wear home?

-How often do I change the dressings, and what do they consist of?

-Will there be tape or bandages on the wounds afterwards? If so, for how long?

-How soon after surgery can I shower?

-When can sexual intercourse resume?

-Do I fill my pain medication prescription before my surgery?

-What are dog ears, and what will you do to resolve them if I get them?

-If I require additional procedures (corrective) are they also covered by insurance?

-Do you have someone who assists you in surgery?

-Does he/she work on one breast while you work on the other?

-Will I end up with two entirely different looking breasts if I have two surgeons?

-May I put vitamin E on the scars sfterwards? How soon?

-Do I need to pre-book extra appointments?

-How long after surgery will it be before the breasts drop?

-Do you insert a catheter during surgery?

-Will I have a tube put down my throat?

-What are some of the complications that some of your past patients have encountered?

-What was done as a counter-measure for the complications?

-When do you do the markings for surgery?

Please feel free to join us and ask any questions you may have at our Breast Reduction Support Board.

By FAQ Staff On 10/31/02 07:36 pm

The information in this section is made available through the generous support of Dr. Grant Stevens.

When interviewing a plastic surgeon there is a very important aspect of your care that most of us ignore: What if something goes wrong?

People do not want to think about the unthinkable. What if something - God forbid - goes wrong? Will you be able to talk to your plastic surgeon? Will they understand? Will they help you? Or will they leave you in the lurch? It has been our experience at BreastHealthOnline that there are doctors who leave their patients without proper answers and attention. We would like to help you avoid this.

We implore people to ask on the front end: What if I have a complication or a catastrophic result - what happens then?

What if you leave me too big, or bigger than we agreed upon, and I am still in pain from heavy breasts - will you stand behind your work? What if you take more than we agree upon? What then?

What if I have a problem that is not your fault? What if I have healing problems that are unique to me and nothing you did? How is that handled? What if I develop a scarring problem and need a scar revision? What will you do? Is there any other sitution I should know about?

People NEED to ask these questions up front at their consult appointments with prospective plastic surgeons.

This does several things for you:

1. It lets the plastic surgeon know you mean business.

2. It lets you know the integrity of the plastic surgeon.

3. It helps you choose the right plastic surgeon.

4. Last but not least, once you do choose a plastic surgeon who has the integrity they should have, you'll have the peace of mind that you will be taken care of in the unlikely event something does goes wrong. A good plastic surgeon will answer these questions with aplomb and respect you for asking them.

Additionally, any good plastic surgeon will respect you for asking these questions, and for thinking ahead.

While it may be difficult to even think of something going wrong, much less ask these questions during an interview, it is a whole lot easier than finding out after the fact that you have a problem AND are going to have to fight the plastic surgeon at the same time. Please do not put yourself in this position.

This is very, very important. Don't sell yourself short.

Please feel free to join us and ask any questions you may have at our Breast Reduction Support Board.

Topic Questions to ask at your Consult & Pre-op Appointments (22095 hits)