Cosmetic surgery offers you many possibilities for increasing your personal satisfaction with your body. It can be easy to get excited about what cosmetic surgery can do, but you need to proceed thoughtfully through the process of deciding to undergo an elective surgery. Your consultation with your cosmetic surgeon is a crucial time to communicate your concerns, goals, and have all of your questions answered to your satisfaction. Below I’ve listed some standard questions that should be part of any good consultation.

1. What results can I expect from my cosmetic procedure? No matter which cosmetic procedure you are considering, you need to be given a clear idea of what a plastic surgeon can accomplish with your body.
2. How many years have you been specializing in cosmetic surgery? This question will also help you assess the experience of the cosmetic surgeon.
3. What are your educational credentials and training? Ideally you are looking for a cosmetic surgeon who has been specifically trained in plastic surgery during residency after medical school.
4. What will my recovery be like? In relation to your specific procedure you need to find out how long you can expect recovery to take and what limitations on your activities will be necessary. This information is very important to know when you need to take time off from work. It varies by procedure, such as for eyelid surgery or a breast reduction.
5. What are the risks of my cosmetic surgery? Any surgery presents a chance for complications like infection or bleeding. You should seriously consider any possible risks and their consequences for you. Your plastic surgeon should be willing to discuss them.
6. Where will the surgery take place? You will want to know if your surgery will be at a hospital, surgeon’s office, or outpatient surgery center. Any of these locations can be appropriate depending on your procedure.
7. Who will administer anesthesia? This question is particularly important if you will need to have general anesthesia during your procedure.
8. What will my procedure cost? There is no need to be shy about discussing the cost. Your plastic surgeon should be forthright about the cost of his or her services. Be sure to get an estimate of total costs, including lab work and follow up visits so you will not have any budgetary surprises after your surgery.
9. What will happen during my surgery? Your plastic surgeon should be willing to explain the technical details of your surgery. You have a right to know what will be done to your body.

I hope these questions help you when you go for your consultation. Remember there are never any guarantees with any surgical procedure, but you should at least have a clear idea of what you are getting yourself into