15 Questions to Ask at a Plastic Surgery Consultation (Copy-Paste List)

Credentials (questions 1–4)

1. "Which board are you certified by?" The answer you want to hear is the American Board of Plastic Surgery — the only ABMS-recognized plastic surgery board. Anything else, ask follow-ups.
2. "At which hospital do you hold privileges for this procedure?" Even office-based surgeons should hold hospital privileges — it means an independent institution vetted them for this operation. "I only operate in my own facility" plus no privileges anywhere is a red flag, not a convenience.
3. "Is this facility accredited, and by whom?" AAAASF, AAAHC, or The Joint Commission. Ask for the most recent inspection date.
4. "Who will actually perform my surgery?" In some practices the person marketing the procedure isn't the person operating. Get the operating surgeon's name and run questions 1–3 on them.

Experience with YOUR procedure (questions 5–8)

1. "How many of this exact procedure did you perform in the last 12 months?" Frequency matters more than career totals — you want current, regular practice in your operation, not "hundreds over my career."
2. "What's your complication rate for this procedure, and what were the complications?" Every honest surgeon has complications. The red flag isn't the rate — it's a claimed rate of zero, or an unwillingness to discuss.
3. "Can I see before-and-after photos of YOUR patients with a body/face like mine?" Their own patients (not brand catalogs), and similar starting anatomy — results on a different body type are decoration, not evidence.
4. "Am I a good candidate — and what would make you decline to operate on me?" The second half is the real question. Surgeons who never decline anyone are selecting for revenue, not outcomes.

Safety & anesthesia (questions 9–11)

1. "Who administers the anesthesia — an anesthesiologist or a CRNA — and will they be present the whole time?" Both credentials are legitimate; what you're confirming is that a dedicated, qualified anesthesia provider (not the operating surgeon) manages you throughout.
2. "What's your emergency plan if something goes wrong in the OR?" Accredited facilities have transfer agreements with nearby hospitals and rehearsed protocols. The quality of this answer tells you a lot.
3. "What are the realistic risks for someone with my health profile?" Bring your full medical history, including supplements and nicotine use — then judge whether they engage with it specifically or wave it through.

Money & aftercare (questions 12–15)

1. "What's the all-in cost, in writing?" Surgeon's fee + anesthesia + facility + implants/materials + garments + follow-ups. Cosmetic surgery is almost always cash-pay — in our directory data, the overwhelming majority of Arizona plastic-surgery practices list no insurance participation at all — so the written quote IS your price protection.
2. "What does your revision policy cover, and what would a revision cost me?" Get it in writing: what qualifies, within what window, and which costs (facility, anesthesia) you'd still pay even if the surgeon waives their fee.
3. "What does recovery actually look like for someone with my job and life?" Days off work, driving, lifting kids, exercise timeline — the honest version, not the brochure version.
4. "Who do I call at 2 a.m. if something feels wrong post-op?" You want a specific answer — a surgeon's line, a covering physician — not "go to the ER" as the only plan.

The bottom line

Fifteen questions, four themes: prove the credentials, prove the experience with your procedure, prove the safety plan, and get the money in writing. A surgeon worth choosing answers all fifteen without flinching — and the ones who flinch have answered the only question that matters. Verify before you book (the 5-minute check), consult at least twice, and build the shortlist from verified Arizona practices.