Board certification, honest risks, real recovery timelines: five questions that reveal a surgeon's true standards.
Choosing a surgeon is the single most important decision in your aesthetic journey — more important than the technique, the clinic décor or the price. These five questions cut through marketing and reveal how a surgeon really works.
One: are you board-certified in this specialty, and how many of my exact procedure did you perform last year? Volume and focus predict consistency. Two: may I see before-and-after photos of patients with my body type and concerns, including honest average results, not only highlights?
Three: what are the specific risks for someone with my medical history, and how are complications handled? Listen for candour, not dismissal — every procedure carries risk, and a trustworthy surgeon says so plainly. Four: what will my recovery realistically demand — time off, help at home, activity limits and follow-up visits?
Five: what is the total itemised cost, including facility, anaesthesia, garments and revision policies? Transparent pricing is a hallmark of an ethical practice. If any answer feels evasive, seek a second opinion. The right surgeon welcomes your questions.
Written by Dr. Elena Marsh
A Novelle surgeon, reviewed by our clinical board.
