Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Rhinoplasty Surgeon

How can I know I am picking the best rhinoplasty surgeon?Surgery is a big deal. It doesn’t matter how routine some procedures have supposedly become or what the statistics show for rates of success. All surgery comes with risk, and that makes it a big deal. When you are considering having the structure of your nose altered, whether your motivation is to correct a functional condition, like a deviated septum, or for appearance purposes, the possibility of something going wrong can be especially frightening.It’s important to understand all aspects of your surgery, and a healthy degree of concern is a very good starting point. You only have to pick up one of the entertainment magazines or browse online to see examples of “after” photos of those who may have approached cosmetic surgery with less thought and preparation than they now wish.Your first step should be having clarity about your reasons for the procedure in the first place. Just because you can change the appearance of your nose, does not mean that you should. There are many valid motivations for doing so, but it is important that you recognize what yours are.Once you are clear about why you want the surgery, the next and far most crucial piece is finding the right surgeon.  Not only should this be based on experience and credentials, but there needs to be a level of rapport and trust. A personal recommendation from someone you know, personally, can go a long way but what if you don’t have that benefit?Questions to Ask Before Choosing Your Rhinoplasty SurgeonThe following are a list of questions that should help in your search to identify the right rhinoplasty surgeon. An experienced professional will anticipate your concern and be more than willing to spend the time to address all of your questions. Some people find this process somewhat intimidating and choose to assume that all physicians have the appropriate training and experience. This is not always the case, and it is the responsibility of the client to do the requisite due diligence.

• Board certification and professional membership? Ask about the American Board of Otolaryngology, the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
• Education and training? Ask specifically about training in plastic surgery, including length of training time.
• Hospitals with rhinoplasty surgery privileges? Where will yours be performed?
• If in-office surgery, what are licensing and accrediting bodies?
• Why am I a good candidate for this procedure?
• What surgical technique do you recommend for me?
• What exactly are the results that I can expect? Ask to see representative photos.
• What should I expect during the recovery process?
• What are the risks and potential complications?
• What are my options if I am not satisfied with the outcome?

There are, of course, other questions that you may want to ask, like instructions for how to prepare and if someone should accompany you. Many will occur to you during the initial appointment, and most will be covered by the doctor. Just remember the old adage: the only dumb question is the one not asked.Experienced, board certified and dedicated, Dr. Geoffrey Tobias, was recognized 12 times as “best in his field” by New York Magazine. When you choose to explore the possibilities of rhinoplasty surgery, you could not make a better decision than to request a consultation with Dr. Tobias. To start that process, simply click here.