How to Prepare for Your Plastic Surgery Consultation

Updated November 2025

A plastic surgery consultation is where information becomes a plan. It’s your chance to translate goals into a realistic surgical approach, verify safety systems, and meet the team you’ll trust through recovery. Great consults are organized, unhurried, and specific; poor consults feel rushed, salesy, or vague. Preparation is the difference. When you arrive with clear goals, the right questions, and an expectation for documentation—not just talk—you protect your health, your investment, and your peace of mind.

This guide gives you a complete roadmap: what to do before you go, what to bring, how to evaluate results and safety, which questions expose red flags, and the documents you should collect before paying any deposit. Use it whether you’re considering a facelift, rhinoplasty, breast surgery, tummy tuck, BBL, or liposuction.

Begin with Non-Negotiables (So You Don’t Get Distracted Later)

Before you fall in love with a gallery or a price, confirm four pillars that define safe surgical care:

• True board certification. For plastic surgery, look for American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) certification—recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).
• Hospital privileges. Your surgeon should hold active privileges for the procedure you want; this adds independent oversight and a transfer pathway for rare emergencies.
• Accredited facility. The operating site should be accredited by AAAASF, The Joint Commission (JCAHO), or AAAHC. Accreditation audits anesthesia, sterilization, medication safety, emergency equipment, and transfer agreements.
• Qualified anesthesia, present the entire case. An MD anesthesiologist or CRNA should be in the room start-to-finish with modern monitoring (ECG, pulse oximetry, blood pressure, and capnography for moderate/deep sedation).

If any of these are missing or vague, pause. Outstanding surgery starts with outstanding systems.

Your Pre-Consult Prep: A One-Page Brief (Do This First)

Create a concise, one-page sheet you’ll hand to the surgeon and coordinator. It keeps the conversation focused and makes your goals easy to act on.

1) Goals (one sentence per area)

• “Lower face/neck definition, natural hairline, no pulled look.”
• “Subtle dorsal refinement; preserve tip support; avoid pinched nostrils.”
• “Breast lift with proportional upper-pole fullness; prioritize shape over minimal scars.”
• “Low, concealable tummy tuck scar; strong diastasis repair; smooth waist transitions.”

2) Priorities and acceptances (3 + 3)

• Priorities: natural look, scar position, core strength/support.
• Acceptances: thin scar is OK, mild asymmetry is OK, longer recovery for better contour is OK.

3) Visuals (3–5 ‘like’ + 1–2 ‘avoid’ images) Pick examples that match your starting anatomy, age range, and skin quality. Note the why: “like jawline angle,” “avoid over-projected upper pole.”

4) Logistics Job type and return-to-work window; childcare or caregiving; travel constraints; major life events.

5) Health snapshot All medications (including hormones/HRT/COCs, GLP-1 or diabetes meds), supplements, nicotine exposure, allergies, prior surgeries, OSA/CPAP, clotting history, dry-eye symptoms (for eyelids). Bring a printed list.

6) Pace rule Decide now: “I don’t make same-day decisions; please send documents.” Ethical practices will support this.

What to Bring to the Appointment

• Your one-page brief and printed medication/supplement list
• Insurance/ID (even for self-pay, clinics often verify identity)
• Notebook or notes app; permission if you’d like to record key answers
• Questions table (below) printed, with space to jot answers
• A zip folder on your phone with reference photos and any medical records relevant to your candidacy (e.g., mammogram, prior op notes if available)

Questions to Ask During Your Consultation (Copy/Paste This Table)

Topic	Example Question
Credentials	“Are you board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery? May I verify this?”
Experience	“How many procedures have you performed in the last 12 months, and what is your revision rate?”
Facility	“Is the operating site accredited (AAAASF/JCAHO/AAAHC)? Can I see the certificate and inspection date?”
Anesthesia	“Who provides anesthesia, are they present the entire case, and what monitoring do you use (including capnography)?”
Scars & photos	“Where will my scars be, and can I see comparable standardized photos at 3/6/12 months?”
Risks & prevention	“What are the most common risks for me, and how do you prevent/manage them (DVT plan, infection control, emergency readiness)?”
Recovery	“What’s my realistic work-capable vs. photo-comfortable timeline and restrictions (lifting, garments, sitting)?”
Combining vs. staging	“If time runs long or risks stack up, what criteria would make you stage procedures?”
Revision policy	“What is your written revision policy—timing, criteria, and typical costs?”
Pricing & access	“Can I have an itemized quote (surgeon, anesthesia, facility, garments/meds, likely extras) and after-hours contacts in writing?”

A trustworthy practice answers directly, shows documents, and encourages second opinions.

How to Read Before-and-After Photos Like a Pro (In Office or Online)

Standardization: Same lighting, distance, background, and angles. Comparability: Patients with similar starting anatomy, age range, skin quality, and goals.
Timelines: You want 3–12-month photos, not just early “wow” images at 2–6 weeks.
Scar honesty: Incisions visible where they truly live (tummy tuck line, lift patterns, behind-ear lines).
Consistency: Many natural, consistent outcomes beat one dramatic transformation.
Diversity: A credible gallery shows a range of body types, ages, and skin tones.

If online galleries are curated tightly, ask to view matched cases in office.

Red Flags to Watch for (If You See Two or More, Slow Down)

• “Board-certified” without naming which board, or non-ABMS cosmetic boards only
• No active hospital privileges for your procedure
• Non-accredited facility or refusal to show certificate and inspection date
• Vague anesthesia plan; no promise of continuous presence; no capnography for moderate/deep sedation
• Guarantees (“scarless,” “no downtime,” “perfect symmetry”) or pressure to book same day
• Only early “after” photos; scars hidden; no matched cases like you
• Thin post-op plan; no after-hours contact; evasive answers on DVT prevention and emergency readiness
• Surprise fees; no itemized quote; revision policy not provided in writing

Your safest move: thank them for their time and keep looking.

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Special Preparation by Procedure (Tiny Tweaks, Big Clarity)

Facelift/neck lift: Practice sleeping elevated; list preferences about hairline/sideburn preservation and earlobe position. Ask for profile and oblique photos at multiple timepoints.

Rhinoplasty: Clarify functional goals (breathing, snoring) alongside aesthetics. Bring “like/avoid” profile and frontal photos; discuss tip support and thick-skin expectations.

Breast lift/augmentation: Decide your priority (shape, scar minimization, or size). Wear/bring a thin, unpadded bra for accurate measurements. Ask about implant profile vs. lift pattern trade-offs.

Abdominoplasty: Wear loose clothing for exam. Note any hernias, C-section scar concerns, or back pain that might affect posture after surgery.

Liposuction/BBL: Discuss off-loading/sitting rules, garment layering, and return-to-training timeline. Bring examples of projection you consider natural for your frame.

Blepharoplasty: Track dry-eye symptoms, contact lens habits, or visual field issues. Ask about local + sedation vs. general anesthesia and monitoring for each.

What a Safe Facility Looks Like (Beyond the Lobby)

Expect the team to discuss—calmly and specifically:

• Accreditation by AAAASF/JCAHO/AAAHC with a current certificate and recent inspection
• Anesthesia presence for the entire case by an MD anesthesiologist or CRNA
• Monitoring that includes ECG, pulse oximetry, blood pressure, and capnography for moderate/deep sedation
• Emergency readiness: crash cart, defibrillator, temperature control, medication safety, and transfer agreements
• Staff training: active BLS/ACLS, documented drills
• Follow-up access: clear schedule and an after-hours number you can call

If they can’t provide proof or specifics, that’s a deal-breaker.

Turn Conversation Into Documentation (Receipts, Not Promises)

Before you pay a deposit, request these in writing (email is fine):

• Confirmation of ABPS board certification and active hospital privileges for your procedure
• Facility accreditation certificate and inspection date
• Anesthesia details: provider credentials, continuous presence, monitoring standards (including capnography), PONV and pain plans
• Comparable photos with visible scars and time labels (3/6/12 months)
• Recovery roadmap: restrictions, garments, sitting/positioning rules, driving/work windows
• DVT prevention steps (compression devices, early ambulation, medication if indicated)
• Written revision policy: timing, criteria, typical costs
• After-hours contacts and follow-up schedule
• Itemized quote: surgeon, anesthesia, facility, garments/meds, likely extras, payment/cancellation terms

No documents? No booking.

Day-Of Consultation Flow (What “Good” Feels Like)

1. Warm-up & goals. The surgeon restates your goals and clarifies trade-offs.
2. Exam & candidacy. Candid explanation of what surgery can and cannot do for your anatomy.
3. Technique & plan. Options (including staging if needed), scar locations, and anesthesia approach.
4. Risk & prevention. Personalized DVT plan, infection control steps, and emergency readiness.
5. Recovery & logistics. Precise restrictions, garment timelines, driving/work windows, off-loading (if BBL), scar care.
6. Photos & outcomes. Multiple comparable cases, standardized views, honest scars, timeline labels.
7. Pricing & policy. Itemized quote, revision policy, after-hours access, and follow-up schedule.
8. Pace & respect. Zero pressure to book; encouragement to review documents and ask more questions.

FAQs

How many consultations should I schedule?
Two to three is common. Bring the same one-page brief and question list to each visit, then compare answers, documents, and rapport.

Is it okay to refuse same-day booking?
Yes. Thoughtful teams expect you to review at home and will provide documents by email.

If I can’t find long-term “after” photos, is that a deal-breaker?
Ask to see additional matched cases in office with time labels and visible scars. If they can’t provide them, reconsider.

What if I’m offered a discount that expires tonight?
Time-limited pressure for major surgery is a red flag. Safety and clarity beat urgency every time.

When should I judge the final result?
Most procedures settle between 3–12 months. Your surgeon should give a realistic window for your operation and schedule follow-ups accordingly.

Your Consultation-Prep Checklist (Print This)

• I created a one-page brief with goals, priorities/acceptances, visuals, logistics, and health snapshot.
• I confirmed ABPS board certification, hospital privileges, accredited facility, and qualified anesthesia (continuous presence + capnography for moderate/deep sedation).
• I brought a medication/supplement list, notebook, and questions table.
• I asked for comparable photos with visible scars and 3/6/12-month labels.
• I received a recovery roadmap, DVT prevention plan, after-hours contacts, and revision policy in writing.
• I obtained an itemized quote (surgeon, anesthesia, facility, garments/meds, likely extras) and payment/cancellation terms.
• I set a review window to compare options calmly—no same-day commitments.
• I will seek a second opinion if any safety documentation or answers remain unclear.

Find Your Match

Ready to turn preparation into a confident, safety-first decision?
AestheticMatch connects you with board-certified, pre-vetted plastic surgeons who operate in accredited facilities and provide transparent documentation before you book.