Questions to Ask at Your Cosmetic Surgery Consultation
A consultation is not a formality — it is the one structured chance you have to test the surgeon before they test their technique on you. Patients who arrive with written questions make better decisions and report fewer regrets. Here is the question set worth bringing to any cosmetic surgery consultation in Manila or anywhere else.
Do not worry about seeming difficult. Competent surgeons answer direct questions easily; it is the evasive answers, not the questions, that should worry you.
About the surgeon
- Are you certified by the Philippine Board of Plastic Surgery?
- How many of this exact procedure have you performed, and how many per year currently?
- May I see unedited before-and-after photographs of your own patients, including cases similar to mine?
- What is your revision rate for this procedure?
About the plan
- What technique do you recommend for me, and what are the realistic alternatives — including doing nothing?
- What result should I reasonably expect, and what will this procedure not change?
- Where will the scars be, and may I see healed examples?
- What is the full recovery timeline — when can I work, exercise, and fly?
About safety and logistics
| Question | The answer you want |
|---|---|
| Where will surgery take place? | A DOH-licensed, accredited surgical facility or hospital |
| Who provides anesthesia? | A physician anesthesiologist |
| What happens if something goes wrong? | A clear complication protocol, with costs spelled out |
| What does the quoted price include? | An itemized written quote — surgeon, anesthesia, facility, follow-up |
| Who do I contact at 2 a.m. after surgery? | A direct contact, not a generic hotline |
After the consultation
Write down what was said while it is fresh, and compare notes if you see more than one surgeon. Take the time you are given — a decision made under a countdown timer or a “today only” discount is a decision made for the clinic's benefit, not yours.
If the answers are consistent, specific, and unhurried, you have probably found a professional. If they are vague, contradictory, or sales-driven, keep looking.