Tough Questions to Ask Your Rhinoplasty Surgeon

By Kendra Wagner

Rhinoplasty, or nose surgery, is one of today’s most commonly performed cosmetic procedures. While this surgery may be popular, it is important to carefully consider all aspects of the procedure before deciding if it is right for you. Additionally, you must choose the right doctor to perform your surgery in order to obtain the results you desire. While it is impossible to predict every possible outcome, asking your rhinoplasty surgeon a few tough questions can dramatically improve your chances of having a good experience and achieving the results you want.

1. Are you board certified?
The first question you must ask potential rhinoplasty surgeons is whether or not they are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Listen carefully to the answer! Some doctors claim a number of certifications from similar sounding organizations, but these don’t necessarily indicate rigorous training and experience. While doctors are often qualified to perform a range of surgical procedures, this certification indicates that your doctor has had between six to eight years of specialized training and experience in plastic surgery. You may want to also ask about any additional certifications or organization to which the doctor belongs.

2. How long have you been performing rhinoplasty?
In order to achieve the look you want, it is important to find a surgeon that has ample experience performing rhinoplasty. The best case scenario is to find a doctor who has performed the procedure hundreds of times. If a potential surgeon has only done rhinoplasty a few times, look elsewhere for a more experienced doctor.

3. Do you have any “before-and-after” photos I can look at?
Many doctors keep records containing images of patients both before and after surgery. Before you allow a rhinoplasty surgeon to perform a procedure, you need to look at the results they have achieved in the past. In many cases, doctors are able to provide a patient book containing a wide variety of patient images. These photos can help you determine if the surgeon produces the results you want and can also help you get an idea of what effects you can achieve with rhinoplasty.

4. What will the recovery process be like?
The period of time after rhinoplasty is every bit as important as the surgery itself. Your surgeon should be able to provide clear details about who will be providing your post-operative care as well as how long the recovery process will take. Before the surgery, you need to have an idea about how long it will be before you can resume normal activities so that you can plan accordingly. By asking for these details beforehand, you will be better prepared to cope with the aftercare.

In order to have a good plastic surgery experience, you should take the time to interview several different rhinoplasty surgeons. Compare your findings, and then determine which seems to offer the most in terms of experience, skill and knowledge. Most importantly, always keep your expectations realistic. If a surgeon makes outrageous promises, chances are these claims are too good to be true.

Make sure you also ask about rhinoplasty cost and take a look at rhinoplasty pictures of your doctor’s previous patients. By combining your careful rhinoplasty research with your instincts, you can find the best possible candidate to perform your rhinoplasty procedure.