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Seven checks to complete before booking
| Check | Keep a record of |
|---|---|
| 1. Credentials | Full name, specialty certification and independent verification source |
| 2. Relevant experience | Experience with the exact proposed procedure |
| 3. Treatment scope | Areas included, your goals and expected limitations |
| 4. Facility and team | Operating location, anesthesia arrangements and responsible clinicians |
| 5. Risks and alternatives | Your unresolved questions and the option of no treatment |
| 6. Aftercare | Review dates and the route for urgent contact |
| 7. Full cost | A written estimate with inclusions and exclusions |
This is an appointment worksheet, not a safety rating. Do not let an attractive price compensate for an unanswered qualification or aftercare question. For an online first appointment, see virtual consultation preparation.
Which credentials should I check?
For a US-focused search, ASPS identifies certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery as a key qualification; its Canadian members are certified through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. It also highlights training and appropriate surgical facilities. Do not assume every official-sounding certification means the same thing. Source: ASPS patient safety guidance.
Record the clinician's full name, the exact certification claimed and where you verified it. Check the applicable licensing and specialty register for the country where treatment would take place. A logo on a website is a starting point for verification, not the verification itself. If you cannot match the identity or qualification, ask for clarification before booking.
What should I ask about experience with my procedure?
Ask about the particular operation being proposed, not just how long the clinician has worked. For example, an upper-eyelid consultation and a revision nose operation raise different questions. Request an explanation of how the surgeon assesses goals like yours and what limitations they would expect to discuss.
When looking at examples, ask which procedures were performed, when the after photograph was taken and whether there were additional treatments. Similar lighting and pose make an image easier to interpret, but a photograph still cannot prove that you would have the same result. A generated image must be identified as AI rather than shown as a patient outcome.
How can I compare two consultations?
| Record for each consultation | What belongs in the note |
|---|---|
| Credentials | Full name, relevant qualification and verification source |
| Proposed operation | Exact scope and the goals it addresses |
| Limitations | Goals the clinician says the plan cannot meet |
| Location and team | Facility and who provides anesthesia and follow-up |
| Aftercare | Scheduled reviews and out-of-hours contact route |
| Costs | Included items, exclusions and unresolved fees |
| Your decision | Questions still open; no commitment required |
Use the same headings for both consultations. Do not turn the table into a numerical safety score: a missing answer should remain a question to resolve, not a zero that can be outweighed by attractive photos.
What should I know about aftercare before paying?
Ask where follow-up happens and who you contact if the original clinician is unavailable. If you are travelling, ask how the proposed review schedule fits with your return journey and how a concern after returning home would be handled. Get the instructions and contact details in writing.
Clarify the clinic's policy for further assessment, additional treatment and related fees. Do not assume the word “aftercare” includes every visit or possible intervention. The point is to understand the arrangement before you depend on it, including any practical limits on access or travel.
Are reviews or a low quote enough to decide?
Reviews can suggest questions to ask, but they do not verify your proposed operation, credentials or personal risk. Likewise, a lower total is difficult to interpret if the two quotes include different services. Keep promotional claims separate from the written plan.
Pause if an important question remains unanswered or you feel pushed to decide before understanding the proposal. Bring a short list of your priorities rather than a request for a perfect result. If you use PlastyAI to explain an appearance preference, clearly label the image as a concept and keep the original beside it. Read the reference-photo guide for that discussion and the patient question library for procedure-specific prompts.
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By PlastyAI editorial · Published . Written with AI assistance using the linked medical patient resources, checked October 31, 2026. General educational information, not personal medical advice. Not clinically reviewed. Send a correction.