Safe cosmetic surgery is still a serious health procedure. Once the surgery is performed, there’s no going back.

As such, it is crucial that patients are well informed and can make educated decisions before any procedures. Even once you’ve decided that you want cosmetic surgery, you have to determine what procedure you want, how extensive the procedure should be, who will perform the procedure, and more.

Of course, one of the first steps in becoming informed about cosmetic surgery is asking the right questions. By talking to your physician and asking smart questions, you can rest assured that you’re making the right decision when you go in for the procedure.

To aid you in the process, we’ve put together this short list of questions that you should ask a surgeon before making any decisions about cosmetic surgery.

• What are your qualifications? Don’t waste your time with or receive misinformation from someone who isn’t qualified to be advising you. Ask if they’re certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, how many years of experience they have, where they were educated, whether they’re specifically trained in plastic surgery, and where they perform these procedures. It may sound like overkill, but when it comes to your health, it truly is better to be safe than sorry.

• What can I expect to look like after the procedure? Another important consideration for cosmetic surgery is having realistic, managed expectations. By talking in detail about the procedure with a surgeon, you can have a good idea of what to expect, as well as whether or not the procedure will be worth it. Your surgeon should be able to show you before and after photos of his own patients to help you understand what type of results are typical.

• What will be the total cost of the procedure? This one sounds obvious, but it’s important and there’s more to it than you might realize. Ask about surgeon’s fees, anesthesia, operating room expenses, and any materials, like implants. Be wary of any quote that sounds too good to be true: a surgeon may offer a low-rate because they’re cutting corners on safety procedures, or they may hit you with extra fees later on.

• What should I expect out of recovery? With every procedure, there will be a recovery period necessitating a lot of rest. It may be a few days, or it may be six weeks. It’s best to know ahead of time how much time you’ll need to take off work, as well as plan for childcare and bed rest.

Dr. Mucci completed postdoctoral training in plastic surgery at Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland in Baltimore, and has completed thousands of cosmetic surgeries over the course of his 20 years of practice.

In short, Dr. Mucci can answer and all questions you have about cosmetic surgeries, as well as achieve amazing results with these procedures. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Mucci today!