Questions to Ask at a Cosmetic Surgery Consultation

A consultation is not a formality on the way to booking surgery — it's the point where you gather the specific, individual information that a website or brochure can't give you. The questions below are grouped into six areas a thorough consultation should cover, followed by how to read red-flag answers, why a cooling-off period matters, and a printable checklist to take with you.

About the Surgeon

GMC patient guidance on cosmetic procedures¹ specifically suggests asking "have you done this procedure before?" as one of the sample questions to raise before committing. How many of this specific procedure have you personally performed in the past year? A surgeon's overall caseload matters less than their recent, specific experience with the exact procedure you're considering. A surgeon who does a high volume of one procedure but rarely performs yours is not necessarily the right choice for your case.

Confirm the surgeon's entry on the GMC's Specialist Register independently, rather than taking their word for it — this takes two minutes on the GMC's public website and is worth doing before, not after, you book. This matters because "cosmetic surgeon" isn't a protected title in the UK — anyone with a GMC licence can use it, regardless of surgical training, so the title on the door tells you far less than the register entry does. Society membership adds a further layer: see the site's BAAPS & BAPRAS guide for what full membership of either body actually signals, and ask whether the surgeon holds RCS England's voluntary cosmetic surgery certification⁴ for the specific procedure you're discussing.

What is your complication rate, and how do you personally manage complications when they occur? Every surgeon, however skilled, will encounter complications at some point — see Risks & Complications for the general list. What matters is candour about frequency and a clear plan for what happens if something goes wrong under their care, not a claim of a perfect record. A surgeon who quotes a specific figure, explains how it's tracked, and describes what they actually do when a complication arises is telling you far more than one who simply asserts they "rarely" have problems.

Finally, ask directly: can I speak to you, the operating surgeon, rather than only a patient coordinator? You should be able to have a substantive conversation with the person who will actually operate on you before committing, and that conversation should feel like a genuine clinical assessment rather than a sales pitch delivered by someone else on the surgeon's behalf. If direct access to the surgeon is consistently difficult to arrange before booking — repeated deferrals to a coordinator, or a surgeon who only appears briefly on the day itself — treat that as informative in itself, and factor it into your decision alongside the more clinical questions above.

About the Procedure

What surgical technique will you use, and why is it the right one for me specifically? A good answer explains the reasoning tied to your own anatomy and goals, not a generic description copied from a leaflet. Ask what alternative techniques exist for the same goal, including less invasive options or, honestly, the option of not operating at all, and why those alternatives were set aside in your particular case. Why are you recommending this specific approach for me, rather than a standard package you offer most patients? A surgeon who can point to something specific about your anatomy, skin quality or goals that shaped the recommendation is engaging with your case individually. A surgeon who answers only with the procedure's brand name or a marketing description is worth questioning further before you proceed.

About Safety

Can I see your CQC registration and the facility's most recent inspection report? A confident, properly registered clinic will have no hesitation showing you this, consistent with the CQC's guidance for cosmetic surgery providers³. See CQC-Registered Clinics for how to check it yourself in advance, so you can compare what you're told against the public record.

Who gives the anaesthetic, and are they a named, separately GMC-registered doctor? The anaesthetist is a distinct doctor from the surgeon, and it's good practice for them to be named to you well before the day of surgery rather than for the first time on arrival. Check their entry on the GMC medical register² independently, exactly as you would the surgeon's. What happens in an emergency during or after the procedure — which hospital do you have admitting rights at? Day-case and outpatient cosmetic procedures still need a clear escalation plan if something goes wrong. A surgeon should be able to answer this specifically, with a named hospital, not vaguely.

About Results

Ask to see realistic before-and-after examples of patients with a similar starting point to yours, not just the clinic's most striking cases, and ask specifically where any resulting scars will sit and how they typically mature over the first year. What happens if I'm unhappy with the result? Ask this even before signing up, not after. A transparent practice will explain their process for addressing dissatisfaction, which should connect directly to the next question.

What is your written revision policy — what's covered, for how long, and at what cost? A verbal assurance is not the same as a written policy. Ask specifically what circumstances qualify for a covered revision, the time window during which it applies, and what costs (if any) you would still be responsible for. See Revision Surgery: When It's Needed and How Long to Wait for why this detail matters so much, and note that the wait for a genuine revision is typically 12 months or more regardless of what a policy promises, because the tissue needs that time to settle first.

It's also worth asking the surgeon to distinguish, in plain terms, between a recognised surgical complication and a result the patient is simply unhappy with but which falls within normal surgical variation — many written policies treat these very differently, covering one in full and the other not at all, or only at a reduced rate. Understanding this distinction before you sign anything avoids a difficult conversation later, at a point when emotions around an unsatisfactory result are already running high.

About Cost

What does the total quoted price include and exclude? A proper quote separates the surgeon's fee, anaesthetist's fee, facility fee, garments, prescribed medication, follow-up appointments and revision cost, itemised individually rather than bundled into one headline figure. See Cosmetic Surgery Costs in the UK for what a complete quote should look like. Ask explicitly what could add to the price after booking — an unplanned overnight stay, a longer anaesthetic than estimated, or additional garments — so there are no unexplained extra charges once you've already committed to a date.

About Recovery

How long before I can return to work, and what physical restrictions apply during recovery? A specific answer, tied to the type of work you do, is more useful than a generic figure — desk-based work and physically demanding work carry different realistic timelines. Ask how many follow-up appointments are included, over what period, and whether they're with the surgeon personally or with nursing staff, and what the plan is if a concern arises between scheduled appointments. A surgeon who sets out a clear recovery and follow-up schedule at consultation, rather than leaving it vague until after surgery, is one you can hold to that plan afterwards.

Red-Flag Answers

Some answers at consultation are themselves the warning sign, regardless of how the rest of the conversation goes. Watch for:

• Pressure to decide today, especially when combined with a discount that expires if you don't book before leaving. A genuine price doesn't need a same-day deadline to be reasonable.
• Risks minimised or waved away rather than discussed specifically for the procedure and your individual health profile. Every surgical procedure carries real risk, and a surgeon who implies otherwise is not being straight with you.
• Being asked to decide, or to pay a deposit, without having met the operating surgeon in person. A patient coordinator can explain logistics, but the decision to proceed should follow a proper assessment by the surgeon themselves.
• Vague or evasive answers about complication rates, admitting hospital, or the revision policy — a confident, transparent practice answers these directly rather than redirecting the conversation.

See the site's full red flags & pressure selling guide for the wider list of warning signs across the whole patient journey, not just the consultation itself. And if a procedure has already gone ahead and something has gone wrong, When Cosmetic Surgery Goes Wrong sets out the UK complaint route, from the clinic through to ISCAS, CQC and the GMC.

The Cooling-Off Expectation in the UK

Is there a cooling-off period before I need to commit or pay a deposit? A genuine cooling-off period, free of pressure to sign on the day, is a marker of good practice in UK cosmetic surgery, and reputable clinics build it into their process as standard rather than only offering it if a patient asks. Its absence — being expected to commit at the same appointment as your first assessment, particularly for a significant or irreversible procedure — is worth noticing rather than dismissing as simply efficient administration. Use the time a proper cooling-off period gives you to reflect, discuss the decision with people close to you, and, if anything still feels unclear, seek a second opinion before signing anything.

Printable Checklist

Print or save this list and take it with you — a written list keeps the conversation on track even if the appointment feels rushed, and it gives you something concrete to compare between clinics if you're seeing more than one.

1. How many of this specific procedure have you personally performed in the past year?
2. What is your complication rate, and how do you personally manage complications?
3. What technique will you use for me specifically, and what alternatives did you consider?
4. Can I see your CQC registration and latest inspection report?
5. Who gives the anaesthetic, and are they separately GMC-registered?
6. Which hospital do you have admitting rights at in an emergency?
7. What is your written revision policy — cover, time limit, and cost?
8. What does the total price include and exclude, in writing?
9. How long until I can return to work, and how many follow-up appointments are included?
10. Is there a cooling-off period before I need to pay a deposit?

FAQ