Surgery
Choosing a Surgeon
Here are some helpful suggestions for selecting a surgeon.
Board certification
Ask if the surgeon is board-certified, which means he or she has passed a rigorous examination by the appropriate surgical board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
Professional credentials
The letters FACS after a surgeon’s name means he or she has been successfully reviewed by an additional professional board, the American College of Surgeons.
Ask about the surgeon, the surgery itself and treatment options. Here are some questions you might ask:
- Why do I need surgery? Are there alternative treatments I might consider?
- Are you recommending a specific type of surgery? Please describe it.
- What are the risks and the benefits of this surgery?
- How many of these procedures have you performed?
- Should I obtain a second opinion?
- What kind of anesthesia will be used?
- What limitations will I have after surgery? How long will it take me to recover?
