I remember sitting across from Sarah (not her real name, obviously) in my office last month. After what she called a “nightmare experience” with another clinic, she’d come in for a consultation. Tears welled up in her eyes as she described how she’d felt rushed, unheard, and ultimately unhappy with both the process and results of her previous surgery.

 

“I wish I’d known what questions to ask,” she told me. “I just didn’t know what I didn’t know.”

 

Her story stuck with me because I’ve heard it too many times over my years of practising breast surgery in London. Finding the right surgeon isn’t straightforward, and the consequences of making the wrong choice can be significant and long-lasting.

 

So, I’d jot down some thoughts on the questions I wish more of my patients would ask before they commit to surgery. Not the standard stuff about qualifications (though that matters!), but the more profound questions that separate the exceptional surgeons from the merely competent ones.

 

Question 1: “How many procedures exactly like mine have you done in the past year?”

 

Not just breast surgeries in general. Not just “similar” procedures.

 

Ask for specifics about your exact situation. Suppose you’re considering a breast reduction for asymmetrical breasts. In that case, you want someone who’s done dozens of those specifically, not someone who primarily does augmentations and has made a few reductions on the side.

 

I had a patient last year who came to me after three consultations elsewhere. She told me I was the first surgeon who didn’t give a vague answer about her experience with her specific condition. Why would anyone be comfortable with being unclear about your body?

 

Look, I’m not perfect—no surgeon is. But there’s no substitute for having seen the same challenge many times before. When I encounter unusual anatomy or unexpected tissue responses during surgery, my experience with similar cases guides my decisions.

 

Don’t let politeness stop you from pressing for details here!

 

Question 2: “Can you tell me about a case where things didn’t go perfectly and how you handled it?”

 

This question makes surgeons squirm. Good! Surgery isn’t perfect, and neither are surgeons (despite what some of my colleagues’ egos might suggest!).

 

What you’re looking for isn’t perfection – honesty and problem-solving. My most satisfied patients aren’t necessarily those with the most textbook-perfect outcomes. They’re the ones who felt supported and informed throughout their entire journey, mainly when challenges arose.

 

Question 3: “If I call your office upset about something at 9 pm on a Friday, what happens?”

 

This might seem oddly specific, but it gets at something crucial: what happens when things aren’t going according to plan?

 

Surgery is emotional. Recovery can be scary. Pain, swelling, and bruising don’t observe office hours.

I’ve had patients call me in tears, convinced something was wrong when, in fact, what they were experiencing was completely normal. I’ve had patients apologetically call about “probably nothing” that actually needed immediate attention.

 

Question 4: “What’s your revision policy if I’m unhappy with the results?”

 

Nobody likes to think about this before surgery, but it’s essential.

 

Even with perfect technique and an uncomplicated recovery, aesthetic outcomes are subjective. Sometimes, what the surgeon sees as a good result doesn’t match what the patient envisioned.

 

A surgeon confident in their skills and genuinely cares about patient satisfaction will have a clear, fair revision policy. The question won’t offend them – they’ll appreciate that you’re thinking carefully.

 

In my practice, minor revisions within the first year are handled with just a facility fee. For more significant concerns, I believe in honest conversations about realistic expectations and practical solutions. Sometimes, that means additional surgery, and sometimes, it means accepting certain limitations.

 

Question 5: “What happens on a typical day in your operating room?”

 

This might seem random, but it reveals volumes about the surgeon’s approach and priorities.

 

Do they rush through cases to maximize volume? Do they operate with the same team consistently? How many patients do they typically schedule in a day? What safety protocols do they follow?

 

Trust Your Gut

 

Pay attention to how you feel after all the questions are asked and answered. Your surgeon’s technical skill matters enormously, but so does your comfort with them as a person.

 

Did they rush you? Did they listen? Did they examine you thoroughly and discuss options specific to your body, not just generic procedures? Did they encourage questions or seem irritated by them?

 

Sarah, the patient I mentioned earlier, eventually had revision surgery with me. During her follow-up visit, she said something that stuck with me: “The difference wasn’t just in the result – though that’s much better too. It was that this time I never felt alone in the process.”

 

I wish all patients navigating this significant decision the confidence that comes from knowing they’ve chosen a surgeon who sees them as a whole person, not just another procedure on the schedule.

After all, this is your body, experience, and outcome. You deserve nothing less than exceptional care at every step.