Questions to ask your plastic surgeon and/or breast surgeon

You’re likely to have lots of questions for your surgeon and the list below is a good starting point. You can even print these questions and take them to your consultation with you.

About the procedure

• What are all my options for breast reconstruction?
• What are the possible risks and complications for each type of breast implant operation and how common are they?
• How many steps are there in each procedure and what are they?
• How long will it take to complete my reconstruction?
• How much pain or discomfort will I feel and for how long?
• How long will I be in hospital?
• Will I need blood transfusions and can I donate my own blood?

About the surgeon

• How much experience do you have with each procedure?
• Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for each procedure? What results are reasonable for me?
• Can you recommend any cancer support group?

About the results

• What if my cancer recurs or occurs in the other breast?
• Will reconstruction interfere with my cancer treatment?
• What will my scars look like?
• What kind of changes in my implanted breast can I expect over time?
• What kind of changes in my implanted breast can I expect with pregnancy?
• What are my options if I’m dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my implanted breast?
• When will I be able to resume my normal activity (sexual activity or athletic activity)?

About the cost

• For staged reconstruction, what is the estimated total cost of each procedure?
• How much will my health insurance carrier cover, especially any complication that may require an operation?

About the implants

• Who is the manufacturer of my breast implant?
• Where can I find safety and effectiveness information regarding these breast implants?
• Does the manufacturer have a product warranty?