Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before You Have Surgery

The following are questions you should ask your physician before having surgery. The answers will help you be informed. Then you can make the best decision about:

  • whether to have surgery
  • who should perform it
  • where to have it
  • when to have it

If you are well-informed about your treatment you are more likely to be satisfied with the outcome and results. Here are the questions:

1. Why do I need the operation?

There are many reasons to have surgery. Some operations can relieve or prevent pain. Others can reduce the symptom of a problem or improve a body function. Some surgeries are performed to diagnose a problem. Surgery can also save your life. When your surgeon tells you the purpose of the procedure, be sure you understand how the recommended operation fits in with the diagnosis of your medical condition.

2. Are there alternatives to surgery?

Sometimes surgery is not the only answer to a medical problem. Medicines or other nonsurgical treatments might help you just as well or more. Always ask your doctor or surgeon about other possible choices.

3. What are the benefits of having the operation?

Ask your surgeon what you will gain by having the operation. For example, hip replacement may mean you can walk again with ease. Ask how long the benefits are likely to last. For some procedures, the benefits may last for a short time only. There might be a need for a second operation at a later date. For other procedures, the benefits may last a lifetime. Be realistic. Some patients expect too much and are disappointed with the results.

4. What are the risks of having the operation?

All surgery carries some risk. This is why you need to weigh the benefits of having the operation against the risk of complications or side effects. There is almost always some pain with surgery. Ask how much you can expect. Then ask what the healthcare providers will do to reduce pain.

5. What if I don't have this operation?

Based on what you learn about the benefits and risks of the operation, you might decide not to have it. But you must also decide what the likely outcome will be for the condition. If you choose not to have the surgery, it could:

  • stay the same
  • continue to cause pain
  • get worse
  • clear up on its own

6. What is your experience in doing this surgery?

One way to reduce the risks of surgery is to choose a surgeon who has been thoroughly trained in the procedure you are considering. Besides asking the surgeon directly, you can also ask your primary-care physician about the surgeon's qualifications.

7. What kind of anesthesia will I need?

You might only need a local anesthesia, which is a numbing of only a part of the body for a short time. Or you might need a regional anesthesia—a numbing of a larger portion of the body for a few hours. Or you might need a general anesthesia—a numbing of the entire body for the entire time of the surgery. Your surgeon can tell you.

Your surgeon can also tell you why this form of anesthesia is recommended for your procedure. Ask what the side effects and risks of having anesthesia are in your case. Be sure to mention any medical problems you have, including allergies. Also tell your surgeon about any medications you have been taking. They could affect your response to the anesthesia.