Basic Questions To Ask A Doctor Before Surgery

What Can I Expect During Recovery?

"What can I expect during recovery?" is a common question to ask your doctor or surgeon. The exact terms of your recovery will vary depending on your procedure. Immediately following your surgery, the team will move you to a recovery area. Your immediate recovery will vary depending on what type of anesthesia was used. If local anesthesia was used, you might be ready to head home just a little while following the procedure. With regional anesthesia, you'll be monitored until the anesthesia fully wears off. You might feel groggy for a while. With general anesthesia, you'll also be monitored until the anesthesia fully wears off. This tends to take from one to two hours and can cause grogginess, soreness in the throat, and possible pain upon waking.

Why Is This Surgery Necessary?

"Why is this surgery necessary?" This is one of the most important questions you can ask your doctor or surgeon. You'll likely have the chance to ask your doctor about this before scheduling the operation. Your doctor can explain what health benefits the surgery will have, along with the potential risks. You can weigh the benefits against the risks to decide whether the surgery is the best option for you.

Doctors will not perform surgery without your consent. It's important to get all the relevant information before deciding whether or not to have a procedure. Your doctor should be able to answer this question with a full explanation of why they're recommending the surgery. They should also be able to tell you if not having the surgery will threaten your life or long-term health.