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Compassionate safety education Credential-checking resources Education—not medical advice

Patient-safety education

Questions worth asking before cosmetic surgery

Use these answers to prepare for conversations with licensed healthcare professionals, verify care independently, and make a decision without pressure.

A calm place to begin

Practical questions. Clear next steps.

Explore each topic at your own pace, then bring what you learn to a licensed healthcare professional.

Begin with the basics

Cosmetic Surgery Safety

Cosmetic surgery is still surgery. Every procedure has risks, and safety depends on more than the procedure itself.

Understand your risks

Ask how your health history and the specific procedure affect your personal risks, alternatives, and expected recovery.

Verify your care

Confirm the surgeon’s license and qualifications, the facility’s credentials, and who will provide anesthesia.

Plan for complications

Know the emergency and hospital-transfer plan, after-hours contact process, and who will provide follow-up care.

Bring these to your consultation

Questions to Ask Your Surgeon

You deserve clear, understandable answers. Write them down, take your time, and independently verify important details.

Qualifications

  • Is your medical license active and unrestricted?
  • Are you board certified, and what is the exact name of the certifying board?
  • What training and experience do you have with this procedure?

Facility and anesthesia

  • Where will the procedure take place, and how can I verify the facility?
  • Who will provide and monitor my anesthesia?
  • What is the emergency and hospital-transfer plan?

Risks and follow-up

  • What risks and alternatives apply to me?
  • How are complications handled?
  • Who will provide follow-up care, including after hours?

Give yourself permission to pause

Warning Signs

A warning sign is a reason to stop and verify—not proof that a person or business has done something wrong.

  • Pressure to book, pay, or decide quickly
  • Guaranteed results or claims that minimize risk
  • “Board certified” claims that do not name the certifying board
  • Resistance to questions about licenses, the facility, anesthesia, or emergency plans
  • Provider or facility information that is inconsistent across records
  • No clear written plan for follow-up or after-hours concerns

Prepare with your licensed care team

Preparing for Surgery

Follow the individualized instructions from your healthcare professionals. Do not change medicines or treatment on your own.

Share your history

Discuss health conditions, medicines, supplements, allergies, tobacco use, and previous anesthesia experiences.

Confirm instructions

Ask for clear directions about medicines, fasting, skin preparation, arrival time, and what to bring.

Plan support

Arrange transportation and help at home, and keep written recovery instructions and contact numbers accessible.

Know the plan before you go home

Recovery Safety

Ask your care team what is expected, what is concerning, whom to contact, and which symptoms require emergency help.

Protect your recovery

  • Follow the written wound-care, activity, medicine, and follow-up instructions from your care team.
  • Clean your hands before caring for the surgical area, and do not let visitors touch the wound or dressings.
  • Keep daytime and after-hours contact information nearby.

Contact your healthcare provider

CDC lists redness or pain around the surgical area, cloudy drainage, and fever as possible signs of a surgical-site infection. Contact your provider immediately if you have symptoms of an infection. For a medical emergency, call 911.

Continue learning

Educational Resources

Use reliable sources, verify information independently, and bring questions to licensed healthcare professionals.

News & InformationExplore plastic-surgery news, research summaries, and practical education. Verify Before SurgeryFind official tools for checking surgeons and facilities. Contact the FoundationAsk a general educational question.

Official patient-safety sources

CDC: Surgical Site Infection Basics ASPS: Consultation Questions ASA: Preparing for Surgery

11 safety questions

Safety Basics

2 questions
Is cosmetic surgery still surgery?

Yes. Elective cosmetic procedures should be approached as medical procedures, with careful attention to risks, anesthesia, recovery, follow-up care, and emergency planning. A consultation with qualified, licensed healthcare professionals is essential.

What risks should I discuss before surgery?

Ask your licensed healthcare professional to explain the risks that apply to your health, the planned procedure, and anesthesia, as well as possible complications, recovery expectations, warning signs, and when to seek urgent care.

Verifying Care

3 questions
How can I verify a surgeon or provider’s credentials?

Ask for the provider’s full name, active professional license, training, and board-certification details. Confirm them independently through the relevant state licensing authority and the certifying organization’s official directory rather than relying only on marketing or social media.

How do I check a facility’s accreditation?

Ask for the facility’s legal name and accreditation, then verify that information with the accrediting organization. Also ask who is responsible for anesthesia, what monitoring is used, and whether the facility is prepared to respond to complications.

What should I ask about emergency readiness?

Ask what emergency equipment and trained staff are available, who leads the response, how complications are handled after hours, and what hospital-transfer arrangements are in place. Request clear instructions for urgent symptoms and follow-up contacts.

Informed Decisions

4 questions
What should informed consent include?

Informed consent should be a conversation you understand—not just a form to sign. Ask for a plain-language explanation of the procedure, expected benefits, material risks, alternatives, anesthesia plan, recovery, follow-up care, and the consequences of choosing not to proceed.

What warning signs should I watch for in advertising?

Be cautious about guaranteed results, pressure to book quickly, vague answers about credentials or accreditation, unusually low prices without a clear explanation of what is included, and requests to decide before your questions are answered.

Should price be the main reason I choose a provider?

No. Cost is only one factor. Compare provider qualifications, facility standards, anesthesia and emergency planning, follow-up care, what the quoted price includes, and whether you feel fully informed and free from pressure.

What questions should I bring to a consultation?

Ask who will perform each part of the procedure, where it will take place, who provides anesthesia, what risks apply to you, how complications are managed, what recovery and follow-up involve, and whom to contact after hours.

About the Foundation

2 questions
Does the Foundation recommend surgeons or facilities?

No. The Foundation provides education and awareness and does not endorse a particular surgeon, facility, procedure, or result. Use independent official sources to verify credentials and discuss your circumstances with licensed healthcare professionals.

Is this information medical advice?

The Layssa Cosmetic Surgery Awareness Foundation provides education and awareness only. This information is not medical advice and does not replace consultation with licensed healthcare professionals. Anyone considering surgery should speak with qualified medical providers and verify surgeon credentials, facility accreditation, emergency procedures, and risks before making a decision.

Continue the conversation

Learn why this work matters—or ask a general question.

The Layssa Cosmetic Surgery Awareness Foundation honors Layssa Ivette Jimenez through compassionate education that helps women and families make informed decisions.

About the Foundation Contact the Foundation

Educational notice

Information, not medical advice

The Layssa Cosmetic Surgery Awareness Foundation provides education and awareness only. This information is not medical advice and does not replace consultation with licensed healthcare professionals. Anyone considering surgery should speak with qualified medical providers and verify surgeon credentials, facility accreditation, emergency procedures, and risks before making a decision.