Look at your surgeon's qualifications.

	A surgeon will have the initials FRCS, FRACS or FACCS after their name.
	How many years experience does he/she have?
	What are their actual surgical qualifications?
	Where did they train?
	What year did they graduate?
	Are they fellows of any surgical college?
	Is your surgeon a member of the Australian College of Cosmetic Surgery?
	How many of these procedures have they done?
	Does he/she attend conferences to update knowledge on a regular basis?
	Ask to look at a number if results of previous patients so that you are happy with consistent results.

Look at the facility he/she operates at.

	Is it a registered day surgery unit or hospital?
	Is the unit accredited? (This means that if you have private health insurance, you may be able to claim some component of the fee.) It also means that the unit has undergone quality assurance and that the government has been satisfied to pass the accreditation.

Consider the appropriate staff.

	Will there be an anaesthetist present to look after my anaesthetic?
	Does this procedure require a surgical assistant?
	There should be a minimum of 2 nurses in the operating room and one in recovery.

Has the company given me ample time to think about this procedure?

	It is not normal practice to undergo a consultation and procedure on the same day. Don't allow anyone to talk you into quickly making a decision regarding elective surgery.
	Make sure you are happy with the bedside manner of your chosen surgeon.
	Make sure that you write down any questions, so that they can be answered at the time of your consultation.
	Your consultation should be around 30 minutes.