What to ask before scheduling elective surgery in Fort Worth

Elective surgery is not an emergency. You have time to do diligence. Most regrets come from skipping questions that the consult never invited you to ask. Here is a practical checklist for any elective procedure in Fort Worth, whether you are looking at rhinoplasty, bariatric, knee replacement, or anything in between.

Credentials

• Is the surgeon board-certified in the relevant specialty? "Board-eligible" is not the same.
• Where is the certifying board recognized? American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member boards are the standard.
• Does the surgeon have hospital privileges to perform this procedure? A surgeon with no hospital privileges working out of an office surgical suite is a yellow flag.
• Are there any open malpractice cases or board actions? The Texas Medical Board's public lookup will show disciplinary history.

Facility

• Is the facility accredited? Look for AAAASF, AAAHC, or Joint Commission accreditation. Required for many surgeries; recommended for all.
• Is anesthesia administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist or CRNA?
• What happens if there is a complication during the procedure? What is the closest hospital and is the surgeon credentialed there?

Outcomes and complications

• How many of this specific procedure has the surgeon performed in the last 12 months?
• What is the surgeon's complication rate, broken out by type (infection, revision needed, etc.)?
• What is the revision policy? Who pays if a touch-up is needed within 6 months? 12 months?
• Can you speak with prior patients (with their permission)? Not just see online reviews.

Pricing

• Get a written quote that itemizes: surgeon fee, anesthesia, facility fee, follow-up visits, post-op garments or devices, prescriptions, revision insurance if offered.
• Is this cash pay or insurance? If insurance, what is the estimated patient responsibility after the typical deductible and copay?
• What is the deposit policy? What is refundable if you cancel?
• Is there a financing relationship with a specific lender? Cash-pay clinics often have one; not a problem, but you should know.

Recovery and risk

• What does the realistic recovery look like, day by day, for the first two weeks?
• What activities are restricted, and for how long? Driving, working, exercise, flying?
• What is the most common thing that goes wrong, even if rare?
• What signs after surgery should make you call the office immediately?

Red flags

• Pressure to book at the consult, often with "today-only" pricing.
• Refusal to put pricing in writing.
• Vague answers about complication rates or revision policy.
• Surgeon who has not personally examined you before discussing the procedure.
• No clear plan for what happens if complications occur after hours or on weekends.

Get a second opinion

For any elective surgery costing more than $5,000 or involving general anesthesia, a second consult is cheap insurance. Fort Worth has enough providers across most specialties that you can get a second opinion without going far. If two surgeons recommend different approaches, ask each to walk through the tradeoffs.

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult licensed physicians before making decisions about surgery.