Surgery

Patient Pre-Surgery Question Guide

A discussion guide to assess necessity, risk, alternatives and evidence before agreeing to surgery.

What is the exact goal of this surgery?
What problem is it supposed to resolve or improve?
Will it eliminate the cause of the issue or just manage symptoms?
What are the chances that I will feel noticeably better as a direct result of this surgery?
Based on your patients, not general statistics.
Are there published studies showing that this surgery reliably improves outcomes for people like me (considering my age, sex, health history, severity)?

How many of these surgeries have you personally performed?
What percentage of your patients report meaningful improvement within 3, 6, and 12 months post-op?
How many of your patients do not improve, or feel worse after this surgery?
Do you follow up with your patients long-term (1–3 years)? What do you see over time?
Can you show me published data or independent reviews that show long-term benefit for this procedure?
Not industry-funded summaries, actual outcome data.

What are the most common complications immediately after surgery?
What are the rare but most serious risks? (e.g., nerve damage, infection, permanent loss of function)
Have any of your patients experienced long-term harm or disability as a result of this procedure?
What is the worst-case scenario for me specifically, given my health history?
If complications occur, what would the treatment plan be—and would they be reversible?

What are the non-surgical alternatives to this procedure?
Have you had patients who chose not to do the surgery and improved anyway?
Is there a chance that lifestyle, structural rehab, fasting, or non-invasive therapies could resolve this problem without surgery?
Would you support me trying alternative therapies for 3–6 months first before reassessing?
If I delay the surgery, is there any real harm or risk of worsening in the meantime?

Why do you feel the benefits of this procedure outweigh the risks in my case specifically?
How will you tailor the surgical approach to my anatomy, condition severity, and healing capacity?
Do I have any biological predispositions (age, blood sugar, immune condition) that increase risk of complications or delayed healing?
Can we conduct any pre-op testing (e.g., nutritional markers, inflammatory panels, imaging) to ensure I’m optimized for recovery?

What is the full financial cost of this procedure (surgery, hospital, anesthesia, post-op)?
Will insurance cover everything? Are there surprise costs or out-of-pocket rehab needs?
If something goes wrong, am I financially liable for corrective surgeries or extended care?

How many years have you been performing this specific procedure?
What changes or improvements have you made in your surgical technique over time?
Would you recommend this surgery to your own family member in my exact situation?
Do you or your practice receive any financial incentives from the hospital or device manufacturers related to this procedure?

“If I choose not to do this surgery, what will likely happen over the next 3, 6, or 12 months—and what are the chances I’ll improve on my own?”

“I’d like a few days to reflect, review the data, and look at alternatives before I decide. Can I follow up with you after doing that?”

Take notes during the discussion or ask to record (with consent)
Ask for studies and review them at home
If you feel pressured, rushed, or discouraged from asking questions, that's a red flag
Consider a second opinion if any doubt remains