My first consultation with a surgeon is this week. What should I expect? What questions do I *need* to ask?

[Asdefxx]

I'm meeting with a high-volume Board-certified surgeon who lives where I live (John Paul Rusilko), but I'm leaning more towards flying to one of the superstars instead.

I've already read a ton about the surgery, and I have some questions written down, but I don't wanna miss any important ones. And then what else should I expect in general for this first appointment?

[lasthope2.0]

In the first appointment they like to assess and document your medical necessity for the surgery and to evaluate safety for anesthesia, such as heart and lung function and on blood sugar control for infection risk reduction.

Here are the ones I'd personally ask any surgeon:

1. Does my insurance have a decent track record for covering this surgery?
2. How many implants has he done in his career?
3. What is his annual volume?
4. How far ahead is he booked for this surgery?
5. What is his infection rate?
6. What are all his infection prevention protocols?
7. Do you use no-touch technique?
8. What's your choice of irrigant and dip?
9. What device brand is the best fit for YOUR anatomy, and why? (FYI - he has a COE status for AMS 700)
10. What's his sizing philosophy?
11. What's his preferred incision: penoscrotal or infrapubic and why?
12. Where will he place the reservoir: High Submuscular or Space of Retzius and what is his reasoning?
13. Does he use surgical drains, and why or why not?
14. How long will he keep you partially inflated post-op?
15. When does he clear patients for cycling?
16. What is his protocol for post-op non-urgent or urgent questions?

[HikerMan]

I'm meeting with a high-volume Board-certified surgeon who lives where I live (John Paul Rusilko), but I'm leaning more towards flying to one of the superstars instead.

I've already read a ton about the surgery, and I have some questions written down, but I don't wanna miss any important ones. And then what else should I expect in general for this first appointment?

7

Ask him for a list of names of people he has worked on already.

Many surgeons will happily refer you to satisfied clients.
CALL THEM AND TALK TO THEM.

Most of your questions can actually be answered by them.
Good Luck.

[whatevery]

Ask him how many implants he does per week and per year on the average, and if you're leaning towards a particular implant already ask him when he implanted it last, unless he's known primarily for implanting "your" implant that is.