Considering Surgery

If your doctor has recommended surgery, make sure you understand what surgery is being proposed for you and why. Your doctor can explain the various reasons that went into the recommendation to have surgery, including:

• Your current health and medical history
• The severity of your medical condition
• An evaluation of other nonsurgical treatment options
• The risks and tradeoffs associated with not having the surgery

What are the benefits of having surgery?

Ask your surgeon what you can realistically expect the surgery to do for you. Find out how long you can expect the benefits to last. Some surgeries produce long-lasting — even permanent — results. Others may only produce short-term results and/or require additional treatment or surgery in the future.

Experience is the single most important thing to look for in a surgical team and a surgical facility. Choose a surgeon who has not only undergone extensive training in the procedure you are considering, but who has extensive experience in performing the surgery. Studies show that doctors who perform the most surgeries have the most positive outcomes. Ask the surgeon about his or her experience and qualifications.

Are you facing inpatient or outpatient surgery?

Make sure you have a clear understanding of the procedure that has been recommended for you. Does your surgery require a hospital (commonly known as inpatient) stay? Or will you be having outpatient surgery? Outpatient surgery, also called same-day surgery, is done in an outpatient surgical center and typically does not require an overnight hospital stay. Thanks to improved technology and minimally invasive techniques, more than 60 percent of all surgeries today are done in an outpatient setting.

Some patients will need to stay in the hospital overnight or for a few days following their surgery. Someone with diabetes or a heart condition, for example, may have an increased risk for developing postoperative complications. As a precautionary measure, the surgeon may want to keep such patients in the hospital for observation.