15 questions to ask your cosmetic surgeon before booking in Riyadh
A consultation with a cosmetic surgeon in Riyadh is not an interview for a job you are desperately trying to get. It is your opportunity to assess whether this specific surgeon, in this specific facility, is the right person to operate on you. Many patients treat it as the former. The ones who treat it as the latter make better decisions, have better outcomes and experience fewer complications.
The questions below are divided into four areas: credentials, procedure-specific experience, cost transparency and risk management. An ethical, experienced surgeon will answer every single one of them directly.
Credential Questions
1. Can you show me your SCFHS certification in Plastic Surgery?
Expected answer: The surgeon provides their SCFHS registration number without hesitation and invites you to verify it. Concerning answer: Hesitation, a general medical licence presented instead, or any version of 'you can trust us.'
2. Are you a member of the Saudi Society of Plastic and Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (SSPRAS)?
Expected answer: Yes, with a membership number if asked. SSPRAS membership indicates engagement with the national professional body for plastic surgery. It is not mandatory, but most experienced Saudi plastic surgeons hold it.
3. How many years have you been performing this specific procedure?
Expected answer: A specific number of years with specificity to the procedure you are discussing — rhinoplasty experience is different from liposuction experience even within the same specialty.
Procedure-Specific Experience Questions
4. How many of this procedure do you perform per year?
Volume matters. Surgeon skill compounds with repetition. For rhinoplasty, a surgeon performing fewer than 30 cases per year has significantly less practice than one performing 100. There is no universally 'required' number, but asking puts you in a position to compare.
5. Can I see before-and-after photos of patients with a similar concern to mine?
Expected answer: Yes, with multiple examples showing patients of similar ethnicity, skin type and structural concern. Concerning answer: Generic portfolio photos with no patients who resemble you, or photos only from early in the surgeon's career.
6. What technique do you plan to use for my case and why?
For rhinoplasty: open or closed? Preservation or traditional? For liposuction: VASER or tumescent? There should be a specific, reasoned answer that reflects your anatomy — not a default technique applied to everyone.
7. Do you have experience operating on Arab or Saudi patients specifically?
Arabic nasal anatomy, skin thickness and aesthetic preferences are distinct. For rhinoplasty especially, a surgeon experienced with Arab facial structure will produce more natural-looking results than one trained primarily on non-Arab patients.
Cost Transparency Questions
8. Can you give me a fully itemized written quote?
The quote should separately list: surgeon fee, anesthesiologist fee, facility fee, consumables, compression garments and follow-up visits. If a single number is quoted with no breakdown — ask for the itemization in writing before proceeding.
9. What is not included in the quoted price?
Common exclusions: lymphatic drainage massage, additional follow-up visits, compression garments beyond the first, post-operative medication, and any revision if needed. These can add SAR 3,000–8,000 to the total cost.
10. What is your revision policy and is it covered?
Expected answer: A clear policy stating the timeline within which revisions are assessed and whether they are performed at no additional surgical fee (anesthesia and facility fees often still apply). Concerning answer: No formal policy, or a policy only presented verbally.
Risk Management Questions
11. What is your personal complication rate for this procedure?
A surgeon who cannot or will not answer this question is a red flag. Published complication rates for most cosmetic procedures are below 5% for experienced surgeons. A surgeon who claims zero complications has not performed enough procedures to encounter them.
12. What is your personal revision rate?
For rhinoplasty, published revision rates range from 5–15% across experienced surgeons. This is not a sign of poor performance — rhinoplasty is the most complex cosmetic procedure. A surgeon claiming zero revisions should be questioned.
13. Where will the surgery be performed and what is the MOH license number of the facility?
You can verify MOH facility licensing at moh.gov.sa. The operating theatre must be in a licensed facility — this is a legal requirement, not optional.
14. What anesthetic protocol do you use and who administers it?
A qualified anesthesiologist — not a nurse or a technician — must administer general anesthesia. Ask their name and credentials separately.
15. What is your emergency protocol if I develop a complication post-surgery?
Expected answer: A clear protocol including 24-hour emergency contact, the hospital they are affiliated with for admissions, and their standard post-operative monitoring schedule. Concerning answer: 'Call us if you have any concerns.'
Want help preparing for your specific consultation or know you want to ask about a particular procedure? Use Ask Zaina before you go in.
What to Do If a Surgeon Fails to Answer These Questions
Leave. A surgeon who becomes defensive, dismissive or evasive when asked professional questions about their credentials, experience, outcomes or revision policy is telling you something important about the standard of accountability you can expect if something goes wrong.
Your right as a patient in Saudi Arabia includes asking for and receiving honest, direct answers to any question about your surgical care. This is not culturally inappropriate or presumptuous. It is medically responsible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it acceptable to consult with more than one surgeon before deciding?
A: Not only acceptable but recommended for any significant cosmetic procedure. Most ethical surgeons expect this. Any surgeon who discourages you from seeking a second opinion is a red flag.
Q: Should I bring these questions written down to the consultation?
A: Yes. Bring them printed or on your phone. Taking notes during the consultation is normal and appropriate. Ask the clinic to provide written answers to questions about cost and policy.
Q: What if I feel pressured to book at the end of the consultation?
A: Do not book under pressure. A competent surgeon with a full schedule does not need to pressure patients into same-day decisions. Leave and take 48 hours to review your notes before making any commitment.