1. "How many buccal fat removals do you perform per year?"
Good answer: A specific number, in the dozens to low hundreds. Surgeon explains their typical case mix and case load comfortably.
Red flag: Vague answer ("many"), or surprisingly low numbers (under 20/year for someone marketing this procedure heavily).
2. "Are you board-certified in plastic surgery?"
Good answer: Yes, with specific board (FACS, FEBOPRAS, ABPS, RCS, or country equivalent). Easy to verify online.
Red flag: "Cosmetic surgery" certification only (less rigorous in most jurisdictions), or no certification, or evasion of the question.
3. "What's your philosophy on how much to remove?"
Good answer: Conservative, partial, body-only, with emphasis on preserving the extensions and a portion of the body itself. Surgeon emphasises individual assessment.
Red flag: "I remove as much as possible" or "maximum slimming" framing. Aggressive resection philosophy is correlated with worse long-term outcomes.
4. "Will you decline to operate if I'm not a good candidate?"
Good answer: Yes, and surgeon can describe specific examples of patients they've declined and why.
Red flag: "We can do it for anyone" or "we always find a way to help." A surgeon who won't decline is not protecting you from regret.
5. "How long is your follow-up?"
Good answer: At least 6 months post-op with formal check-ins, plus availability for concerns at any point. For international patients: structured WhatsApp follow-up at standard intervals.
Red flag: "Whenever you need us" without structured plan. International patients especially need explicit follow-up commitment.
6. "Who actually performs my surgery?"
Good answer: "I do, personally." Surgeon describes what they personally do versus what nursing team handles.
Red flag: Ambiguity about who operates, "our team," or only meeting the surgeon on the day of surgery. Some clinics rotate patients through multiple surgeons or have surrogate surgeons for international patients.
7. "What's your complication rate?"
Good answer: Specific, calibrated numbers. "Persistent firmness 10–15%, hematoma 1–2%, infection <1%, revision 1–2%."
Red flag: "Zero complications" (impossible and dishonest) or vague non-answers.
8. "Can I see long-term photos of your patients?"
Good answer: Yes, including 1-year and 2-year photos showing how results age. Surgeon shows variety, not just hand-picked best cases.
Red flag: Only immediate post-op photos (which look great but say nothing about long-term outcome) or only highly curated cases without representative range.
9. "How is the procedure priced?"
Good answer: Transparent quote covering specific included items. Personalised to your case.
Red flag: Hidden fees added after deposit, "package deals" without itemisation, or aggressive payment terms.
10. "What happens if I have a complication after I return home?"
Good answer: Specific protocol — 24/7 WhatsApp, structured intervention pathway, coordination with home-country physicians if needed, willingness to fund return-flight in extreme cases.
Red flag: "It won't happen" or vague reassurance without protocol.
Bonus: how the answers feel
Beyond the specific content, pay attention to:
- Does the surgeon take time, or feel rushed?
- Do they discourage you from any procedure if appropriate, or push you toward more?
- Do they answer questions you didn't ask, suggesting depth of knowledge?
- Do they ever say "I don't know" or "let me check"? (Good — appropriate intellectual honesty.)
- Do they discuss what could go wrong, or only what could go right?
A surgeon who consistently answers honestly — even when the honest answer is "this might not be right for you" — is one you can trust.
Frequently asked questions
Should I get a second opinion?
Yes, always recommended for any elective surgery. If two qualified surgeons give meaningfully different recommendations, the divergence itself is informative — often suggesting the case is borderline and conservative choice is wise.
Is it OK to choose primarily based on price?
No — for any irreversible procedure, surgeon trust matters far more than price. The cost differential between qualified surgeons is meaningful but the cost of regret is much larger.
Ready to discuss buccal fat removal?
Schedule a free WhatsApp consultation with Doç. Dr. Erdal. Send a few facial photos and your questions — typical response within 2 hours during business hours.