Safety
The 10 commandments or recommendations to be followed for your surgery to be performed safely, according to the Portuguese Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Association:
- Make sure that the surgeon who will be operating on you is a qualified doctor specialising in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.
- Find out from the Portuguese Medical Association if the doctor that will be treating you is registered with the Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Specialty Association, as these are the doctors that are legally qualified in this area. The Portuguese Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Association can also help you to choose a qualified specialist.
- Don’t forget that information from the internet is not controlled and you should take care when researching and reading, looking for information on the websites of national or international surgical associations that are duly authenticated and recognised.
- Don’t let anybody else decide for you. This means you must always find out about the technical aspects of the intervention you want, the risks associated with it and if there are reasonable expectations of the result you want. Ensure that you are fully informed on all aspects related to the surgical intervention and, if you have decided to go ahead with it, read the informed consent form carefully and sign it.
- Rigour and transparency foster a good relationship with your doctor. You should be able to trust your surgeon, the anaesthetist, the team, clinic or hospital you have chosen for your intervention.
- Don’t allow yourself to be operated on in surgeries or places without safety conditions or without the minimum equipment required for a medical or surgical intervention in the event of an emergency.
- Choose the best time for your operation, avoiding surgery if you are depressed, have problems at work or at home or if you are emotionally unwell.
- Be suspicious of free consultations or advance cash or cheque payments, or the collection of fees that are non-refundable if you withdraw, or any other kind of penalty before the surgery is carried out.
- Do your pre-operative preparation according to your doctor’s instructions. As far as possible, avoid having various surgical procedures at the same time, due to the increased risk of possible surgical complications.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions for after the operation.