Questions to ask a clinic before you book

A copy-and-paste list of questions for a rhinoplasty clinic in Albania: surgeon, licence, anaesthesia, quote, aftercare, revision and payment.

The best questions are specific, can be answered in writing and have answers you can check. This list is built for a rhinoplasty in Albania and is meant to be copied into an email. Send the same list to each clinic you are considering and compare the answers.

The NHS advises asking about the procedure, what could go wrong and aftercare before you go ahead. This guide turns that into concrete questions.

What should you tell the clinic first?

Start by describing what you want and your history, so the answers are about your case. Include:

What bothers you about your nose, with two or three clear photos (front, side, three-quarter)
Any breathing problems, past nose surgery or injury
Medicines you take, allergies and conditions
Your dates and where you live

Do not expect a price or plan from photos alone. A clinic that quotes a fixed price on the spot, without any questions, has told you something.

Questions about the surgeon

What is the full name of the surgeon who will operate on me?
What is their specialty (plastic surgery or ENT), and where did they train?
What is their registration number in Albania, and in their home country if they are visiting?
How many rhinoplasties do they perform a year, and how many are revisions?
Will the surgeon I meet in the consultation be the one who operates?
Can I see before and after photos of patients with a similar nose to mine?

For the checks behind these, see how to verify a surgeon.

Questions about the facility

What is the clinic’s legal name, NIPT and licence category?
Is it licensed as a hospital (B.1) or day hospital (B.2)?
Who gives the anaesthesia, and are they a physician who stays throughout?
Where do I stay the night after surgery, and who watches me?
What is the emergency plan, and where is the nearest intensive care unit?

You can verify the licence yourself in the QKB entity search. See hospital or clinic.

Questions about the quote

Can you send an itemised quote in writing?
Does it include the surgeon, anaesthesia, facility, nights of stay, medication, splint and follow-up?
What is not included: tests, extra nights, add-ons such as septum work or alar base reduction?
How long is the quote valid, and in which currency?
What is the deposit, and is it refundable?

Use what a quote should include to check the answers and hidden costs to add what is missing.

Questions about the operation and recovery

Which technique do you propose for my nose, and why?
What are the main risks in my case? The NHS lists rare complications including permanent breathing difficulty, changed sense of smell and heavy nosebleeds.
How long is the operation and how long will I stay in hospital? The NHS gives about 1.5 to 3 hours and usually one or two nights as a general guide.
When is the first check-up, when is the splint removed, and when can I fly? The NHS says the splint stays on for 7 days and advises avoiding flying for 7 to 10 days after facial procedures; ask for the surgeon’s own advice.
How long should I stay in Albania? See how long to stay.

Questions about aftercare and revision

How do I reach the surgeon after I go home, and in which language?
Is there a video or photo review at set times?
What are the revision terms: is it free, discounted or charged, and within what period?
Who pays for travel if I need to come back?
Will I receive an operative report, anaesthesia record and discharge letter?

The NHS advises asking before booking what happens if complications arise, where follow-up appointments will be and how easily you could return for further surgery.

Questions about payment and insurance

Which account do I pay into? Is it in the clinic’s legal name?
What is the cancellation and refund policy, and what if the surgeon cannot operate on the day?
What does the clinic’s insurance cover? The NHS says standard travel insurance usually will not cover problems arising from surgery.

How should you read the answers?

Read the answers for three things: whether they come, whether they are specific, and whether they can be checked. A good answer names a person, a number or a document. A poor answer says “don’t worry” or “our team”. Silence on the surgeon’s name, the licence or the revision terms is a reason to stop.

Also note whether the clinic encourages you to take time. The NHS says you should be offered a cooling-off period after any consultation and that you can walk away if you are not completely comfortable. See red flags.

Next steps

Compare replies with how to choose a clinic. If you would like a first conversation before you travel, read online consultation. The clinics hub has more.

Questions patients ask

Should I ask these questions by phone or email?

By email or message, so that you have the answers in writing. You can follow up by video call.

How many questions is too many?

A clinic that takes your decision seriously will answer a long list. Reluctance to answer is itself useful information.

Do I need to ask in the clinic's language?

Ask in a language you and the surgeon both understand. The NHS advises making sure the surgeon speaks a language you understand.

What if the answers contradict each other?

Ask for clarification in writing. If the contradiction stays, treat it as a reason to look at other clinics.