Questions to Ask at Your Post-Op Appointment
Post-operative follow-up appointments are often brief, and many patients leave wishing they had asked more questions. Published NHS guidance on shared decision making encourages patients to prepare questions in advance. Key categories typically include wound care (when can dressings come off, when can the wound get wet, what signs of infection to look for), activity restrictions (when can I drive, lift, exercise, return to work), and medication (how long to continue pain medication, blood thinners, and antibiotics if prescribed).
Some questions may be particularly important depending on your stage of recovery. In the early post-operative period (1–2 weeks), wound care and pain management questions tend to be most relevant. At the 4–6 week review, questions about return to driving, exercise, and work often become more pertinent. Published NHS guidance suggests asking specifically about what you can and cannot do, rather than waiting for your surgeon to volunteer information: surgeons may assume you know restrictions unless you ask.
It can also be helpful to ask about the longer-term outlook: what to expect over the next few months, whether physiotherapy is recommended, when the next review appointment will be, and what signs or symptoms may prompt earlier contact with the surgical team. Writing questions down before your appointment helps ensure nothing is forgotten during a busy clinic visit.
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Build your personalised question listFrequently asked questions
What should I ask my surgeon at my 6-week check-up?
At a 6-week review, commonly useful questions include: Am I healing as expected? Can I start driving again? When can I return to work and normal exercise? Do I need physiotherapy? Should I continue any medications? Are there any restrictions still in place? When is my next appointment, and what should prompt me to contact you before then? Published NHS shared decision making guidance encourages patients to ask “what are my options?” and “what are the risks and benefits of each?”
Is it OK to ask my surgeon lots of questions?
Published NHS guidance actively encourages patients to ask questions. The NHS shared decision making framework is built on the principle that patients should be informed and involved in their care. Surgeons expect questions at follow-up appointments. If you feel rushed, it is appropriate to say “I have a few more questions — is that OK?” Writing them down beforehand helps make the most of limited appointment time.
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These tools support — never replace — the advice of your surgical team. If something feels wrong, contact your doctor or emergency services.