Surgery can fix a fracture, remove a tumor or replace a joint. Sometimes, surgery can save your life. But surgery can also come with complications, prolonged recovery and a certain level of risk.
Not all surgery is urgent. Elective surgery refers to surgery that can be scheduled in advance. Whether to undergo an elective surgical procedure, where and when to have it done and who should perform it are important decisions to make beforehand.
As the prospective surgical patient, you should feel engaged in the decision-making process, and empowered to speak up and ask your doctor questions.
With elective surgery, in some cases it makes sense for patients to delay the procedure, choose another provider or try a different type of treatment. The following preoperative scenarios indicate that it may make sense to reconsider surgery
