Second Opinion
- Who it is for
- Before planned surgery (hysterectomy, fibroids, prolapse, intimate surgery) or with an unclear diagnosis
- Appointment
- Regular consultation, bring your documents, assessment during the appointment
- Costs
- Basic insurance (patients insured in Switzerland)
20 years of surgical experience for an independent assessment.
You are supposed to decide –
but you haven't understood everything.
You are sitting at home. On the table lies a report with words you had to look up. In your calendar is a date for surgery or a follow-up appointment. And only now do the questions occur to you that you did not ask in the consultation room, because time was short and your head was full.
Does it really have to be this way? Is there another path? What happens if I wait?
These are not uncomfortable questions. They are the right ones. And you are allowed to ask them – of someone who has time for them and who did not make the original recommendation. Independent specialist assessment: indication, alternatives, next steps.
Is the recommended
surgery really
necessary?
Many patients come to us with similar questions. This uncertainty is understandable – a second opinion helps you decide with confidence.
- ?Do I really need to have surgery?
- ?Is there a treatment without surgery?
- ?Is now the right time?
- ?Which surgical method is right for me?
- ?What are the risks and chances of success?
- ?Should I get a second opinion before I decide?
A second opinion can make sense if …
A second opinion does not mean the first recommendation is wrong. It often confirms the proposed treatment and provides additional reassurance.
- ·you were recommended surgery for the first time.
- ·different doctors have given you different recommendations.
- ·you are unsure whether surgery is necessary.
- ·you want to know whether conservative treatment options exist.
- ·you want reassurance before a major procedure.
- ·you want to better understand the planned procedure and its risks.
Which surgeries
do we assess?
Even if your planned surgery is not listed here, we are happy to check whether a second opinion is feasible.
- ·Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus)
- ·Myoma surgery
- ·Endometriosis surgery
- ·Ovarian surgery
- ·Removal of ovarian cysts
- ·Cervical conization
- ·Pelvic floor and prolapse surgery
- ·Surgery for urinary incontinence
- ·Labiaplasty and other intimate surgical procedures
- ·Outpatient gynaecological surgery
Even without planned surgery.
Not every gynaecological condition can be clearly classified right away. Sometimes symptoms persist despite several doctor visits, or different assessments have been given. A second opinion helps clarify existing findings, answer open questions and plan the next steps together.
We also discuss which further examinations may be useful – such as additional ultrasound, MRI, laboratory tests, a tissue sample or initially a conservative treatment.
- ·chronic lower abdominal pain
- ·heavy or irregular bleeding
- ·pain during intercourse
- ·recurrent ovarian cysts
- ·abnormal ultrasound or MRI findings
- ·unclear changes to the uterus or ovaries
- ·recurrent infections
- ·symptoms despite previous treatment
- ·unclear findings after surgery
You are not being difficult by asking questions.
Many women hesitate because they believe a second opinion is a vote of no confidence against their doctor. It is not. For a decision that permanently changes your own body, a second professional assessment is normal – in oncology it has been standard practice for years, and no one there feels insulted by it.
We do not speak badly about colleagues. In the vast majority of cases, the recommendation you come to us with is well founded. You simply do not know that at the moment – and that is exactly the difference a second opinion makes.
What actually happens during the second opinion.
Bring whatever you have: reports, lab values, imaging findings, operative reports, previous therapies. We look through them with you and identify what actually matters for your decision.
What exactly do you feel, when, for how long, what helps, what makes it worse, what limits you most in everyday life.
A specialised ultrasound is often part of it. Some causes of persistent lower abdominal pain – such as adenomyosis – are visible there, but are often not named as the explanation for the symptoms.
In words you can take home. What the finding means, why the recommendation is what it is, what alternatives exist, what happens if you do nothing, and what the decision actually depends on.
What a second opinion is not.
You stay where you are. The normal outcome is that you return to your treating physician with the clarified picture.
Often we reach the same conclusion. That is not a wasted appointment – you then proceed with treatment because you understood it, not because you had no other option.
Different recommendations usually arise not from errors but from different weighting – how burdensome the symptoms are, how willing someone is to undergo a procedure, which technique a doctor has experience with.
For severe pain, heavy bleeding, fever or a new lump, please contact your practice, an emergency department or a hospital promptly.
Which documents should you bring?
The more complete your documents are, the better we can assess your situation. If individual documents are missing, a consultation is often still possible.
Write down beforehand what you really want to know, and order your questions by importance – the two or three decisive ones first. Otherwise, experience shows these tend to get pushed aside during the conversation. Bring your documents organised and limit them to what relates to your question. A sorted stack saves more time in the consultation room than you might think.
Please understand: a pre-review of extensive documents before the appointment is not part of the second opinion. We discuss the relevant findings together during the consultation.
- ·Medical and consultation reports
- ·Operative reports from previous procedures
- ·Findings from ultrasound, MRI or other imaging examinations
- ·Histology reports, if available
- ·Current lab values
- ·Your current medication list
- ·PAP or HPV findings
- ·Referral or surgical recommendation
- ·and – most importantly – your questions, written down
How your second opinion proceeds.
You briefly describe your situation and which recommendation you have received.
Everything relevant to your question – organised and complete. A pre-review of extensive files before the appointment is not part of the second opinion.
Consultation, examination and – where useful – specialised ultrasound.
You receive a clear assessment – in words you will still understand at home.
Within two working days you additionally receive the assessment as a short medical letter.
You decide whether and when to act – and with whom. Do not plan the appointment three days before surgery: a second opinion is most useful when there is still time to think.
A well-founded basis for decision-making.
Our goal is not to fundamentally question an already recommended surgery, but to give you a clear basis for your decision.
The assessment takes place during the consultation. Additionally, within two working days you will receive a short written report with the assessment and recommended next steps – so you have the essentials in writing and can present it to your treating physician if you wish.
- ✓whether the recommended treatment fits your findings
- ✓what alternatives exist – conservative, medication-based, surgical
- ✓what each option realistically achieves and what it costs, physically and in time
- ✓what happens if you take your time
- ✓which question you should still ask your treating physician
- ✓whether further work-up makes sense – or whether you can skip it
Dr. med. Anna Margareta Wagner Practice
- ·Specialist in gynaecology and obstetrics FMH
- ·many years of surgical experience
- ·personal and independent advice
- ·understandable explanation even of complex findings
- ·sufficient time for individual questions
- ·consultations in German and English
Transparent.
No Surprises.
The second opinion is a gynaecological consultation like any other. For patients with Swiss basic insurance it is billed through health insurance; deductible and co-payment apply as usual.
The short written report is a medical service and is also billed.
Answers before your appointment.
Will my doctor find out that I got a second opinion?
Only if you want them to. No information is shared without your consent. Many patients later present the short report themselves – that is usually the most constructive approach.
Do I have to change practice for the second opinion?
No. The second opinion is a single appointment. Your care remains where it is.
What if you tell me the same thing as my doctor?
Then you know the recommendation holds. For many women, that is exactly why they sleep more soundly afterwards.
Can I also have the surgery with you if I want to?
If you wish, that is possible. But it is not the purpose of the appointment, and we do not propose it ourselves. If we conclude that the proposed treatment is correct, we will tell you so – even if you then have the procedure done elsewhere.
How much time do I have?
The second opinion takes place within a regular consultation. For the time to be sufficient, your preparation is essential: bring organised documents and note the two or three most important questions. If it becomes clear during the appointment that further work-up is needed, we will arrange a follow-up appointment.
Will I receive the assessment in writing?
Yes. Within two working days you will receive a short medical report with the assessment and next steps. It summarises the essentials and does not replace a detailed expert opinion.
My surgery is in two weeks. Is it too late?
No. Please bring all documents to the appointment and let us know when the procedure is planned when you make the request.
Do you also assess findings from abroad?
Yes, provided the documents are in German or English and legible.
Do I have to come to the practice for a second opinion?
Yes. Second opinions take place as an in-person consultation at our practice. This allows us to fully assess your symptoms and, if necessary, perform a gynaecological examination or ultrasound.
Are my documents read before the appointment?
No. We do not offer a free pre-review of documents. We discuss the findings together during the consultation – please bring all relevant documents to the appointment.
Does health insurance cover the costs?
The second opinion is a gynaecological consultation like any other. For patients with Swiss basic insurance it is billed through health insurance; deductible and co-payment apply as usual. The short written report is a medical service and is also billed.
Make your decision with confidence.
Dr. Wagner Practice · Spalenvorstadt 3 · 4051 Basel · +41 61 666 62 10