Making the decision to go under the knife for cosmetic surgery is one of the biggest you’ll ever make. If it’s your first time you might be wondering what the process is, so here’s a guide to what you can expect on your journey…

The first step is making contact, if you have come to us direct then we’ll give you as much information about your desired procedure as we can and we will also advise you to get as much information as possible from other sources including the internet, google search, websites, YouTube etc about the procedure, its benefits, potential complications and expected results about the procedure you are interested in.

You’ll then be offered an appointment with a qualified and experienced surgeon or another healthcare professional who has practising rights at our clinic. Once you choose to consult with any of the doctors or other healthcare professionals, they will answer any questions and address any concerns you may have. The choice will be yours to book or not to book the treatment.

YOUR CONSULTATION

If it’s your first visit, then we will need you to complete a medical history form and make us aware of any medication you are taking or have been taking recently. If you already have breast implants, your surgeon would need to know full details of those implants including make and size at the time of your consultation. If you attend or have attended a hospital specialist including a Psychotherapist within the last two years, the surgeon will need a copy of last report from the specialist to your GP or to you. If you omit any information you are potentially putting your wellbeing at risk.

It is essential that you discuss your requirements realistically and honestly during your consultation, so that the surgeon and other healthcare professionals can establish whether your expectations are achievable and within the normal constraints of surgery and other treatments. Photographs will be taken on the day of the surgery. These photographs will form part of your clinical record. They will not be used for any other purpose or shown to other patients without your permission. A chaperone will be present throughout the consultation to take notes on what has been discussed between the patient and surgeon.

If you proceed with surgery you will need to sign a consent form on the day. This may be at the time of your consultation with the surgeon or on the day of surgery or on both occasions. A copy of the consent form will be provided to you so that you can read it through before the day of your surgery. This just ensures that, before your operation, you and your surgeon are in full agreement regarding the procedure that has been planned for you and that you understand the choices of treatment available, the potential benefits and the risks and possible complications of the various options. You will not be able to proceed unless this consent form has been completed and signed by both you and your surgeon.

After the forms have been filled you will be taken to talk to our Patient coordinator. They will discuss with you about available surgery dates, prices and aftercare and also answer any further questions they may have.

After taking the time to really think about whether surgery is right for you and weigh up the pros and cons, if you decide to go ahead you will then book and confirm your surgery date. We know that this is a big step and we appreciate that you may want to take time to do more research and think about your decision. This is why we also have a 14-day ‘cooling off’ period in place, which means you can change your mind about the procedure after booking within that period. If you decided to carry on and go through with the procedure, you will come back to the clinic around 3 weeks before their surgery date to see one of our lovely nurses who will complete a full pre-operation assessment. A week before your surgery date, we’ll email you an admission letter which will tell you what time to arrive on the day of surgery as well as what time to stop eating and drinking and what to bring with you.

YOUR SURGERY/TREATMENT

Many cosmetic surgery companies can appear impressive, meeting with patients in lavish ‘sales’ consulting rooms. However, once a procedure is booked, patients often find that they are sent to a hospital where the company has simply rented temporary space to perform the procedure. This is not the case at New Birkdale. Your surgery will be carried out in our very own private hospital, and your pre-op and post-op recovery will take place in our ward.

Everyone in the theatre will introduce themselves to you before the anaesthetist gets on and sends you off to sleep, they’ll be by your side throughout the whole procedure. The type of surgery will depend on the length of operation and recovery time. Our nurse manager will make the decision on which room your recovery will take place in and this will be dependent on what procedure you’re having, what medication you’re on and any special care you may need.

Most of our theatre lists are all planned as day cases, so if it’s just a straightforward procedure you will be discharged on the same day. If it’s a slightly more complicated procedure needing longer recovery then you may need an overnight stay which we will arrange.

POST OPERATIVE CARE

Once the decision has been made to discharge you, you’ll be given an out-of-hours phone number (24-hour care line) for the nurse manager as well as any medication and painkillers that may be needed to aid your full recovery. You will also receive a post-op care leaflet with tips on what you can and, most importantly, can’t do during your post-op recovery.

You may also be given a date and time to come back and see the nurse, which is normally 1 week after surgery. At this appointment, the nurse will remove the dressings and just check that everything is healing ok. She may redress them, but most of the time, everyone should be healing ok enough to leave the dressings off.

You’ll see the surgeon between 4 and 6 weeks post-op and if everything is fine at that appointment then the surgeon will discharge the patient and there’s no need for them to come back. But if they do want to come back, or if they have any concerns or worries, then they’re more than welcome to. They have aftercare cover for 1 year, with all appointments to see the surgeon, nurse, and staff within that year free of charge.

Post-operative consultations by our nursing team are free of charge for life. Post-operative consultations by your surgeon are free of charge for one year post-operatively.

Remember that every patient’s journey is unique so the process will be tailored to you and your specific needs so if you have any further questions, please contact us.

We all get excited at the prospect of our ‘new look’ and how this will benefit our lives, but that doesn’t mean we should forget about the importance of safety and the processes involved. Before your surgery comes the consultation, and we’ve compiled a list of important questions you should always ask your surgeon to ensure a positive experience, pre, during and post-surgery.

1. What experience and qualifications do you have?

It’s imperative your surgery is performed by a fully-qualified surgeon found on the General Medical Council’s (GMC) Specialist Register for Plastic Surgery, who has been specially trained and can provide you with advice and guidance. They must also be insured to carry out the procedure in the UK.

Ask them how frequently they perform the surgery, success rates and how happy patients are with their performance. A surgeon who regularly performs the procedure will have worked with various body types and therefore know how best to operate on you. Viewing before and after pictures is a good idea too.

2. Where will the surgery or procedure take place?

We recommend you check that the hospital or clinic is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which regulates health services within England. The CQC warns against having a cosmetic surgery at a location that can’t prove they are registered with them. You can also research their quality of service by reading the latest CQC inspection report found on their website.

And obviously, you’ll need to ask this question so you’ll know where to go!

3. What will the surgery or procedure involve?

Ensure you fully understand the extent of your surgery, the method your surgeon will use and why they favour that one.

4. How long will it take?

This will help you plan your day effectively. For example, if you’re having breast surgery, you’ll have measurements drawn on your chest and pre-tests to complete before the actual surgery. Knowing the approximate length of your visit is good for pick-ups too.

You should also ask whether you’ll need to stay in hospital, and how long for.

5. What type of anaesthesia will I receive?

You’ll be told whether a local or general anaesthesia will be used and why this type is chosen for your surgery. You should also check that a qualified anaesthetist or nurse anaesthetist will be administering the anaesthesia for safety purposes. They’ll be with you throughout your whole procedure, monitoring and helping take care of you.

Knowing which type will be used will also help you prepare for recovery.

6. What results are reasonable to expect and how long do they last?

This is important to help you manage your expectations and decide whether the procedure is worth it, especially if it’s a costly one. Ask your surgeon to clearly define a ‘’significant improvement’’, how long these results will last and whether you’ll need repeat procedures in the future.

Ask if there’s anything you can do to prolong your new look too. For example, if you’re having a tummy tuck, maintaining a healthy lifestyle will keep you looking trim.

7. What are the benefits of the surgery?

Will it give you the result you want? Will you look younger/thinner/bigger? Will you feel more confident? What have previous patients stated? Talking to these patients and looking up online reviews can be useful too.

8. What are the risks and potential complications?

No surgery is 100% risk-free no matter how qualified the surgeon is, and it’s important you know what could go wrong. Ask your surgeon what the risks are, what you can do to reduce risk and what they’ll do, as well as the effects.

As is stated on the British Association Of Plastic, Reconstructive And Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS)’s website:

‘’BAPRAS recommends… that you only visit a plastic surgeon who does not shy away from talking about the risks or potential complications for each procedure. All good plastic surgeons should dedicate time during your initial consultation to discuss this and should be able to answer any questions you have.’’

9. What medical conditions do you need to be aware of / Am I a good candidate for surgery?

You must tell your surgeon if you suffer from any health issues, such as:

Heart or Lung Disease.
Diabetes.
Hypertension.
Allergies.

These issues could lead to a higher complications rate should you go ahead with the surgery.

Your surgeon should also ask you about your lifestyle: whether you smoke; your alcohol and caffeine intake; how regularly you exercise. This will help them determine your suitability, and provide you with advice on necessary lifestyle changes prior to and following on from surgery.

10. What can I do to minimize pain post-surgery?

Can you take medication? Can you recommend any home remedies? Should you wear/avoid wearing certain clothing?

For example, after a breast lift, enlargement or reduction, your surgeon may recommend you wear a breast surgery recovery bra to reduce any swelling and bleeding.

11. What aftercare is available?

This is especially important in case of complications. Ensure you know who to contact, what their support entails (e.g. check-ups) and how long their support lasts.

‘’BAPRAS recommends… that you only visit a plastic surgeon who can give you a detailed account of the aftercare that you are entitled to following surgery. All good plastic surgeons and the hospitals in which they work should provide you with a clear pathway for advice and care if there are any problems’’

12. How long will my recovery last and what will it involve?

Especially if you’re working, have children to take of and/or other important obligations, you’ll need to know how your surgery could impact your daily schedule. What environments or situations (e.g. work, the gym, driving or flying) should you avoid and how long for?

Recovery may also involve side effects so it’s important you’re aware of them, and don’t confuse them with more serious complications.

If the recovery process worries you, ask if there are alternative treatments or surgeries that are less time-consuming and debilitating.

13. How much does the procedure cost?

Ensure you ask what the procedure costs and what this price covers, in case there are any hidden extras. Ask whether the price covers the procedure, the surgeon’s and anaesthetist’s fees, operating room/facility expenses, all materials involved, and if not, how much more this will cost. A seemingly reasonable deal may end up costing you more in the long run.

14. Your Concerns

We also recommend you bring up any concerns you may have, as your surgeon will be able to provide guidance and support should you require it.

Would you like to discuss a procedure with us? Call us today to discuss your options.

Tag: procedure

Your Journey Through Surgery