The Patient Journey

The Patient Journey from enquiry to recovery

Your patient journey begins with research and ends with long term results and aftercare, Along the way are 5 important steps.

FOR NEW PATIENTS – Fill in the Patient Registration Form

To help us provide you with optimal care in an efficient manner we request that you please complete the following online questionnaire before your appointment. The information will be delivered to the practice using a safe and secure method.

Please click on this REGISTRATION FORM link to start the questionnaire

1. Your Appointment and Consultation with Dr Gittos

Your FIRST Patient Consultation is of at least 30 minutes duration to professionally assess your concerns and desires and to advise impartially as to whether surgery is a suitable option. When cosmetic or reconstructive surgery is being considered we will show you ‘before and after’ photographs of typical examples of our work and can show you samples of relevant breast or other implants. We will also discuss the technical aspects of your surgery as well as the significant potential anaesthetic, local cosmetic and non-cosmetic complications & risks.

What exactly happens at the First Consultation with the Plastic Surgeon (Click Here)

After your first consultation, our Practice Manager will review your anticipated cost of treatment, the available dates and where appropriate, book your surgery.

If you wish to book an appointment please call or email our friendly reception staff to make a booking. We will ensure that the consultation is arranged as soon as possible as we appreciate your visit.

Often your Full Consultation Fee will cover all your consultations related to the surgery – two pre-operative consultations before surgery and 6 months of post-op consultations afterwards.

A Consultation with Dr Gittos is NZ$325 incl GST

2. Assessment and Pre-admission

Before your surgery, you will receive pre-admission checks and advice: on your medicines, when not to eat preoperatively and what to bring into hospital. If you have allergies, special requirements or a specific medical condition you will be seen at a pre-admission clinic to fully prepare you for a safe visit.

3. Surgery at Hospital or Procedure in Rooms

On the day itself, you will receive a warm welcome from your Consultant Surgeon and Anaesthetist and from the Hospital Staff.

In many instances, Plastic Surgeons will do pre-operative skin markings which provide guidelines to follow in the Operating Theatre.

If you are feeling at all anxious we will administer pre-medication tablets and place anaesthetic EMLA cream on the IV insertion site.

4. Post Op Healing and Recovery

Once your procedure is completed, we phone your relatives and check on you in the Recovery Room and then back on the ward.

Post-operative care really starts in the recovery suite with a period of observation. Once you have woken up, you will be treated for any discomfort or nausea, although the latest anaesthetics are generally less likely to cause nausea symptoms.

Next, you’ll go to the main ward at the hospital, where a dedicated nurse will ensure you are comfortable and get you something to eat or drink.

Where relevant, intraoperative photos of the result achieved “on the table” are shown to you afterwards so that you may see an early result and know that all has gone well.

People who have had a local anaesthetic can usually return home almost immediately, but naturally, if you’ve had a general anaesthetic you’ll need to stay for a few hours or overnight in some cases.

Your surgeon and anaesthetist visit you daily until you’re ready to go home. Any dressings will be checked or replaced before you leave and you’ll also be given suitable painkillers, a discharge letter and emergency contact numbers for peace of mind.

5. Longer-term Follow up

An expert outpatient nurse and/or your consultant will conduct post-operative reviews weekly at first. Your surgeon will see you after six weeks, and then again after six months. You are welcome to arrange further appointments beyond this date if needed.