Consultation to surgery

How long after consultation is the wait for surgery?  

When researching cosmetic surgery, many patients are curious about the timescale from consultation to surgery day and some patients need to carefully plan their recovery around school holidays or when they can take time off work, so we want to help make that process as seamless and efficient as possible. 

The wait between your initial consultation and the day of your operation depends on the cosmetic surgery procedure you’re interested in and the capacity of the hospital. 

It also depends on your availability and if you have the time to rest and recover effectively. 

Factors that you need to consider when booking your procedure date:

There are many factors that can influence the timescale between having your initial eConsult with MYA and your operation date, such as:

• Your personal situation and lifestyle restrictions,

• Any holidays abroad you have booked

• Organising childcare

• Booking time off work for recovery

• Your flexibility on hospital location 

• Your chosen surgeon’s availability

• Being able to cover the cost of the procedure

There may be other factors in your medical history that may affect the timescale in which you are able to go ahead with surgery, this will be discussed with your MYA nurse on review of your medical history and GP summary. 

Timescale from consultation to operation 

Your initial eConsult with one of our specialist eConsult advisors is typically booked within 10 days of your enquiry with MYA, if not sooner.   

This can be done from the comfort of your own home at a date and time that suits you. It’s simply a chance to learn more about the procedure, and we encourage patients to ask as many questions at this stage so they can make the most informed decision. 

Your surgeon consultation is typically booked within 1 month of your enquiry, this is dependent on the surgeon’s availability and your flexibility to travel to one of our MYA clinical hubs. Some patients choose to see two or more surgeons, which will increase the time between consultation and surgery. 

Patients can book their procedure date, any date after the required 2-week cooling-off period (14 days after meeting their surgeon at one of the MYA clinical hubs).

We typically have procedure dates available within the next 2-6 months, but it does depend on the availability of the surgeon and your closest hospital. There may be instances where ‘late space’ dates become available within the month (due to cancellations), which are perfect for patients who are flexible on dates and are looking to move their surgery date forward.  

MYA will contact patients’ GPs for their medical summary - this must be approved by MYA to ensure they are fit for surgery before booking a procedure date. Patients must ensure they are available for pre and post-op required appointments before booking surgery, and full payment is required 5 days after your surgeon consult upon booking your procedure. 

The typical journey from initial eConsult to surgery is around 6 months. This differs from person to person and is dependent on individual circumstances and surgeon availability. It’s also important to be aware that appointment and surgery dates with MYA may be subject to change.

How to prepare for surgery 

Preparing for cosmetic surgery looks slightly different for each procedure. You will be given an in-depth guide on what to do on the run-up to your surgery date specific to you and the procedure you’ll be undergoing. 

Before surgery, you must:

• Remove all piercings, nail varnish, acrylic nails, fake tan, false lashes and hair extensions

• Not wear makeup, deodorant or moisturiser on the day of your surgery

• Tie long hair back with a non-metal hair tie 

• Not smoke for at least three weeks before your procedure 

• Stop taking the contraceptive pill 4-6 weeks before your surgery date 

Please be aware that you will be asked to do a pregnancy and nicotine test on the day of your surgery. If these come back positive, we are unable to follow through with the procedure. 

How do I book a consultation with MYA?

There are several ways to enquire with MYA. Patients can book online using the online booking tool, request a call back from our team of specialist advisors or contact us directly on 03330 14 10 14 to arrange a FREE eConsult today!

All initial eConsults with MYA are free of charge and our friendly and approachable patient bookings team are on hand to offer more information and answer any initial questions.

Common questions: 

1. Is there a long waiting list for surgery?

   The timescale depends on the surgeon and hospital availability. All MYA’s surgeons are specialist experts, but sometimes if a patient is aiming for a specific end result or requires more complex surgery, they may be required to wait a bit longer. On average the wait will vary from 2-6 months. 
   

2. Can I book a surgery date before meeting a surgeon?
   
   Yes, once patients have attended their initial e-consult they can book their surgery date prior to meeting their surgeon. The eConsult advisor will discuss the deposit and patient cooling off period.
   

3. What is the cooling off period?
   
   The cooling off period is 14 days from your physical surgeon appointment at one of our MYA clinical hubs. You are unable to have your procedure within this cooling-off period. This a legal requirement in the UK to allow patients time to consider the surgical procedure and make sure they are happy to proceed with surgery.  
   

4. Do I have to pay in full to book a surgery date?
   
   Patients are not required to pay the full cost of surgery upfront to book their procedure date unless its within 3 weeks time. Patient’s must pay the full balance 5 days after their surgeon consultation upon booking.
   

5. How many times do I meet my surgeon before my procedure?
   
   You will first meet your surgeon at the surgeon consultation. This is a great time to ask questions and learn more about the procedure. 

   You’re also entitled to a second meeting with your surgeon between your first consultation and  the procedure date. This can be requested by the patient or the surgeon. 
   

6. What aftercare is provided?

   After your procedure, you will be invited in for a post-op appointment with your MYA nurse. Here, they will provide wound care, take post-op photographs and answer any of your aftercare questions. Depending on the procedure you have undergone, you may be required to attend multiple nurse appointments after your surgery to check on any wounds. 

   Between 6 weeks and 6 months after your operation, you will have a post-op appointment with your surgeon to review the results and offer any further advice before signing you off. 
   

7. Do I need aftercare garments?

   The type of aftercare garment you will be recommended depends on the type of cosmetic surgery you undergo. For breast augmentations, you can purchase a Macom4MYA compression bra to aid healing. 

   After face and body procedures like facelifts and tummy tucks, you will be given a support garment to control swelling and bruising while protecting the area and dressings. 

   Any aftercare garments will come with strict instructions from your surgeon. To ensure effective healing, you must wear it as advised.