Patient Journey

Every patient considering a surgical and non-surgical procedure with Mr Olivier will need to book an initial consultation.

Mr Amar’s consultation fees will be quoted at the time of making the appointment booking. During your in-depth in person or remote consultation you will have the opportunity to describe your hoped-for outcome and we will have a discussion about your options. You will get most out of your consultation if you have had the opportunity to do some reading about the area you are interested in beforehand.

Any proposed treatment will be explained in detail. This will include outlining exactly what the procedure will involve, any necessary preparation, your recovery, where the scar will be placed and possible complications and risks related to the anaesthesia, surgery and scars. You will be able to ask as many questions as you wish and hear about the benefits and drawbacks of any proposed procedures before you decide the next steps together, including the option to take no action.

Informed Consent is a fundamental principle of the patient journey. Ultimately, the process of informed consent is a communication between the patient and the surgeon. Any patient has the right to be involved in decisions about their treatment and care and to make informed decisions.

As noted by the GMC (General Medical Council), the purpose of the dialogue between the patient and the surgeon is:

• To help the patient understand their role in the process, and their right to choose whether or not to have treatment
• To make sure the patient has the opportunity to consider relevant information that might influence their choice between the available options
• To try and reach a shared understanding of the expectations and limitations of the available options.

The exchange of information between the surgeon and the patient is central to good decision making. There will be a lot of information to take in during the consultation process, but it is important not to worry about remembering everything. Mr Amar will write to you summarising your discussion, his examination findings and the potential plan that you discussed.

In addition to this we will share procedure specific informed consent forms for you to read in your own time, and invite you back to return for a second consultation.

Furthermore, by then you will have received a quote for the proposed procedure enabling you to consider the financial aspects. It is important that you read through the procedure information consent forms so that you have a clear understanding and ask any questions that you may have prior to your cosmetic surgical or non-surgical procedure.

After the consultation, a breakdown of the specific charges relevant to you personally will be provided, as there may be variations in individual circumstances. You will be informed of all costs before undergoing any surgical or non-surgical procedure.

It is important to understand that the surgery fees include Mr Amar’s charges (which include consumables, compression garment and post-operative appointments), the fees for the anaesthetist (if applicable) and the private hospital costs. Prices may also vary slightly between the different hospitals. Furthermore, the prices given are assuming there are no additional procedures performed, and that you are otherwise fit and well, and do not require any additional procedures or investigations that would be considered outside what is routinely performed.

It is very important to us, and to you, that all of our prospective patients fully understand their financial obligations, our payment and cancellation policies prior to electing to undergoing your surgery with us.

If you have questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

All surgical procedures are teamwork between the surgeon and the patient. You would not run a marathon without training so you need to prepare for any surgery. From the time you book the procedure ensure you get good rest, eat well and take gentle exercise. Alcohol consumption should be limited as should smoking.

If a patient feels prepared for surgery then they will arrive for their procedure feeling positive which in turn will reduce any anxiety and encourage a stress-free recovery.

One day before you undergo your cosmetic surgery procedure you will be called by one of the pre-assessment nurses who will reconfirm your admission time and remind you of the last time you are able to eat or drink. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to ask.

Both a pre-operative and psychological screening questionnaire will be emailed to you by the Hospital, which must be returned to prior to your surgery. Your anaesthetist, the pre-assessment team and Mr Olivier Amar and will review this information prior to your surgery.

Plan your journey to the Hospital or clinic and arrange for a friend, family member or partner to accompany you home after surgery.

You must arrange to be looked after for the first 24 hours by a responsible adult this can be a relative or friend. If you are taking a taxi home your ‘responsible adult’ must accompany you and if you have children at home you must ideally arrange childcare for the first 24 hours.

Ensure that you wear loose, comfortable clothing which is easy to put back on when you go home.

Smoking prior to your surgery greatly increases the risk of anaesthetic complications. If you smoke you will be advised by your consultant to stop at least 2 weeks prior to your procedure and in some cases for an even longer period of time. This is for your own safety as smoking decreases healing and consequently allows infection and poor scarring.

• Refrain from applying fake tan for a period of 7 days prior to your operation date
• Do not apply any moisturiser to your skin for a period of 24 hours prior to your operation
• Do not drink any alcohol 48 hours prior or post surgery
• Ensure you are well hydrated the day before your surgery, and if your procedure is in the morning please try and have a snack in the evening before going to bed
• Remove false eyelashes or nails including acrylic and gel overlays, makeup and piercings before you arrive at the clinic
• Shower either the evening before or the morning of your operation + hibiscrub.
• Do not apply anything topically to your skin after showering including deodorant
• Tie your hair up if it is long
• Advise your nurse before surgery if you think there is any chance you may be pregnant
• Ensure that fingernails and toenails are varnish free

On the morning of surgery you will meet the anaesthetist then I will go through the procedure again and will be present as you sign consent forms. I will also see you after the procedure to ensure you are ready to be discharged.

We ask that you check in with the main Reception. You will arrive for admission one hour prior to your scheduled surgery time. Once you are settled in your bay or room you will meet the Ambulatory nurse who will confirm some personal details with you and conduct some pre-operative tests ie temperature and blood pressure.

After the operation you will wake up in the recovery area and once the nurse there deems it necessary will be returned to your bay or room. I will see you after the procedure to ensure you are ready to be discharged.

You will have all the necessary telephone numbers and or email addresses to hand so that you can reach us with any questions you might have.

You will initially wake up in the recovery room, then once you are more awake, you will be taken to your designated ambulatory bay, where you will be able to relax and have something to eat and drink. The period from arriving in recovery to discharge, varies dependant on the individual and on the procedure, we advise anytime up to 4 hours.

Mr Olivier Amar and your anaesthetist will visit you to let you know how things went during your procedure and to check on your recovery. The nursing team will be taking care of you and will also discharge you, dependant on how you are feeling and when Mr Olivier Amar is satisfied that you are okay to go home.

Your chaperone must then accompany you home by car or taxi, and spend your first 24 hours post-surgery with you. In the days after surgery we recommend you stay hydrated by drinking a lot of water (2 litres per day) and leep active. Walk gently every day and resume normal activity when you feel comfortable.

After your surgery you will also have full access to a 24/7 nursing telephone support line should you have any questions or queries, day or night, relating to your recovery and pain management.

Mr Olivier Amar will write to you the day after your surgery summarising your aftercare recommendations, received verbally on your day of surgery. You will be asked to come in for a post-operative nurse appointment one week after your surgery. At this point your incision sites will be reviewed, stitches removed and your preliminary healing will be assessed. Mr Olivier Amar will see you at six week’s after surgery to assess your recovery and scarring.

We use Get Harley, a skincare concierge service to assist us in building your surgery aftercare package. Under our supervision, Get Harley will contact you by email with Mr Amar’s aftercare creams and skincare recommendations.

There’s been an evolution in anaesthesia and many patients are surprised at how many procedures can be performed under local anaesthetic. For example, blepharoplasty, mini neck plasty, lower facelift and mini liposuction.

However, this form of anaesthesia is not for every patient and we will discuss your requirements in full. The type of sedation that we use for more invasive surgeries is known as ‘TIVA’ or ‘Total intravenous anaesthesia’, a technique administered solely via the intravenous route meaning that the more ‘traditional style’ of gas based products is not required. It is this that typically leaves patients feeling unwell so with TIVA, you should feel back to yourself within hours after your surgery.

Some smaller and less invasive procedure are performed under local anaesthesia, which involves numbing an area of the body using an injection or gel or a combination. It may be long or short acting. You will still feel some pressure or movement. Full sensation will return when the medication has worn off a few hours later.

You may experience a sore throat, a headache or feel tired and a little confused a few days following your surgery – this is completely normal. Some patients report feeling slightly nauseous following their surgery but all symptoms are usually quite mild, are easily managed with medication and tend to subside within a day or so after surgery. It is very unlikely you would suffer a delayed severe allergic reaction to anaesthesia but if in doubt please contact us on the emergency numbers provided.

A ‘good’ scar fades significantly after appearing and blends in with the surrounding skin tone. A ‘poor’ scar, such as a keloid or hypertrophic scar, will stay visible and cause skin irritation for a number of months after formation. Time is the best healer as eventually normal scars and hypertrophic scars will mature and become pale.

Scar quality will always vary from individual to individual and guarantees are impossible to give. There are ways to improve scars in the post-operative period for everyone with the use of various creams, oils and substances and thus we always advise our patients accordingly

There is a whole range of scars but at the poor end there is the hypertrophic scar which occurs when the wound heals to become red, raised and itchy for a few months but will then resolve to become flat and pale. A keloid is similar but the scar continues to grow encroaching upon normal tissue and may need specific treatment.

When a wound heals, it leaves a scar. A keloid is a special type of scar; one that grows too much and can even become larger than the original wound. It is not uncommon for surgical or injury scars to become a little lumpy (hypertrophic). A keloid differs from these in several ways:

• A keloid can come up after very minor skin damage, such as an acne spot, or even if there has been no obvious damage to the skin at all.
• It can spread outside the original area of skin damage.
• It may last permanently.

Treatment is difficult and not always successful. Possible lines of treatments include the following:

• Injections of a steroid (triamcinolone) into a keloid may help to flatten small early ones.
• Steroid-impregnated tape applied for 12 to 24 hours a day may help to flatten keloids.
• Putting a silicone sheet over them at night for several months helps some keloids to flatten. Silicone in gel form is also available.
• Laser treatment makes scars and keloids less red, but does not make them smaller.
• If a scar or keloid is cut out, it usually comes back. This risk falls if the area is treated after the operation with pressure dressings or local steroid injections.