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This
guide advises you how to prepare for your procedure and how to recover from it quickly.
This information will also be given to you by a member of the Linda Briggs
Hungary team,
as well as your consultant surgeon.
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Plan
to arrive in Budapest, if possible, two
days before your surgery.
This allows
for flight delays/cancellations, gives you time to settle in to your hotel or
apartment, allows you to rest before surgery, to get your bearings and stock up
with food if you are staying in an apartment.
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Do
not take aspirin, anti-inflammatory
medications, or fish oil for at least one week before surgery.
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You
might find it helpful to take arnica
pillules for two weeks before surgery (available from Boots, pharmacies, health
food shops)
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If
you smoke, it is very important that you stop
smoking for at least 3 weeks before surgery and
do not smoke during your recovery period. You should be aware that smoking
greatly increases your risk of complications,
can affect your healing and recovery and also, of course,
your general health.
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Visit
a doctor to make sure that you are in
good health, fit to travel, and to have surgery. You will need to do
this as a private patient because you are planning to have
private surgery. The NHS will not do this for you free.
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If you have a supportive GP
in the UK, you can
discuss your plans with them, but you are not obliged to tell them about
your surgery. Patients in other EU countries will know their GP
will carry out follow up treatment and give them any care they need. UK
GP's are not the same, so be aware of this problem.
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Make
sure you bring with you, any prescription
medication and tell your surgeon what it is. Also bring with you a supply of
your tried and trusted painkillers, in case you cannot obtain the same in
Hungary.
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Linda Briggs in
Hungary has
compiled a pack of post-surgery healing aids, as
recommended by our surgeons, to
speed up your healing, reduce bruising, and keep your skin in optimal condition. If you wish to
purchase this pack, please let us know before your arrival and we will have it waiting
for you in your hotel room or apartment.
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If
you have a favourite brand of teabags, or
breakfast cereal, or any other food that you absolutely cannot live without, we
suggest you bring it with you. Budapest is a large cosmopolitan city with wonderful
shops, but international brands are not always readily available.
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Don't
forget your mobile phone charger and a
couple of Europlug adaptors for any electrical gadgets that you bring
over with you. These can be purchased in the High Street, or if you should forget, you can pick
them up at the airport.
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Bring
books, magazines, your laptop, DVDs, iPod
and anything else to help make your recovery time pass pleasantly.
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Contact
your mobile phone provider and make sure
you are roaming-enabled, so that you can receive and make calls
whilst in Hungary. Most mobile phone providers offer an international package with cheaper
calls.
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Phone
your Bank/Credit Card company before you
leave and tell them you are travelling to Hungary. This is important as
otherwise you might find you cannot use your card in an ATM.
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Bring
a supply of body wipes for a quick refresh
during the period you cannot shower or wash the treated areas. Oatmeal soap
is great for soothing post-op itching.
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Pain
medications are often very ‘binding’
(especially if codeine-based). We suggest that you
bring some type of laxatives with you just in case, as straining is not
advised following surgery.
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If
you are having facial surgery, visit your
hairdresser before you travel for any colouring or tinting you may
require, as you will be instructed by
your surgeon not to do this for about six weeks after your surgery.
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Lymphatic
drainage is often effective in
relieving any swelling or itching. Ask your surgeon if it is appropr
iate for you, and
if
so, we can then arrange appointments for you (depending on how
long you are staying) with a massage therapist in Budapest.
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It
is important after any surgical intervention
to eat well – light, easily-digested and nutritious foods – in order to
facilitate proper healing and recovery. Low-sodium (salt) foods re
duce swelling. A good intake
of fruit and vegetables is also recommended. If staying in an apartment, go shopping
the day before surgery and make sure you have everything you need for the first
couple of days.
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Follow
your consultant surgeon’s directions
carefully regarding medications, eating, and drinking, especially with regard to
fasting prior to surgery. If you are having a general anaesthetic, it is extremely
important that you do not eat or drink anything at all after midnight the
previous day. For
those patients having a local anaesthetic, a light, easily digested breakfast can be eaten before
leaving for the hospital or clinic.
On
the morning of your surgery
- We
strongly advise you to leave any valuables
locked away in your apartment, or in your hotel safe. Take your passport to
the hospital as this will be required for the documentation. We suggest you take
some reading material and/or your iPod, in case you have to wait for pre-op test
results or for the actual surgery.
- Take
your prescribed medication as normal, and
take it with you to the hospital.
- If
you take a bath or shower, either the night
before or on the morning of surgery, do not use any
highly perfumed soaps or shower gels, cosmetics, make-up or
tanning lotions. Remove any nail polish
and artificial nails.
- Wear
loose fitting and comfortable clothing that
you can easily take off and put back on when you are leaving the hospital.
- Take
a lightweight dressing gown/robe, slippers,
and easy to get on and off nightie or pyjamas. You’ll also need basic
toiletries – suitable for a short stay in the hospital. You are permitted to take your mobile phone
into the hospital or clinic with you.
After
surgery
- Following certain surgeries, you will come out
of the operating theatre wearing a face or body compression/support garment or
garments. If you want to buy spare garments so that you can wash them, please
let us know and we’ll organise it for you.
- On
the morning of your discharge from hospital
or clinic, you will be seen by your surgeon, given any medication considered necessary, and provided with a medical
report /discharge letter detailing your procedure. We
will be waiting to take you back to your hotel or apartment where we will settle you
back in, make sure you have everything you need, check you have mobile numbers of at
least two members of the Linda Briggs in Hungary team, and remind you of
any post-op instructions. Your surgeon
will have told us when he wants to see you again, and we will accompany
you back to the hospital for any check-ups.
Your
recovery
We
suggest that you:
- Eat
well. This is very important after
any surgical intervention. Light, easily digested, and nutritious foods including lots
of fruit and vegetables help you to heal and recover. Try to avoid salty foods as
they can lead to water retention, which slows down swelling reduction. If staying
in an apartment, go shopping the day before surgery and make sure you have
everything you need for the first couple of days.
- Drink
lots of water to
prevent dehydration.
- Avoid
alcohol for 48 hours before and
after surgery.
- Do
not smoke.
- Wear
the compression garments all the time as instructed by your surgeon to
help your healing. If you would like an extra garment please ask and we can
purchase this for you.
- Do
NOT apply ice or heating packs/pads to
skin overlying the treated areas.
- Do NOT apply hydrogen peroxide or plasters
(Band-aids) to
incision sites.
- Do
NOT soak in a bath, Jacuzzi, or go swimming for at
least 10 days after surgery
in order to minimize the risk of infection.
- After
facial surgery, do NOT wash your hair until
advised by your surgeon.
The less you
touch your face the better, to prevent infection.
- Reduce
your risk of fainting by
standing up slowly, removing compression garments
slowly, having assistance for your first shower if possible, and sitting
down if
you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
When
you are safely back in your hotel or apartment, we will check on your progress
regularly and
make sure that you have everything you need. Your surgeon will advise us when
he wishes to see you for follow-up checks/stitch removal if applicable,
etc.
On the
day of your departure, our chauffeur will collect you, take you to the airport,
and make sure you arrive at the correct Terminal.
Once
you have returned home, we will still keep in contact with you, to check on
your progress
and make sure that you are happy with your results. After six months, we will
ask you to
let us have photographs of ‘The New You’, so that we can show your surgeon the
final results
of his work – something that is very important to our medical professionals
here in Budapest!
Our professional care
begins with from the moment you first decide to contact us – to long after you
return home. No other company offers such a comprehensive and caring approach
to your wellbeing – please read our Testimonials!
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