Join
For Providers
Join
Sign in

Ask a doctor

After a consultation, how long would a patient usually have to wait to get a surgery date?

I need the surgery done as soon as possible because after i get this done my husband would like for us to move back to his foreign country, therefor I would need to get it don't and be well recovered in order to go back with him! But how long of a wait is it to actually get a date set?

Doctor Answers 6

March 18th, 2015

How long between consult & surgery

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
If there is no insurance pre-certification involved, and is a cosmetic procedure, I try to get my patients booked within 2 weeks of their consultation.  I they know their schedule we can sometimes book their surgery at the time of their consultation.


Oklahoma City Plastic Surgeon

March 17th, 2015

How long before breast surgery

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
The sequence starts with a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon after which a form or letter is submitted to your insurance company. After a reply, the surgery is scheduled. Usually, the most time-consuming part is the insurance company review. If you are paying for surgery yourself, this would not be required. Many offices could see you for consultation and then schedule surgery within a number of weeks. Let the office manager know about your situation.
Ira H. Rex lll, MD

Ira H. Rex lll, MD
Fall River Plastic Surgeon
4.7 out of 5 stars 52 reviews

March 28th, 2015

Time from consultation to surgery

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
Timing from consultation to surgery will vary widely depending on the type of procedure you are interested in, your comfort level with making decisions quickly and if any health checks need to be completed as well as possible mammogram, or insurance approval. Typically it is best to meet with your surgeon at least twice before your surgery to make sure you have all your questions answered and you feel confident about the process and surgeon. Having surgery within about 2-4wks from the time of your consult can be accomplished. You have to also consider your recovery time and follow-up appointments before moving. The best thing to do is start with a consultation and come up with a plan and timeline that meets your needs.

Bahram Ghaderi, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

March 19th, 2015

How long to wait to get a surgery date.

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
For some once they have made up their mind they are ready to go, and we like to offer a date within a week or two of consultation if they are certain. The type of breast surgery will also be factor in when you feel ready to travel.

Learn more: http://peterejohnsonmd.com/breast-enhancement/

Peter E. Johnson, MD

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
4.0 out of 5 stars 44 reviews

March 19th, 2015

How long a wait for surgery

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
If a procedure needs to be pre-approved by insurance, this process can take up to 6 weeks. If the procedure is cosmetic then the wait time depends on how busy the physician is, and how long the surgery takes (it may take longer to find a 5 hour block of time on the surgery schedule, than a 2 hour block, for example). The best way to find out is to call some Plastic Surgeons in your area and ask.
Jennifer Greer, MD

Jennifer Greer, MD
Cleveland Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 14 reviews

March 19th, 2015

How long to wait for surgery date?

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
The timing of surgery is usually determined by the type of surgical problem and the level of urgency.  Elective surgery refers to the fact that the surgery is non-emergent and the patient's health allows orderly evaluation of the problem including consultation, evaluation with necessary tests and studies, and scheduling to allow the patient sufficient time to arrange for the necessary "down time" with postoperative recovery.
If the problem is an insurance related benefit, then the insurance company may require additional time for pre-authorization of the procedure(s), and if denied, additional time will be required for the appeal process.  If the procedure is "self-pay" such as with cosmetic surgery, timing is usually dictated by availability of the surgeon and the operating room, as well as the patient's desired recovery schedule.
Daniel M. Calloway, MD

Daniel M. Calloway, MD
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 31 reviews

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.