faqs

• The word ‘plastic’ is derived from a Greek word which means ‘moulding’ or ‘giving form’. Plastic surgery does not involve the use of plastics during surgery.
• Reconstructive surgery is surgery performed to improve function and/or minimize disfigurement which has occurred as the result of an accident, disease or birth defect.
• Aesthetic or cosmetic surgery is surgery concerned with improving a person’s appearance by reshaping facial or bodily features.
• Minor procedures are performed at Bay Plastic Surgery, 745 Cameron Road, Tauranga. More significant procedures are performed at Grace Hospital, Oropi, Tauranga.
• Liposuction and procedures which involve elevation or muscle-tightening  can be a little uncomfortable i.e., breast augmentation or abdominoplasty. The discomfort can be compared to that experienced after a C-section.

Yes, it is one the most serious skin cancers and New Zealand has one of the highest rates of Melanoma in the world.

• At Bay Plastic Surgery, your privacy is respected at all times. As a condition of employment, our staff are bound by strict confidentiality requirements with regard to your medical records.
• Your medical file will not be released without your consent, except under circumstances where it is required by law.

• Should you require several treatments at once, we recommend making an appointment for a planning consultation in the first instance, in order to carefully schedule your time for treatment and avoid delays to either yourself or other patients. There is no charge for such a consultation with either our nurse injectors, or our appearance doctor. You can also make an appointment to see Mr Bialostocki for a full assessment and discussion of your particular concerns and wishes, and all options available to you, at a standard consultation charge. 
• For first time Botox® (Botulinum Toxin A) patients we recommend a one hour appointment (for consultation and treatment).
• For initial dermal filler consultation and treatment, we set aside an hour and a half though this can take up to three hours if you are receiving multiple treatments during the one session. Our knowledgeable staff will advise when you call for your appointment.
• Topical anaesthetic or injected local anaesthetic (if requested) is included in the cost of your treatment.

From Mr Bialostocki's personal and Specialties' point of view, medical tourism overseas is not recommended. There may well be many very well qualified and skilled surgeons overseas, but unfortunately, we see numerous complications when patients return to New Zealand. Some complications can be treated but others i.e. poorly placed incisions etc. are not correctable. When patients with complications and unsatisfactory outcome, following surgery overseas, have come to see Mr Bialostocki after returning, they have been charged our normal consultation and surgical fees, with any cost savings being wiped out. Normally, most complications resulting from any New Zealand plastic surgery are managed at minimal or no additional charge.

ACC has made it clear they will not cover overseas medical treatment for procedures carried out by surgeons not of an equivalent qualification and standard to that which is expected in NZ. No insurer will cover an unsatisfactory cosmetic outcome. Please read this statement on Medical Tourism from the NZ Foundation for Cosmetic Surgery: http://www.cosmeticsurgery.org.nz/medical-tourism.html

“I would strongly recommend you have a consultation with a New Zealand Plastic Surgeon before you commit to overseas procedures, so you are aware of what the state-of-the-art techniques and outcomes are.” Mr Adam Bialostocki MBCHB (OTAGO), FRACS (PLASTICS)

• Mr Bialostocki prefers to see patients at least one week prior to their surgery date.
• We do not recommend long-haul, i.e. international travel/flights within two weeks of surgery taking over 90 minutes. 
• Patients flying to see Mr Bialostocki for surgery from outside New Zealand are at an increased risk of clots in either leg or lung, and this complication can be serious or even life threatening  (long flights and surgery are both risk factors for clots, and both together multiply this risk). While it is possible to have surgery done during a visit to New Zealand, every caution to prevent clots will need to be taken. That will include starting on a low dose aspirin before your flight to New Zealand, wearing a very good quality calf-compression stocking, making sure you are well hydrated the entire duration of your flights and visit to New Zealand, and remaining as mobile as is practically possible. During and after surgery you will be kept very well hydrated, be wearing sequential calf compressors and thrombo-embolism prevention stocking, and you will be mobilized as soon as you are able. You will need to stay in the Tauranga region for about two weeks after surgery, before it will be safe for you to depart on another return long-haul flight. And you will need to be prepared to stay longer if you should have unforeseen complications.
• As part of your assessment, we may ask for you to send clear, high resolution photos of yourself to Mr Bialostocki in advance. We can advise you what angles and background to use.  We can email our pre-operative questionnaire to you to complete and return to us by Fax or email.
• Please advise our plastic surgery nurses, Alana or Freya, when you know your arrival date so they can arrange for you to see both Mr Adam Bialostocki and his Anaethetist, Dr Justin Imrie, for consultation soon after your arrival. Alana or Freya can also pencil you in for a possible surgery date one week after arrival, in this way securing a slot, if both you and Mr Bialostocki are happy to go ahead with surgery at the time of consultation.  This built-in delay between your arrival and surgery will reduce your risk of clots after the procedure, and allows us time to make sure we can procure the correct size implants etc. chosen at time of consultation.

• Plastic surgery is concerned with the optimal aesthetic outcome for every patient – this involves keeping scarring to a minimum. Every time the skin is cut with either a scalpel or laser, a surgical scar results. The position of the scar, the healing process of each individual and the degree and tension placed on the scar influence the quality and appearance of it.
• Personal, familial and racial factors can influence types of scars and cannot be controlled by the surgeon.
• Mr Bialostocki makes every effort to keep scars as minimal as possible. They are generally hidden in the natural lines and creases of your skin.
• For most procedures, scars fade over time and become barely visible.
• Keloid scars are genetic, and occur most commonly in darker skin people. They usually grow larger than the original scar, can be sensitive, itchy and red. They can occur despite the most meticulous surgery techniques, and can occasionally take up to a year to be apparent. If these scars are re-operated on, there is ~80% chance for recurrence. Often non-surgical techniques are offered for treatment, such as steroid injections which can relieve some of the symptoms of the scar i.e. the itch.
• Hypertophic scars usually occur because of some interruption to the normal healing process i.e. infection, excessive wound tension, the wound opening up and needing to heal itself, and some burn scars. It doesn't matter what your genetic background is, and if the scar is re-done, and you have avoided the sub-optimal healing factors, they can go on to heal normally.
• ACC will fund revisional surgery on scars if there is a functional improvement expected. Revision for purely cosmetic reasons is unlikely to be covered by ACC but we can see you for an assessment and if appropriate, make an application on your behalf.

• By law, you are not permitted to drive for 24 hours following a General Anaesthetic or any procedure involving intravenous sedation. We recommend you organize someone to drive you after any local procedure and certainly for any procedure done under sedation at Grace Hospital
• For abdominoplasties, TRAMS and some other breast operations, we strongly advise patients not to drive for two weeks post-operatively.
• In order to assist your return to your normal activities, patients are encouraged to begin a slow walking routine two days after their operation. More vigorous aerobic activities are not allowed during the first two weeks. This is to decrease the risks of bleeding, swelling and bruising. Contact sports should be avoided for 4 – 6 weeks, for most patients.
• Many patients need to know how long it will be until they can return to work, in order to carefully schedule their surgery.  Every procedure is different and there is a lot of variability between individuals, influenced by what your job is, what recreational activities you enjoy and so forth. During your initial consultation with your plastic surgeon, Mr Bialostocki, you will be given guidelines for your expected recovery time.
• Our nurses are available to discuss your post-operative care and recovery with you at any time. We understand concerns do arise and welcome your enquiry. Please call:
  Alana or Freya on 07 5785350 ext 2 or via email Alana@bayplasticsurgery.co.nz or Freya@bayplasticsurgery.co.nz

• Each procedure and each individual is different, but many plastic surgery procedures are performed on an outpatient basis.
• More extensive procedures may require a one or two night stay. You will be advised of these details during your initial consultation with Mr Bialostocki.
• Your safety and comfort is of the utmost importance to us. With this in mind, we have chosen to work with the dedicated team of highly trained theatre staff at Tauranga’s Grace Hospital.
• All sedation and General Anaesthesia is performed by a qualified specialist anaethetist, Dr Justin Imrie.
• Just as each individual has a different pain threshold, so too do individual plastic surgery procedures carry different levels of discomfort. Your preference’s for safety and comfort are carefully considered and will help determine what type of anaesthesia will be used.
• Topical anaesthetic is usually used for minor and non-invasive surgeries. Injected local anaesthetic, sometimes combined with a sedative, is used for minor invasive surgeries. For more involved surgery, general anaesthetic is usually used.
  Post-operative pain is assessed on an individual basis and you will be monitored closely to ensure the appropriate level of pain control is prescribed for you. Most facial cosmetic operations have minimal post-operative discomfort.

• Breast Augment / Breast Reconstruction consultations  = 45min
• Rhinoplasty / abdominoplasty / liposuction / facelift / blepheroplasty etc. = 30min
• Combinations e.g. breast + abdominoplasty = extended appointment = 60min
• Skin cancer / hand  surgery / scar revisions / most ACC = 20min

As a private plastic surgeon and the only resident plastic surgeon in the Bay of Plenty, Mr Bialostocki runs to a carefully timetabled schedule, as does our appearance medicine doctor, and nurses. We do ask that you respect the appointments made by other people by ensuring you , yourself, run on time. We require 24 hours notice of consultation cancellation and two weeks notice for cancellation of surgery.  Please call 07 5785350 or email us at info@bayplasticsurgery.co.nz to make any changes.

Every procedure is different and there is a lot of variability between individuals, influenced by what your job is, what recreational activities you enjoy and so forth. During your initial consultation with your plastic surgeon, Mr Bialostocki, you will be given guidelines for your expected recovery time.

Yes. Skin cancer checks are an important part of our day and we recommend you have anything suspicious or which is concerning you checked by Mr Bialostocki. We also advise having your skin checked every 12 months.

• Mr Adam Bialostocki is an Insurance Approved Provider.
• ACC surcharge does not apply to consultations and surgical procedures.  
• Medical finance is available for some surgical procedures through Nova Medical Finance. Please enquire.
• NOVA MEDICAL FINANCE is New Zealand’s only specialist medical financier and offers the flexibility of easy payment plans for your procedure.  Please note, Bay Plastic Surgery has no allegiance, financial or otherwise, with this company.
• Cosmetic surgery is invoiced prior to the procedure and payment is required two weeks in advance in order to secure and confirm your surgery date.
• Cosmetic surgery is not covered by medical insurance though if any surgery is ‘medically indicated’, please let us know and we will assist with your prior-approval process by providing a supporting letter and estimate of costs.
• Hospital fees are paid directly to Grace Hospital.
• Anaethetist’s fees directly to Dr Justin Imrie.
• Routine post-operative follow ups within three months of your operation, are included in the Bay Plastic Surgery fees. Longer term follow ups may incur follow up consultation or dressing change charges.
   

Your surgical fee includes the following:

• Mr Bialostocki's Surgical fee.
• The Anaethetist's fee  - on the day of surgery and also a pre assessment visit before the day of surgery.
• The surgical assistant’s fee.
• Theatre costs at Grace Hospital. Should it be necessary for you to stay over, this will be discussed prior to surgery. Overnight costs are included.
• All the consumables used in theatre.
• Special garments, if required after your surgery.
• Post-op visits with Mr Bialostocki over the first three months.
• Visits with our nurse for scheduled dressing changes & wound care post operatively.
• Implants 
• 15% GST.