Before you ask
Here you will find the questions patients ask most often. The answers are general and apply to most cases. What applies in your case is clarified at the consultation, because anatomy, health and goals differ from person to person.
The information on this page does not replace a medical consultation and is not a basis for self-treatment or for making a decision without an in-person examination.
Before the procedure
What happens at the consultation?
The appointment lasts about 30 minutes. We discuss what is concerning you, examine and assess your anatomy, and go through the possible approaches, the expected result, the scars, the recovery and the risks. You also receive an indicative price. There is a fee for the consultation, and it does not commit you to surgery.
Should I bring anything to the consultation?
If you have any test results, discharge summaries from previous operations, documentation for existing implants or photos of how you looked before, please bring them. It also helps to write your questions down in advance, as they are easily forgotten in the consulting room.
How far in advance is surgery booked?
It depends on the schedule and the type of operation — usually between a few weeks and two months. For cancer cases, the waiting time is considerably shorter.
Which tests are needed?
For operations under general anaesthesia: full blood count, coagulation profile, biochemistry, an ECG and a consultation with an anaesthetist. For procedures under local anaesthesia they are usually not needed. You will be given the exact list at the consultation.
Why do I have to stop smoking?
Nicotine narrows the small blood vessels and reduces the blood supply to the skin precisely where healing is most vulnerable. In smokers, the risk of poor wound healing and skin loss is several times higher. This is not a recommendation made out of politeness — for some operations it is a requirement.
Can I have surgery if I take medication?
In most cases, yes, but some medicines — particularly blood thinners — need to be coordinated and temporarily stopped after consulting the doctor who prescribed them. Never stop prescribed treatment on your own.
Is there a right and a wrong time of year?
Operations are performed all year round. Summer has two drawbacks: sweating makes wound care more difficult, and the sun darkens immature scars. If you are going to have a long scar, autumn and winter are more comfortable.
Anaesthesia and the operation itself
What type of anaesthesia is used?
It depends on the operation. Minor procedures are performed under local anaesthesia: the area is numbed and you remain fully conscious. More extensive operations require local anaesthesia with sedation, or general anaesthesia. The choice is discussed with an anaesthetist before surgery.
Is general anaesthesia dangerous?
In a healthy person and in a properly equipped hospital, the risk is low. That is exactly why pre-operative tests and a consultation with an anaesthetist are carried out — so that your individual risk is assessed in advance rather than assumed.
Will I feel anything during the operation?
Under general anaesthesia, no. Under local anaesthesia with sedation, you are half asleep and usually do not remember the procedure. Under local anaesthesia alone, you feel pressure and movement, but no pain.
Where are operations performed?
Consultations and some procedures take place at a medical centre; surgical procedures are performed in a hospital with an operating theatre and facilities for post-operative monitoring. The exact location is agreed during planning.
Can I go home the same day?
For many procedures, yes. More extensive operations involve one or more overnight stays. If sedation or general anaesthesia has been used, you must have someone to accompany you and you must not drive.
Pain, recovery and scars
Is it very painful?
Most patients find the discomfort less than they expected. The usual sensation is tightness, pressure and bruising rather than sharp pain. Pain relief is planned in advance and taken on a fixed schedule during the first days, not only once the pain has become severe.
When can I go back to work?
After injectable treatments — straight away. After minor surgical procedures — within a few days. After major operations — usually between 10 days and three weeks. The specific timeframe is given on the page for each procedure.
When can I exercise?
Walking is possible almost immediately after most operations. Light activity is usually possible after 2–3 weeks. Full workouts and weightlifting — most often after 4–8 weeks, depending on the operation and once you have been given the all-clear.
Will it leave a scar?
Every incision leaves a scar. It does not disappear, but with correct placement and good care it becomes a thin, pale line. Incisions are planned along the natural lines of the body so that they are as inconspicuous as possible.
How should I care for the scar?
Full sun protection for the first year — this is the most important measure and the most underestimated. Silicone gel or silicone sheets every day for at least three months from the moment the wound has fully closed. Gentle massage once healing is complete.
Why does my scar look worse after a month than after a week?
This is the normal maturation phase. Between the first and third months the scar is at its reddest and most raised. From the fourth month onwards it begins to fade and flatten. Its final appearance can be judged at 12 months at the earliest.
When will I see the final result?
For injectable treatments, within two weeks. For most operations, between 3 and 6 months. After rhinoplasty, the final result takes up to 12–18 months. Any assessment before these timeframes is always misleading.
Risks and complications
What are the risks?
Every intervention carries risks: bleeding, infection, poor wound healing, asymmetry, changes in sensation and reactions to anaesthesia. The specific risks of each procedure are listed on its page and discussed in detail at the consultation.
What should I do if something does not seem right after the operation?
Get in touch straight away. Warning signs include rapidly increasing swelling or pain, marked redness, pus discharge, a temperature above 38 °C, or bleeding that does not stop. Early intervention is almost always simpler than late intervention.
Could a second operation be needed?
In some cases, yes. For certain procedures, such as rhinoplasty, the need for a minor touch-up is not unusual, and this is recognised internationally. It is discussed beforehand, not after the event.
Is the result guaranteed?
No, and it cannot be. Medicine works with living tissue, which heals differently in each person. The approach, the technique and the care can be guaranteed — the exact final appearance cannot. Anyone who promises a specific result is promising something they do not control.
Prices and arrangements
How is the price determined?
The prices on this website are starting prices — ‘from’ a given amount. The final cost depends on the extent of the operation, the type of anaesthesia, the duration, the materials used and the hospital. You receive the exact amount after the examination.
Why do prices differ between locations?
Dr. Tachev works at several hospitals, whose facilities, equipment and inpatient arrangements differ. This affects the final price. Which location is right for your particular case is discussed at the consultation.
Is the follow-up appointment included in the price?
Post-operative check-ups and suture removal are part of the treatment. The details are agreed when the operation is planned.
Is anything covered by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF)?
Aesthetic procedures are elective and paid for by the patient. Reconstructive operations after trauma, burns or cancer follow a different procedure. This is clarified individually, depending on the case and the hospital.
Can I pay in instalments?
The options for payment in instalments depend on the hospital. They are agreed in advance, before the operation is scheduled.
Injectable treatments
Botulinum toxin or filler — what is the difference?
Botulinum toxin relaxes the muscle and smooths the lines that appear with movement. A filler adds volume and shapes contours. They do different jobs and are often combined.
How long do injectable treatments last?
Botulinum toxin — usually 3–5 months. Hyaluronic acid fillers — between 6 and 18 months, depending on the area and the product.
Can a filler be removed?
Hyaluronic acid can be dissolved with an enzyme, hyaluronidase. This is a major advantage over permanent fillers, which are not recommended precisely because they are irreversible.
Will I look unnatural?
Not if the amount is matched to your anatomy. An unnatural look almost always comes from excessive volume, not from the product itself.
How long before an event should I book an appointment?
At least two weeks before. Botulinum toxin reaches its full effect by day 14, and lip swelling after filler takes a few days to settle. Last-minute planning is the most common cause of disappointment.
Didn’t find your question?
Use the contact form or give us a call. If your question is about a specific procedure, see its page as well — at the bottom of each one you will find answers specific to that procedure.