We would request: full blood count, sodium, potassium, urea, creatinine, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, T4/thyroxine, TSH/thyroid stimulating hormone, and CRP.

There is no immediate requirement to take any additional vitamins. Depending on how you are feeling post-surgery, there may be a recommendation to take vitamins.  If this is the case, we will discuss and agree this together.  Vitamins are easy to get in Cyprus at any pharmacy and we can support if you have any trouble in sourcing.

We recommend that MLD continues two to three times a week for the weeks leading up to surgery, in line with recommendations of your MLD therapist.

• While in the GMI, MLD will be provided daily until discharge. This is included within the price for surgery.
• Upon discharge, and still while in Cyprus, MLD ideally will continue daily and can be arranged directly with the GMI physiotherapists or with an MLD therapist of your own choosing.
• If you choose GMI physiotherapists, this will be arranged directly between yourself and the physio. The physio can come directly to you in your hotel / apartment / villa in Limassol. You can also attend the local clinic in Mesa Geitonia 
• We recommend that MLD continues three times a week for the first six weeks post-surgery, and then should be reduced in line with recommendations of your MLD therapist.

There is no need to feel you need to remove nail polish / gel polish / acrylics before surgery. The GMI has the latest equipment for oxygen saturation monitoring and so removal is not necessary.

• Limassol is conveniently located about a 45-minute drive from either Larnaca or Paphos international airports, you can use any of the 2 airports to arrive to Cyprus.
• You can use any of a number of transport services that you find online, or even the taxis waiting in front of the airport to bring you to Limassol.

• Limassol offers many hotels/apartments for accommodation which you can find online/via a travel agency of your choosing.
• Let us know if you are interested in receiving the contact information of selected hotels where past patients have stayed in with very good feedback 

• A big number of our patients visits us without someone to accompany them
• We can bring you in contact with nursing services to help you during your postoperative recovery after discharge, please inform us you are interested
• Both Dr. Georgiou and his team are reachable 24/7 in case of any issues

• A COVID test is currently not necessary before visiting the hospital.
• This might change on short notice depending on current COVID epidemiological trends. If so, we will inform you accordingly.

• The day before surgery, you will arrive at the GMI for your preoperative consultation with Dr. Georgiou as well as meet with the anesthesiology team
• On the morning of surgery, you will arrive at the main reception. There will be a quick appointment with the admissions team who will confirm details and will give you your file.  They will then give you instructions on how to get to the surgical ward.
• On arrival at the surgical ward you’ll be taken to your room, given time to organize your belongings. Most of your items will go in the wardrobe, remember to take anything out that you’ll need post-surgery and put that in the drawers in the bedside table – thinking phone chargers etc.
• You will then change into a hospital robe and a pair of pants and slippers to wear. Dr Georgiou will come to see you to discuss approach, any last-minute questions, and will mark you up for surgery.
• Shortly afterwards you’ll be taken down to the theatre ward where the nurses will meet you and prepare you for surgery. Typically, this involves putting the IV in and having a chat with the anesthesiologist.  You have the opportunity here to discuss any requirements for them also. You will then be wheeled into the operating theatre where you’ll be put to sleep there.
• After surgery, you will then be taken to the recovery room for one to two hours.

Typically, we would expect this to be in for the duration of your stay as we will continue to supply pain medication, antibiotics, and any fluids through the IV. We can of course discuss this with you if there are any reasons to remove sooner.

Typically, we will continue to paracetamol as pain relief, and antibiotics post-surgery. There may be additional requirements for further medications or fluids depending on your recovery.  These requirements will always be discussed with you.

Of course, we have two sessions for visitors to attend the hospital. Visiting times are currently from 13:00 – 14:00 hours and again from 18:30 – 19:30 hours.

• Patients usually stay for 3 nights after surgery. This is to allow for post operative observations and support, catheter removal when ready, initial MLD sessions, and support with changing compressions and dressing.
• This will however be assessed on a case-by-case basis and this will be discussed during pre-operative consultations, and will depend on post-surgery recover.

• The hospital rooms are for two patients. They are bright and clean with a wardrobe and safe as well as a bedside table. 
• The hospital will provide most of the items that you need for personal care, e.g. towels, slippers, hospital robes, shower gel etc.
• Feel free to bring anything personal that you feel would enhance your stay.
• Most rooms have a TV for each patient, and there is a TV in the shared living space which you are free to use.
• We recommend bringing long charging cables for phones, iPads, laptops etc if you bring these items with you.
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• Where possible, our wish is to schedule lipedema surgeries on the same day in order that patients can support each other through post-operative recovery whilst being in-patients at the GMI.
• This will of course depend on surgery timetables and so is not always possible.

• Patients are provided with water, teas, and coffees as required.
• Three meals a day are provided by the hospital and are typically Cypriot / Mediterranean.
• Breakfast is typically bread, ham, cheese, a boiled egg, jam, Greek yoghurt, and a piece of fruit.
• Lunch and dinner are typically a main meal – with choice of chicken, beef, fish, potatoes or rice, a fresh salad, bread roll, Greek yoghurt, jelly, and a piece of fruit.
• Breakfast typically arrives around 07:00, lunch around 12:30, and evening meal around 18:30
• You can also download the Bolt Food app and you are free to order any food to the hospital.
• Visitors may also bring food to the hospital for you.
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• Our recommendation is to wear compression as part of conservative treatment for lipedema.
• We require you to come with two pairs of flat-knit, open-toe, class 2 compression garments to support post-operative recovery and for you to have the best outcome.
• Our advice is to come with the compression garments that you are already wearing and that fit you. You will have post operative swelling and so it is likely that these will continue to fit and be appropriate for recovery.
• We would recommend that you arrange an appointment with your physiotherapist or your MLD therapist for six weeks after surgery to be measured for new tights. Most swelling should have subsided by then and so you will be ready for tights that fit your new shape post-surgery.

• While in the GMI, we will wash your compression tights daily. We ask that you bring at least two pairs, so you always have one to change into.
• You should plan to have your compression tights cleaned daily upon discharge. This can be arranged with the hotel, you can source local dry cleaners, or if you are in apartment, it would be helpful for the apartment to come with a washing machine.

• The recommendation is to move regularly, little and often, moving when possible is the best advice. Recommendation is to move at least every hour.
• Rest is also important to aid recovery.
• Elevate legs / arms when sitting down and move feet / arms up and down to act as a pump for fluid draining.
• Hydration is key – aim to drink as much fluid as possible – around 2,5-3 liters per day.
• Electrolytes can be helpful in recovery also.
• Eat well – food that hydrate and are high in protein – fruits and vegetables, eggs, Greek yoghurt, chicken, fish, beef etc.

• You will be given a bag of medication to continue to take – this will typically include antibiotics, blood thinning injections, painkillers, and stomach-protective medication.
• There will likely be leakage from the wounds. So, plan for transportation to the hotel / apartment – use plastic bags and under pads to collect any fluids.
• We would recommend talking to the hotel/ apartment owners ahead of time. Our recommendation is to ask for old or water-resistant sheets, towels etc.  If you don’t talk to the provider, it is best to plan this for yourself so you can protect the accommodation.
• Under pads are the best solution to collect the leakage. These are easily obtainable in pharmacies/supermarkets in Cyprus. 
• It would be useful to have gauze pads, micropore tape, and antiseptic spray to support wound care while healing. Again, these are all easily obtainable in pharmacies in Cyprus.

• You will still be in our care and so we will continue to work together and discuss any changes.
• Typically, we should be looking out for any areas that are particularly painful, are red, are hot to the touch, and any signs of fever. If you experience any of these, then you should contact Dr Georgiou as soon as possible.  Early intervention is key so always reach out as soon as you can.

• This will depend really on your own personal circumstances, and of course we will discuss this during your pre-surgery consultations.
• Ideally, we would prefer you to stay in Cyprus for two weeks so that we can continue to monitor you and support you with any post-operative care that is needed. We, however, do respect that you have your own conditions that will dictate length of stay.

Typically, we expect this to be after week three. We would ask though that you are scab free, and that all incisions are dry and completely sealed to protect you from any potential infections.

Typically, we would expect this to be after week six. We will be keeping in touch post-op though and so this can be agreed based on your own recovery, and needs.

• Emergency phone number in Cyprus (police/fire/ambulance): 112
• GMI phone number: +357 25 208000 (in case of an emergency even after-hours/on weekends, you will be put through to Dr. Georgiou)