Having Surgery

Having Surgery

Any surgery is a stressful experience. Dr Novikova works with a highly skilled and very pleasant team so you can be assured you will be looked after very well and will receive excellent care.  Dr Novikova and her team will give you as much information as possible so you know what to expect. Make sure to ask all the questions you have about the surgery. Dr Novikova will take you through the details of the procedure, risks, complications, outcomes, alternative treatment options. She will explain what you can expect depending on your situation and your wishes. 

You will get information about the anaesthetist and the hospital where the procedure will be performed.

Hospitals Dr. Novikova Operates from

Dr Novikova performs surgeries at Mediclinic Cape Town, Cosmetic Surgery Institute and Centre for Advanced Medicine in Johannesburg.

Cape Town Team

She works with an anaesthetist from Anaesthesia Cape Town – usually, Dr Anthony Aubin on the day.

Johannesburg Team

Anaesthetist in Johannesburg is Dr Marianna Hadjimichael and the assistant is a specialist gynaecologist Dr Ethem Divanovic.

Dr Novikova performs major gynaecological surgery with an assistant specialist gynaecologist Dr Gary Groenewald.

She will do her best to accommodate you in terms of the surgery date. You are expected to obtain an authorisation from your medical aid for the procedure and hospital admission. You will be given all the necessary documentation to facilitate the authorisation process. Depending on your medical aid cover you may have to pay a co-payment for the doctor’s fee. Our fees are payable on the day of the service provision.

Investigations before surgery

Please inform the doctor about all regular medications and supplements you take.  Some medications have to be stopped before the procedure.

You may be asked to have blood tests, X-rays, ECG or other tests to assess your fitness for surgery.

You should not eat and drink anything six hours before the operation. You can shave the area of surgery a few days before, however, it is not essential. 

You may have to have bowel preparations or enema on admission for certain procedures that may involve bowel.

Hospitals Admission

 You will be admitted to the hospital on the day of the procedure (unless advised otherwise) and very likely to be discharged on the same day. You will be advised on the time you need to come to the hospital (usually 6 am if surgery is planned in the morning and 10 am if it is planned in the afternoon), or usually, an hour before the procedure is performed under local anesthesia.Depending on the procedure you may be able to go home on the same day or you may have to stay in the hospital for one or more days.

After Surgery

You are not allowed to drive for 24 hours after general anaesthetic and resumption of driving will depend on the type of surgery, level of pain, medications you take for pain and your motor-vehicle insurance rules.

Do not take any valuables with you to the hospital. Although it is a good idea to have a support person with you (friend or family member).  You can advise the doctor who you wish to be called following the procedure.

After the surgery, you will stay in the hospital until you are awake enough to go home. You should have someone to pick you up from the hospital. Dr Novikova will prescribe pain medication, antibiotics, laxatives and antibacterial ointment to apply the wound area if necessary. 

You can eat and drink immediately after the operation.  Dr Novikova will advise when you can resume exercise and sex. Generally, you should not insert anything vaginally and not have sex for 6 weeks after the operation. 

The stitches on the wounds are dissolvable. The dressing covering the wound can be pulled off in a shower a week after the operation. You can keep the wound clean and dry after taking the dressing off by washing normally and drying it with a towel. If you have concerns Dr Novikova will guide you through.

Regarding your surgery payment – the practice is not contracted to medical aid. 

Please contact Dr Novikova if you have any issues or questions.