FAQs

Very soon. We accommodate our patients on a first-come, first-served basis, but we always consider individual conditions and needs. We are always happy to accommodate your appointment accordingly to see you as soon as we can. To provide maximum flexibility, we offer appointments in the evening and on weekends as well as telemedicine options.

Yes, we have implemented a platform that allows our patients to have their appointments via telehealth, either via phone or video. This allows you to speak to our surgeons from the comfort of your home. If your initial visit is virtual, you might be scheduled for an in-person visit for a physical exam so we can properly develop your care plan.

We accept most major medical insurance, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Healthcare, Aetna and Medicare/Medicaid. In the rare instance that we do not take your insurance, we have an insurance specialist who will assist you in seeing one of our providers. We offer reasonable self-pay rates for office consultations.

At the time of your appointment, the surgeons at the Chicago Institute of Advanced Surgery will meet with you, review your history, perform a physical exam, review any blood work or imaging studies you’ve had, and discuss the details of your possible surgery.  If an elective surgery is scheduled, it will be at a later date.

When hospitals are caring for many COVID patients at one time, hospitals may delay elective surgeries to redistribute operating room (OR) staff and resources to other departments in need. If your surgery is delayed, we will get you rescheduled as soon as possible at the same hospital or another facility if your insurance permits.

We perform a variety of procedures in the office and have dedicated times during the week for these procedures. We perform excision of skin cysts, lipomas, and skin or breast biopsies in-office. We also perform anorectal procedures, including removal of anal skin tags, external hemorrhoids, destruction of anal warts, abscess drainage and anal sensation testing.

We appreciate that most patients want to have their surgery performed soon after they reach the decision to proceed. In general, we are able to schedule patients for surgery within 2 weeks of their consultation. Of course, some patients may require additional testing to ensure they receive medical clearance from their primary care provider prior to surgery.

We are always reachable! You can call the office (773-327-6800) at any time. You will be able to speak directly to a surgeon during normal business hours, and you will be able to speak to the group’s on-call surgeon anytime afterward. You can also message our team through text (773-900-6639) during business hours.

We offer weekend telemedicine appointments. We also have late hours during our clinic for patients unable to come during “normal” business hours. We will always try to accommodate your schedule. 

Yes, however a fee of $25.00 is charged for this service and 5 – 7 business days are necessary to complete the paperwork. 

Minimally invasive means that we perform your surgery through very small incisions. We do the same surgeries that have traditionally been done “open” or with one large incision, but through much smaller cuts. We are able to do this by using specialized laparoscopic or robotic instruments and tools. This means you will have less pain, a lower risk of wound complications and a quicker return to your everyday life. 

Recovery time differs depending on the type of surgery. Most patients return to work within 1 – 2 weeks. All our patients can walk and go up and down stairs immediately after surgery. You can shower the day after surgery. Most patients will not be able to lift anything over 10 pounds for 6 weeks after surgery. Check with your surgeon for more specific details.