Much of his journey is conducted above ground, but in one passage he descends to the " malodorous" Fleet, wisely clothed head-to-toe in protective gear.
Anyone in contact with the patient must be protected from head to toe, even the smallest slip-up could lead to contamination and ultimately even death.
So when asked about how long does the makeup take, it, depending on the creature, it can be anything from a suit going on and zipping up the back or a makeup that is applied to you from head to toe.