We wish to advise our readers, clients and patients that all the Surgical Escapes BLOG articles are posted and edited by Christo Hugo, partner and Managing Director of Surgical Escapes unless stated otherwise. He is a non - medical author/professional. Most of the articles posted are obtained from various Plastic Surgery Associations such as BAAPS, ASAPS, ISAPS etc. The original authors and links are noted below each article. Furthermore we also wish to add that all the other related articles published within the BLOG (not obtained from the above mentioned organisations) are obtained from various other Internet portals, forums and sites related to medical tourism. The original authors and links of these articles will also be published below each submitted article.
by Christo Hugo
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Ethnic minorities go under the knife
Women of color now have a choice when it comes to picking their plastic surgeon.
There is a reason for it. Plastic surgery is no longer a privilege for just a small group of elites. With lower prices and higher safety, a lot more people are going under the knife. According to statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) racial and ethnic minorities accounted for a little over 20% of all cosmetic procedures performed last year, an increase from 14% in 2000. Hispanics again led minority racial and ethnic groups in the number of procedures at 8.5% followed by African- Americans, 6.2%; Asians, 4.6%; and other non-Caucasians, 1.1%.
Ethnicity has stopped many women from seeking cosmetic surgery in the past since they were afraid that their features would look “too white.” However, many are realizing that plastic surgery can be done without feeling like you’re trying to change your ethnicity. New procedures and specific training in treating ethnic populations have opened new avenues for patients who previously were afraid to try many procedures. For example, scarring is an area of concern among darker-skinned patients.
Expertise in treating skin of color involves more than knowing how a certain laser or injectable might affect a Hispanic or Brazilian or an African American patient. A doctor’s cultural sensitivity and knowledge can also improve a patient’s comfort level. For instance, a Spanish speaking surgeon is likely to connect better with a Latina patient. “One size does not fit all" - not only are techniques different for certain minority populations but the concept of what is beautiful is as well. he said. For example, South American women typically want smaller breasts and larger buttocks than the average white American female.
That is why Spanish-speaking Americans are increasingly being courted by surgeons in Latin America. Many American plastic surgeons now speak more than one language or have multi-lingual staff to aid in patient communication.
Like Latin women who have specific demands on how they want to look, so are the Asian patients who are primarily interested in eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) - they don’t want a Westernized look. They want subtle improvements that are not overly done. However, you don’t need to be Asian to treat Asian patients. For example, experienced aesthetic surgeons will identify pleasing ethnic features and recreate them.
Article by ASAPS
www.surgery.org
There is a reason for it. Plastic surgery is no longer a privilege for just a small group of elites. With lower prices and higher safety, a lot more people are going under the knife. According to statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) racial and ethnic minorities accounted for a little over 20% of all cosmetic procedures performed last year, an increase from 14% in 2000. Hispanics again led minority racial and ethnic groups in the number of procedures at 8.5% followed by African- Americans, 6.2%; Asians, 4.6%; and other non-Caucasians, 1.1%.
Ethnicity has stopped many women from seeking cosmetic surgery in the past since they were afraid that their features would look “too white.” However, many are realizing that plastic surgery can be done without feeling like you’re trying to change your ethnicity. New procedures and specific training in treating ethnic populations have opened new avenues for patients who previously were afraid to try many procedures. For example, scarring is an area of concern among darker-skinned patients.
Expertise in treating skin of color involves more than knowing how a certain laser or injectable might affect a Hispanic or Brazilian or an African American patient. A doctor’s cultural sensitivity and knowledge can also improve a patient’s comfort level. For instance, a Spanish speaking surgeon is likely to connect better with a Latina patient. “One size does not fit all" - not only are techniques different for certain minority populations but the concept of what is beautiful is as well. he said. For example, South American women typically want smaller breasts and larger buttocks than the average white American female.
That is why Spanish-speaking Americans are increasingly being courted by surgeons in Latin America. Many American plastic surgeons now speak more than one language or have multi-lingual staff to aid in patient communication.
Like Latin women who have specific demands on how they want to look, so are the Asian patients who are primarily interested in eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) - they don’t want a Westernized look. They want subtle improvements that are not overly done. However, you don’t need to be Asian to treat Asian patients. For example, experienced aesthetic surgeons will identify pleasing ethnic features and recreate them.
Article by ASAPS
www.surgery.org
How to choose the right breast implant size ?
Breast augmentation enables a woman to choose the size that she feels will boost her body image and self-confidence.
However, some women find that, following surgery, their ideas about the ideal size have changed, and this can lead them to request additional surgery. That means additional risks, so surgeons are always looking for ways to help women make better choices about size at the time of their initial augmentation surgery, according to experts a recent study showed that, while satisfaction with surgery was extremely high, nevertheless 34% of those who underwent re-operation did so simply to change the size of their implants. In most cases, women who change implant size switch to larger implants. However, implants that are too large can leave a patient looking "proportionally disfigured". If a patient demands a size unsuited to her body type, the surgeon cannot in good conscience perform the surgery. In other words, your surgeon is in the best position to lay out all the options for you and help you pick an implant size that is good for you both from a technical and aesthetic standpoint.
While there are different opinions among experts on selecting the appropriate implant size, most plastic surgeons agree that the base diameter should be the key measurement determining the selection. If you do not have enough skin to accommodate the implants, you can not have a large implant. That is why a doctor needs to examine how much skin you really have and what can be fitted in without causing stretch marks. Only when a surgeon has a chance to examine the patient, can he/she decide what is best for her body.
Article by ASAPS
www.surgery.org
However, some women find that, following surgery, their ideas about the ideal size have changed, and this can lead them to request additional surgery. That means additional risks, so surgeons are always looking for ways to help women make better choices about size at the time of their initial augmentation surgery, according to experts a recent study showed that, while satisfaction with surgery was extremely high, nevertheless 34% of those who underwent re-operation did so simply to change the size of their implants. In most cases, women who change implant size switch to larger implants. However, implants that are too large can leave a patient looking "proportionally disfigured". If a patient demands a size unsuited to her body type, the surgeon cannot in good conscience perform the surgery. In other words, your surgeon is in the best position to lay out all the options for you and help you pick an implant size that is good for you both from a technical and aesthetic standpoint.
While there are different opinions among experts on selecting the appropriate implant size, most plastic surgeons agree that the base diameter should be the key measurement determining the selection. If you do not have enough skin to accommodate the implants, you can not have a large implant. That is why a doctor needs to examine how much skin you really have and what can be fitted in without causing stretch marks. Only when a surgeon has a chance to examine the patient, can he/she decide what is best for her body.
Article by ASAPS
www.surgery.org
Cosmetic Dentistry in the UK
British dentists 'most expensive in Europe'
Costly UK dental care could lead more patients to seek treatment abroad, a report suggests.
British dentists are charging more for dental care than in any other country in Europe, a survey, by Siok Swan Tan of the Institute for Medical Technology Assessment at Erasmus University, Rotterdam, revealed. The Independent noted that in March last year two million people in the UK were not able to access dental treatment on the NHS. Yet during a Labour Party Conference speech in 1999, then-prime minister Tony Blair had said everyone would have NHS dental treatment.
"Without exception, labour costs were the most important cost driver in all countries and practices," said Ms Swan Tan.Recently the British Dental Association's chief executive Peter Ward said that he welcomed the news that the government is to increase the NHS dentistry budget for the commissioning of primary care dental services.
January 2008,
Survey by Siok Swan Tan and published by Treatment Abroad
Costly UK dental care could lead more patients to seek treatment abroad, a report suggests.
British dentists are charging more for dental care than in any other country in Europe, a survey, by Siok Swan Tan of the Institute for Medical Technology Assessment at Erasmus University, Rotterdam, revealed. The Independent noted that in March last year two million people in the UK were not able to access dental treatment on the NHS. Yet during a Labour Party Conference speech in 1999, then-prime minister Tony Blair had said everyone would have NHS dental treatment.
"Without exception, labour costs were the most important cost driver in all countries and practices," said Ms Swan Tan.Recently the British Dental Association's chief executive Peter Ward said that he welcomed the news that the government is to increase the NHS dentistry budget for the commissioning of primary care dental services.
January 2008,
Survey by Siok Swan Tan and published by Treatment Abroad
FDA Approval of Silicone Implants
FDA Approves Silicone Gel - Filled Breast Implants After In - Depth Evaluation 10 Years of Patient Follow - Up
After rigorous scientific review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved the marketing of silicone gel - filled breast implants made by two companies for breast reconstruction in women of all ages and breast augmentation in women ages 22 and older. The products are manufactured by Allergan Corp. (formerly Inamed Corp.), Irvine, Calif., and Mentor Corp., Santa Barbara, Calif.
Statement issued by Mentor Corp.
After rigorous scientific review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved the marketing of silicone gel - filled breast implants made by two companies for breast reconstruction in women of all ages and breast augmentation in women ages 22 and older. The products are manufactured by Allergan Corp. (formerly Inamed Corp.), Irvine, Calif., and Mentor Corp., Santa Barbara, Calif.
Statement issued by Mentor Corp.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Medical Travel solutions now offered in Argentina & South Africa
Surgical Escapes, the leading medical management and tourism company which offers specialized medical, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery services, post operative recuperation and beauty rejuvenation travel utilizing Argentina's & South Africa's leading, fully registered physicians, surgeons and top class medical facilities.
Surgical Escapes will take excellent care of you from the moment you arrive to the moment you are safe back home again. You will be met at the airport and be taken to your choice of accommodation, your entire medical and surgeon's appointments and we will be with you at all of your procedures. We provide you with personal assistance in your native language, we take care of all your transport needs, and we arrange your accommodation in very comfortable, relaxed and private Guest Houses or up market Apartments during your stay in either South Africa or Argentina.
All pre surgery medical checkups and consultations will be coordinated and attended by us for complete peace of mind. At the day of surgery you will be accompanied by one of our very competent assistants. We will be with you each step of the way. After your treatment or surgery we will make sure you are well taken care of and pampered. We will make sure you recover and rest with all the tranquility you deserve. On top of all this very specialized service we provide we also offer amazing holiday or travel options both in Argentina and in South Africa. If it's the melancholic Tango you would like to experience in the trendy fashion neighborhoods of Buenos Aires or a wild Big 5 safari in the world famous Kruger National Park we can add these and a variety of other fantastic experiences to your surgery package.
Apart from our cosmetic procedures we also offer a complete range of medical services and check-up packages performed by fully registered and highly qualified physicians while on vacation. It can be difficult to fit in a visit to the doctor during a working week, so we offer the option to purchase an all-in-one wellness packages as part of your vacation. Surgical Escapes offers packages which includes accommodation and a full medical check-up by a certified physician, with a free interview with a cosmetic surgeon if desired. The rest of the time you can then spend relaxing with daily spa treatments, enjoying healthy and delicious food created by a nutritionist, playing a round of golf or enjoying a colorful city tour or a variety of other exciting activities.
Surgical Escapes also offers a full range of services with regards to General Dentistry, Orthopedics, Odontology, and Ophthalmology. We also offer a variety of Dermatology treatments, Botox and Medical Spa Treatments. Couples wanting to have children we can assist in a range of Assisted Fertilization options currently available. All our cosmetic and plastic surgery procedure packages include the following. Depending on your choice of procedure the amount of days/nights will vary. For most of our cosmetic surgery procedures a minimum of 7 full days after surgery stay is required. All these packages can be altered according to your preference.
· Personal bilingual assistant at all medical appointments and including day of surgery.
· Airport transfers & transport to all medical appointments/check - ups including day of surgery.
· All medical check - ups/tests & consultations - pre & post surgery.
· Surgeons Fees & Anesthesia.
· Hospital/Clinic Fees (incl. all medical supplies & disposable materials).
· 1 Overnight stay - Hospital or Clinic.
· Implants [Mentor or SeBBin]/Prosthesis (where applicable).
· Special gift.
· Accommodation including Breakfast.
· Post surgery follow up.
by Christo Hugo, Managing Director - Surgical Escapes
Surgical Escapes will take excellent care of you from the moment you arrive to the moment you are safe back home again. You will be met at the airport and be taken to your choice of accommodation, your entire medical and surgeon's appointments and we will be with you at all of your procedures. We provide you with personal assistance in your native language, we take care of all your transport needs, and we arrange your accommodation in very comfortable, relaxed and private Guest Houses or up market Apartments during your stay in either South Africa or Argentina.
All pre surgery medical checkups and consultations will be coordinated and attended by us for complete peace of mind. At the day of surgery you will be accompanied by one of our very competent assistants. We will be with you each step of the way. After your treatment or surgery we will make sure you are well taken care of and pampered. We will make sure you recover and rest with all the tranquility you deserve. On top of all this very specialized service we provide we also offer amazing holiday or travel options both in Argentina and in South Africa. If it's the melancholic Tango you would like to experience in the trendy fashion neighborhoods of Buenos Aires or a wild Big 5 safari in the world famous Kruger National Park we can add these and a variety of other fantastic experiences to your surgery package.
Apart from our cosmetic procedures we also offer a complete range of medical services and check-up packages performed by fully registered and highly qualified physicians while on vacation. It can be difficult to fit in a visit to the doctor during a working week, so we offer the option to purchase an all-in-one wellness packages as part of your vacation. Surgical Escapes offers packages which includes accommodation and a full medical check-up by a certified physician, with a free interview with a cosmetic surgeon if desired. The rest of the time you can then spend relaxing with daily spa treatments, enjoying healthy and delicious food created by a nutritionist, playing a round of golf or enjoying a colorful city tour or a variety of other exciting activities.
Surgical Escapes also offers a full range of services with regards to General Dentistry, Orthopedics, Odontology, and Ophthalmology. We also offer a variety of Dermatology treatments, Botox and Medical Spa Treatments. Couples wanting to have children we can assist in a range of Assisted Fertilization options currently available. All our cosmetic and plastic surgery procedure packages include the following. Depending on your choice of procedure the amount of days/nights will vary. For most of our cosmetic surgery procedures a minimum of 7 full days after surgery stay is required. All these packages can be altered according to your preference.
· Personal bilingual assistant at all medical appointments and including day of surgery.
· Airport transfers & transport to all medical appointments/check - ups including day of surgery.
· All medical check - ups/tests & consultations - pre & post surgery.
· Surgeons Fees & Anesthesia.
· Hospital/Clinic Fees (incl. all medical supplies & disposable materials).
· 1 Overnight stay - Hospital or Clinic.
· Implants [Mentor or SeBBin]/Prosthesis (where applicable).
· Special gift.
· Accommodation including Breakfast.
· Post surgery follow up.
by Christo Hugo, Managing Director - Surgical Escapes
In search of health and beauty abroad
Medical Tourism: Everybody's Guide to Affordable World-Class Medical Travel
At least 28 countries cater to international health travelers. Why it's a growing trend.
By Josef Woodman
Posted October 1, 2008
This article is based on excerpts from the second edition of Patients Beyond Borders (2008), the flagship of a landmark series of consumer guides to international medical travel that have helped thousands of patients plan successful health journeys abroad. Healthy Travel Media, publisher of the guides, has become a global clearinghouse for useful information about medical and wellness travel.
Last year, more than 180,000 Americans packed their bags and headed overseas for nearly every imaginable type of medical treatment: tummy tucks in Brazil, heart valve replacements in Thailand, hip resurfacing surgeries in India, addiction recovery in Antigua, fertility diagnosis and treatments in South Africa, thalassotherapy in Hungary, or restorative dentistry in Mexico.
Currently, at least 28 countries on four continents cater to the international health traveler, with more than 2 million patients visiting hospitals and clinics each year in countries other than their own. The roster of treatments is as varied as the travelers. If the notion of complex medical procedures in far-flung lands seems intimidating to you, don't feel alone. That's why I wrote the book Patients Beyond Borders, drawing from the varied experiences of hundreds of patients who, for dozens of reasons, have beaten a well-worn path to successful treatments abroad.
It all started when my father, who was 72 at the time, announced he was heading off to Mexico for extensive dental work. I well remember my first reaction upon hearing his plans: a mixture of bewilderment and fear, then resignation, knowing that despite my protestations, he was going anyway. In spite of my concerns—some of them quite real—I'm pleased to report a happy ending. Dad and his wife, Alinda, selected a U.S.-trained dentist in Puerto Vallarta and spent around $11,000—which included two weeks noodling around the Pacific Coast. They returned tanned and smiling, Dad with new pearly whites and Alinda with an impromptu skin resurfacing. The same procedures would have cost them $24,000 in the United States.
After his treatment, when I told the story of my father's trip, most friends responded with the same shock and disbelief that I had felt initially. Then, when I explained the quality of care and the savings, more often than not, those same folks followed me out the door, asking for Dad's E-mail address. I even had an airport customs agent abandon his post and follow me to the boarding gate, seeking additional information for his son, who he had just learned required heart surgery.
Not long afterward, I developed an infected root canal and found myself following my father's example. My research led me abroad for extraction and implant work. While pleasantly surprised at the quality of care, the prices, and the all-around-good experience of the trip, I nonetheless made a number of mistakes and created unnecessary difficulties and discomforts for myself. Had I done some simple things differently, my trip would have been more successful and more economical.
In seeking additional data on medical travel, I found no reliable source of information. Everybody had something to sell or a political ax to grind. Books, magazine articles, and newspaper reports seemed more like tourists' brochures than health travel references. Thus the idea for Patients Beyond Borders was born: a well-researched guide, written in plain English, that would offer an impartial look at contemporary medical travel while helping prospective patients ask the right questions and make informed choices.
As we contemplate our options in an overpriced, overburdened U.S. healthcare environment, nearly all of us will eventually find ourselves seeking alternatives to costly treatments—either for ourselves or for our loved ones. Americans are in the midst of a global shift in healthcare service: In a few short years, big government investment, corporate partnerships, and increased media attention have spawned a new industry—medical tourism—bringing with it a host of encouraging new choices, ranging from dental care and cosmetic surgery to some of the more costly procedures, such as hip replacement and heart surgery. Those patients who take the time to become informed about our changing healthcare world will be pleasantly surprised by a smorgasbord of affordable, high-quality, American-accredited medical options abroad. Those who do not may find themselves grappling with an ungainly, prohibitively expensive healthcare system and a rising absence of choice.
There is no single type of health traveler. In researching and writing Patients Beyond Borders, I talked with wealthy women from Beverly Hills who, despite their affluence, prefer the quality of treatment and attention they receive in Brazil or South Africa to medical care California style. I met a hardworking couple from Wisconsin who, facing the prospect of refinancing their home for a $65,000 hip operation here in the United States, headed to India instead. I interviewed a Vietnam vet who wearied of long waits and red tape. He said "bon voyage" to this country's ever deteriorating healthcare system and headed overseas for treatment.
From these patients' experiences and many more like them, you'll learn when and how health travel abroad might meet your medical and financial needs. And you'll become a more informed healthcare consumer—both here and abroad.
At least 28 countries cater to international health travelers. Why it's a growing trend.
By Josef Woodman
Posted October 1, 2008
This article is based on excerpts from the second edition of Patients Beyond Borders (2008), the flagship of a landmark series of consumer guides to international medical travel that have helped thousands of patients plan successful health journeys abroad. Healthy Travel Media, publisher of the guides, has become a global clearinghouse for useful information about medical and wellness travel.
Last year, more than 180,000 Americans packed their bags and headed overseas for nearly every imaginable type of medical treatment: tummy tucks in Brazil, heart valve replacements in Thailand, hip resurfacing surgeries in India, addiction recovery in Antigua, fertility diagnosis and treatments in South Africa, thalassotherapy in Hungary, or restorative dentistry in Mexico.
Currently, at least 28 countries on four continents cater to the international health traveler, with more than 2 million patients visiting hospitals and clinics each year in countries other than their own. The roster of treatments is as varied as the travelers. If the notion of complex medical procedures in far-flung lands seems intimidating to you, don't feel alone. That's why I wrote the book Patients Beyond Borders, drawing from the varied experiences of hundreds of patients who, for dozens of reasons, have beaten a well-worn path to successful treatments abroad.
It all started when my father, who was 72 at the time, announced he was heading off to Mexico for extensive dental work. I well remember my first reaction upon hearing his plans: a mixture of bewilderment and fear, then resignation, knowing that despite my protestations, he was going anyway. In spite of my concerns—some of them quite real—I'm pleased to report a happy ending. Dad and his wife, Alinda, selected a U.S.-trained dentist in Puerto Vallarta and spent around $11,000—which included two weeks noodling around the Pacific Coast. They returned tanned and smiling, Dad with new pearly whites and Alinda with an impromptu skin resurfacing. The same procedures would have cost them $24,000 in the United States.
After his treatment, when I told the story of my father's trip, most friends responded with the same shock and disbelief that I had felt initially. Then, when I explained the quality of care and the savings, more often than not, those same folks followed me out the door, asking for Dad's E-mail address. I even had an airport customs agent abandon his post and follow me to the boarding gate, seeking additional information for his son, who he had just learned required heart surgery.
Not long afterward, I developed an infected root canal and found myself following my father's example. My research led me abroad for extraction and implant work. While pleasantly surprised at the quality of care, the prices, and the all-around-good experience of the trip, I nonetheless made a number of mistakes and created unnecessary difficulties and discomforts for myself. Had I done some simple things differently, my trip would have been more successful and more economical.
In seeking additional data on medical travel, I found no reliable source of information. Everybody had something to sell or a political ax to grind. Books, magazine articles, and newspaper reports seemed more like tourists' brochures than health travel references. Thus the idea for Patients Beyond Borders was born: a well-researched guide, written in plain English, that would offer an impartial look at contemporary medical travel while helping prospective patients ask the right questions and make informed choices.
As we contemplate our options in an overpriced, overburdened U.S. healthcare environment, nearly all of us will eventually find ourselves seeking alternatives to costly treatments—either for ourselves or for our loved ones. Americans are in the midst of a global shift in healthcare service: In a few short years, big government investment, corporate partnerships, and increased media attention have spawned a new industry—medical tourism—bringing with it a host of encouraging new choices, ranging from dental care and cosmetic surgery to some of the more costly procedures, such as hip replacement and heart surgery. Those patients who take the time to become informed about our changing healthcare world will be pleasantly surprised by a smorgasbord of affordable, high-quality, American-accredited medical options abroad. Those who do not may find themselves grappling with an ungainly, prohibitively expensive healthcare system and a rising absence of choice.
There is no single type of health traveler. In researching and writing Patients Beyond Borders, I talked with wealthy women from Beverly Hills who, despite their affluence, prefer the quality of treatment and attention they receive in Brazil or South Africa to medical care California style. I met a hardworking couple from Wisconsin who, facing the prospect of refinancing their home for a $65,000 hip operation here in the United States, headed to India instead. I interviewed a Vietnam vet who wearied of long waits and red tape. He said "bon voyage" to this country's ever deteriorating healthcare system and headed overseas for treatment.
From these patients' experiences and many more like them, you'll learn when and how health travel abroad might meet your medical and financial needs. And you'll become a more informed healthcare consumer—both here and abroad.
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