Of course there is the cost of airfare. Although we make some adjustment on our charges to soften the blow, it may be a consideration for the average patient who is on a budget. Here again, we are talking about your nose and/or face and body and it is not the place to put savings above quality. I am just saying that if the choice of surgeons is close, it may make a difference, especially considering that you have the additional cost and inconvenience of returning for proper follow-up at 6-8 weeks and, if there is a touch up that is necessary for the final best result [perhaps 5% of patients] you then have to travel again at 6-12 months. I have had a patient who came from quite a long way and I see [from photos emailed to me] that some unexpected scar tissue has developed and I would like to tweak the result: yet they are reluctant to travel so far even though I, in this case, would not charge a fee..so in this case it would be better if the patient was local. I am thankful that overall he is satisfied with his result and that the significant majority of the time, both the patient and I are happy and there is no need for a touch up. We have been blessed with a 100% safety record for all 26 years,so it is unlikely that a complication requiring hospitalization would occur….yet the quality of medical care in Sacramento and most other cities [as opposed to some exotic location] is the same and probably not an important deciding factor in whether to travel or not. Also, some exotic place might seem more fun to visit, but remember that the recovery period is mostly watching movies and reading books indoors and, when you really want to travel to a destination resort is on vacation to show off your beautiful nose months after surgery. So, to sum it up, if you are being very careful about your selection process, and you have visited a specialist that has greatly impressed you with their reputation and/or their results on the internet and you still feel your local doctor is equally able to make you happy, by all means stay in town. Only if you are uncomfortable with your local choices should you travel for surgery…yet it is a reality that particularly rhinoplasty is a difficult and demanding art form and you don’t have to have a mediocre result because it is more convenient. It is not like buying a Ford where they are all the same independent of the dealer. Some of us are more devoted to this craft and, if you visit for a consult, it shows.
Traveling Patients III
Posted on March 26, 2010
Posted in: Uncategorized
Sammy
April 29, 2010
Dr. Clark, I am hoping that you will post a little about breast augmentation. I had my breast done and I have a capsular contracture on one side and have slightly bottomed out on the other. It’s painful and embarrassing.I have been to a few doctors for consultations about this but have felt very uncomfortable with them. I know that I am unsure and cautious because I would really like this to be my last surgery. Doctor, I am not even sure what questions I should be asking these surgeons when I go in for a consultation?? I do not live in your area and I do not know if traveling would be best for the recovery but I wanted to know if you correct the problems that I have going on? I saw your before and after pictures online and it seems you have a few pictures that you have corrected disproportionate implants. I would really like to find a surgeon that strives for excellence in his work, has good post surgery care and a bit of compassion.
Look forward to reading your future post.
Sammy
Amy
March 31, 2010
Dr. Clark, a friend recommended I take a look at your web site,great video. I wanted to know is a face lift always necessary if you have slightly sagging skin around the jaw line? You look terrific, would love to know what you have done or maybe it’s all natural ? When I make an appt you can give up some of your secrets . Anyway, does laser treatment or deep peels tighten the facial skin? What is available for us outdoorsy people that have neglected the sunscreen and now in my mid forties am having to deal with fine lines, hyper-pigmentation and skin that is just starting to get a little droopy around the jaw? What services are best to look refreshed and rejuvenated not overhauled. Not yet anyway. Hope you will be writing about these services am very interested in knowing what services might be helpful and what your office has to offer.
Your before and after photos are amazing.
Amy
Dr. Richard Clark
April 27, 2010
Amy…A full face lift is not always needed and sometimes an out patient treatment with Pulse Photofacial light or botox or restylane or fat injections to place tension in the area of hanging jowl so that it pushes out rather than hang….there is a continuum of treatment options and please come in to make a plan. Now remeber, skin responds to years of gravitational pull downwrd…it needs to be pulled back up…PERIOD! Lasers and such treat the sundamage and smoking wrinkles, but nothing is going to restore the droopy jowl or naso-labial fold or hollow in the rings under the eyes or the hollow of the cheek or the sad hooding of the lateral brow crowding you beautiful eyes…nothing but some form of lift and usually now combined with some redisrtibution of fat to give such things as the”Apple Cheek of Youth”. Please dont let it get to complicated, we simply fix what is wrong enough to bother you…not more or less. And , remember, that the scar is your friend and there is nothing better about just putting a lifestyllift scar around the ear where everyone can see it; yet not extending the scar into the hairbearing scalp where it is not ever seen yet can offer mulitple directions of lift and pull to evenly redrape the skin after lifting. So if you have a more professional job done with more lasting results, you will get redraping of the fabric called skin in directions both back and up and angled rather than just pulled back [lifestylelift]. One gets a natural look when the surgeon is doing his best procedure, not soen fly-by-night easy but ineffective bastardization [lifestylelift] of the fine art and craft of rhytidectomy.
Dr. Richard Clark
April 27, 2010
Amy…..come see me and the dermabrasion or co2 laser most effectively sands down the table top of the face [so to speak]. The scartches [read wrinkles] are sanded way if they re not too deep.
Emily
March 29, 2010
Dr. Clark – when should I consider having a deep peel?? I have sun damage and uneven pigmentation on my face. I have used TCA peels and lasers and everything else under the sun. Also can a person possibly have a breast augmentation and a deep peel at the same time so that there is only that one recovery period?? Would you go over having multiple procedures in one consultation or do I have to go in for more than one consult? Are you going to blog about peels at all. They look a bit scary.
Dr. Richard Clark
April 27, 2010
Emily….I will have to blog about peels. You may not, however, have had a deep croton oil peel or a deep co2 laser tretment.The gold standard is the Pheno;/croton oil peel and dermabrsaion.
Co2 ablative laser does the same thing with better control but with perhaps a wee bit more redness, but that rednesss does go away and it tells us that the skin will not only be smoother but the heat that makes the redness appear, will also tighten the collagen within the skin and we have a tighter skintone post op. Nothing scary….never had a significant scar. The breast aug could be done just an hour prior to the facial treatment.
Viv
March 27, 2010
Dr. Clark,
Thank you very much for posting all this great information. You have been very helpful. I appreciate all your in insight and your willingness to give your valuable time to answering questions in this blog. My friend went to you a while ago and you did an amazing job. Her nose looks natural and cute. You did more than one procedure for her and your breast work is quite fantastic too. She’s adorable anyway but you really helped to enhance her natural beauty.
Thanks again,
Viv