What is Cardiovascular Surgery?
Surgery or procedure involving the heart or blood vessels.

What questions should I ask before choosing a Cardiologist to make sure he/she is qualified to operate on me?
Preparing a checklist of questions can help ensure the safety and quality of your procedure.

Questions to ask are:

• What are your credentials?
Verify the doctor’s medical licensure, education, training and board certification. Doctors level of experience, expertise and training vary, in order to make the best choice for yourself, it is vital that you review with the doctor that you chose. If US experience or training is important to you, be sure to ask.


• Are you certified as a Cardiologist or Cardiovascular Surgeon?
Again, it is vital that you verify the doctor’s credentials. When the doctor claims to be board-certified, ask by which board.


• Do you have hospital privileges to perform this surgery?
Some surgical procedures can be performed in the doctor’s office or other outpatient facility but it is important to find out if the doctor has operating privileges in an accredited hospital for the same procedure you are having. Before granting operating privileges, many hospitals have review committees that evaluate a surgeons training and competency for specific procedures.


• Where will you perform my surgery?
If it’s in an office-based facility, ask if it’s accredited. If it is at a hospital, find out which facility and verify its credentials.


• How many procedures of this type have you performed?
Also ask what training has been completed, especially in new techniques. Ask to see certificates of training.


• What are the risks involved with the procedure?
There are risks with any surgical procedure. Find out what they are, how often they occur, and how they will be handled if they do occur.


• What is the expected recovery time?
Be sure to discuss postoperative restrictions on activity and typical time periods for resuming work.


• What is your policy on surgical revisions?
Some cases may require revisions to achieve the desired results. Find out about any costs for which you may be responsible.

Please contact us so that we may discuss your specific questions and needs.

What is Orthopedic Surgery?
Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics (also spelled orthopaedics) is the branch of surgery concerned with acute, chronic, traumatic, and overuse injuries and other disorders of the musculoskeletal system. This would include the neck, back, shoulders, knees and hips.

What questions should I ask before choosing an Orthopedic Surgeon to make sure he/she is qualified to operate on me?
Preparing a checklist of questions can help ensure the safety and quality of your procedure.

Questions to ask are:

• What are your credentials?
Verify the doctor’s medical licensure, education, training and board certification. Doctors level of experience, expertise and training vary, in order to make the best choice for yourself, it is vital that you review with the doctor that you chose. If US experience or training is important to you, be sure to ask.


• Are you certified as an Orthopedic Surgeon?
Again, it is vital that you verify the doctor’s credentials. When the doctor claims to be board-certified, ask by which board.


• Do you have hospital privileges to perform this surgery?
Some surgical procedures can be performed in the doctor’s office or other outpatient facility but it is important to find out if the doctor has operating privileges in an accredited hospital for the same procedure you are having. Before granting operating privileges, many hospitals have review committees that evaluate a surgeons training and competency for specific procedures.


• Where will you perform my surgery?
If it’s in an office-based facility, ask if it’s accredited. If it is at a hospital, find out which facility and verify its credentials.


• How many procedures of this type have you performed?
Also ask what training has been completed, especially in new techniques. Ask to see certificates of training.


• What are the risks involved with the procedure?
There are risks with any surgical procedure. Find out what they are, how often they occur, and how they will be handled if they do occur.


• What is the expected recovery time?
Be sure to discuss postoperative restrictions on activity and typical time periods for resuming work.


• What is your policy on surgical revisions?
Some cases may require revisions to achieve the desired results. Find out about any costs for which you may be responsible.

Please contact us so that we may discuss your specific questions and needs.

What to know about different procedures?
Regardless of type of procedure you are considering, it is essential that you obtain as much information about what type of physician is best prepared to address your specific issue. There are a variety of specialties and subspecialties that can address your injury, illness or disease.

What questions should I ask before choosing a Surgeon to make sure he/she is qualified to operate on me?
Preparing a checklist of questions can help ensure the safety and quality of your procedure.

Questions to ask are:

• What are your credentials?
Verify the doctor’s medical licensure, education, training and board certification. Doctors level of experience, expertise and training vary, in order to make the best choice for yourself, it is vital that you review with the doctor that you chose. If US experience or training is important to you, be sure to ask.


• Are you certified as a Surgeon?
Again, it is vital that you verify the doctor’s credentials. When the doctor claims to be board-certified, ask by which board


• Do you have hospital privileges to perform this surgery?
Some surgical procedures can be performed in the doctor’s office or other outpatient facility but it is important to find out if the doctor has operating privileges in an accredited hospital for the same procedure you are having. Before granting operating privileges, many hospitals have review committees that evaluate a surgeons training and competency for specific procedures.


• Where will you perform my surgery?
If it’s in an office-based facility, ask if it’s accredited. If it is at a hospital, find out which facility and verify its credentials.


• How many procedures of this type have you performed?
Also ask what training has been completed, especially in new techniques. Ask to see certificates of training.


• What are the risks involved with the procedure?
There are risks with any surgical procedure. Find out what they are, how often they occur, and how they will be handled if they do occur.


• What is the expected recovery time?
Be sure to discuss pre and postoperative restrictions on activity and typical time periods for resuming work as well as required testing or treatment.


• What is your policy on surgical revisions?
Some cases may require revisions to achieve the desired results. Find out about any costs for which you may be responsible.

Please contact us so that we may discuss your specific questions and needs.

What is Plastic Surgery?
Plastic surgery is a surgical sub-specialty that deals with the healing and restoration of patients with injury, disfigurement or scarring resulting from trauma, disease or congenital defects. It includes aesthetic, or cosmetic surgery to correct or rejuvenate facial and bodily features not pleasing to the patient. Derived from Greek, the word plastic means molding or giving form and does not refer to the use of plastic materials.

What is aesthetic (cosmetic) surgery?
Aesthetic surgery, also known as cosmetic surgery, seeks to improve an individual’s appearance. These types of operations most often involve the nose, ears, face, forehead, eyelids, breasts, abdomen, hips and thighs.

What questions should I ask before choosing a plastic surgeon to make sure he/she is qualified to operate on me?
Bringing a checklist of questions can help ensure the safety and quality of your procedure.

Questions to ask are:

• What are your credentials?
  Verify the doctor’s medical licensure, education, training and board certification. Doctors level of experience, expertise and training vary, in order to make the best choice for yourself, it is vital that you review with the doctor that you chose. If US experience or training is important to you, be sure to ask.
• Are you certified as a Plastic Surgeon?
  There are many who claim to specialize in Plastic Surgery. Again, it is vital that you verify the doctor’s credentials. When the doctor claims to be board-certified, ask by which board. 
• Do you have hospital privileges to perform this surgery?
  Some surgical procedures can be performed in the doctor’s office or other outpatient facility but it is important to find out if the doctor has operating privileges in an accredited hospital for the same procedure you are having. Before granting operating privileges, many hospitals have review committees that evaluate a surgeons training and competency for specific procedures.
• Where will you perform my surgery?
  If it’s in an office-based facility, ask if it’s accredited. If it is at a hospital, find out which facility and verify its credentials.
• How many procedures of this type have you performed?
  Also ask what training has been completed, especially in new techniques. Ask to see certificates of training.
• What are the risks involved with the procedure?
  There are risks with any surgical procedure. Find out what they are, how often they occur, and how they will be handled if they do occur.
• What is the expected recovery time?
  Be sure to discuss postoperative restrictions on activity and typical time periods for resuming work.
• What is your policy on surgical revisions?
  Some cases may require revisions to achieve the desired results. Find out about any costs for which you may be responsible.

What procedures do plastic surgeons perform?
They include Aesthetic (also called cosmetic) issues with the face, neck and trunk, including forehead, eyes, nose, ears, lips, chin, neck, breasts, abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, calves, arms, and skin.

Is a plastic surgeon a skin specialist?
Dermatologists specialize in skin, but the plastic surgeon has an equally important in treatments involving the skin. The skills of a plastic surgeon are especially needed when large areas of the skin must be removed and replaced especially where disfigurement may result or when these areas are in conspicuous areas such as the face. Plastic surgeons also perform skin-resurfacing techniques, for cosmetic purposes, in order to achieve healthier looking skin by reducing facial wrinkling and pigmentary changes of the skin.

Will I have a scar after plastic surgery?
Scarring is inevitable of healing, however a very fine lined scar placed in the correct orientation may be virtually invisible. A plastic surgeon spends years trying to master techniques to place scars in the most desirable location. Plastic surgeons will try to make incisions in areas that will not show, like under undergarments or along natural creases. Scars will normally fade over time, but certain areas of the body such as the back and chest, produce more severe scarring regardless of the technique used for reconstruction and closure. The severity of the scarring varies from person to person.

Please contact us so that we may discuss your specific questions and needs.

How do I choose the right dentist for me?
Verify the dentist’s licensure, education, training and board certification. Dentist’s level of experience, expertise and training vary. In order to make the best choice for yourself, it is vital that you review with the doctor that you chose. Continuing education is also important. Ask to see documentation of the dentist’s work on patients with similar issues, and discuss the dentist’s degree of experience with various procedures. If US experience or training is important to you, be sure to ask

I don’t like my teeth or my smile – what can I do?
A wide variety of options are available to improve how your teeth work and the way your smile looks.  Check out the “Procedures” section to see some of the options.

Most of my teeth are bunched too near the front of my mouth. Is there a way to get rid of that crowded look?
With removable orthodontics, cosmetic contouring, and/or bonding and veneering, teeth can be reshaped and polished for long-lasting results: a stronger, less crowded-looking appearance.

There's a big gap between my two front teeth. Can that be changed?
Yes. Bonded veneers can close gaps and help create the smile you desire. Bonded resins generally require one office visit, while porcelain veneering takes two. Bonded veneers, along with good oral hygiene and a healthy lifestyle, are effective ways to enhance a smile. A cosmetic dentist can explain the various techniques and help determine which is the best suited to your specific needs.

If my teeth are reshaped for veneers or crowns, what will they look like? Will they be sensitive?
Generally, cemented restorations like crowns or veneers (see our procedure section) will require two visits – one to shape the teeth, and one to cement the restorations to the teeth. In between, your dentist can place attractive temporary restorations to help prevent sensitivity, allow function and provide a nice smile. These temporaries are designed to be in your mouth for a limited time, but should be comfortable and natural looking until you can get your new smile completed.

Is my new smile permanent?
With good home care and regular visits to your dentist, modern materials can last for many years and possibly decades. Like most things, excellent maintenance will extend the life of your dental restorations.

How can I make my discolored teeth whiter?
Tooth whitening, the process for lightening discolored teeth, can be accomplished in the dentist's office or with dentist-supervised, at-home systems. Teeth can be whitened to the desired shade over several office visits. At-home systems should be individually fitted by a cosmetic dentist.

My back teeth have a lot of silver and gold. Is there a less obvious way to fill cavities?
New advances in tooth-colored porcelain and composite materials not only allow fillings to go unnoticed, but also are stronger and more wear-resistant than silver and gold.

Please contact us so that we may discuss your specific questions and needs.

How do I choose the right surgeon for me?
Verify the surgeon’s licensure, education, training and board certification. The surgeon’s level of experience, expertise and training vary. In order to make the best choice for yourself, it is vital that you review with the doctor that you chose. If US experience or training is important to you, be sure to ask.

Does Weight-loss surgery require a serious commitment?
Most surgeons require patients to demonstrate serious motivation for lifestyle change and a clear understanding of the extensive dietary, exercise and medical guidelines that must be followed for the remainder of their lives. Weight-loss surgery requires a solid commitment to long-term follow-up care.

Is bariatric surgery a cosmetic surgery?
Weight-loss surgery is not cosmetic surgery or liposuction; Weight-loss surgery is major surgery involving the digestive system. The stomach and intestines are modified so that less food can be consumed and/or absorbed, which leads to a substantial loss of weight that can be maintained for years. Weight loss surgery should be viewed first and foremost as a method of alleviating chronic disease. When diet and exercise have failed, and the benefits of surgery outweigh the risk of disease related to obesity, bariatric surgery is a good option.

What is the youngest age for which weight loss surgery is recommended?
Generally accepted guidelines from the American Society for Weight-loss Surgery and the National Institutes of Health indicate surgery is only for those 18 years of age and older. Weight loss surgery has been performed on patients 16 and younger in some centers. The ASBS is concerned that young patients may not have reached full developmental or emotional maturity to make this type of decision. Young weight loss surgery patients should understand the importance of the lifelong commitment to the altered eating and lifestyle changes necessary for success.

What is the oldest patient for whom bariatric surgery is recommended?
Patients over 65 require very strong indications for surgery and must also meet stringent criteria. The chances of surgery risks increase, but weight loss surgery can reduce the risk of mortality from obesity-related health conditions.

Please contact us so that we may discuss your specific questions and needs.

What is LASIK?
LASIK, stands for LASER IN-SITU KERATOMILEUSIS. It is a form of laser surgery that is capable of correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The procedure uses a computer controlled excimer laser to reshape the cornea to correct your vision. The laser reshaping is done under a protective flap of tissue to promote a very rapid recovery of vision and minimize discomfort.

How long does the procedure take?
About 10 minutes per eye.

Does it hurt?
No. Anesthetic drops usually allow the operation to be performed without pain. Afterwards, the eye is a bit scratchy, but patients typically do not require any pain medications and are often able return to work the day following the procedure.

Can the procedure be performed on both eyes at once?
Yes.  Many patients choose this options, as it is far more convenient.

Are the effects of LASIK permanent?
Yes, unlike other refractive procedures, the effect IS permanent.

Please contact us so that we may discuss your specific questions and needs.