22 May 2012

Affordable hair transplantation in India

Who needs Hair Transplantation?

Male hair transplantation in India can be a low cost solution for men suffering from male pattern baldness to regain their confidence back. By the age of thirty-five, 60-70% of American men will start losing their hair, reports the American Hair Loss Association. By the age of fifty, morethan 4 of 5 of American men will have significantly thinned hair. However, one doesn’t have to despair. Getting a male hair transplant in India can help restore their confidence and get back a full head of hair, that too without making them drain their financial resources.

The process of Hair Transplantation:


 Hair transplant for men in India or for that matter any place requires that you have enough hair on the sides and back of the head . These are called donor areas.
• Surgeons extract grafts from the donor hair areas to transplant to the thinning areas. They use small surgical tools to perform the procedure.
• Along with treating alopecia in men of an advanced age, hair restoration can be used to restore hair follicles that were destroyed on a burned area of skin or skin injuries.
• Hair can either be transplanted using strips of hair or individual hair follicles. Transplanting individual hair follicles is a more advanced technique and reduces scarring and recovery time.
• The recovery period can take anywhere from 7-14 days. This depends on the type of hair transplantation.

Advantage India:


Advantages of Undergoing Male Hair Transplant in India
• A major advantage of hair transplantation in India costs significantly lower than the prices charged in the US, the UK and Canada.
• There are a number of state-of-the-art clinics that offer affordable hair transplant treatments in India without compromising quality. India is also a quality destination for cheap cosmetic surgery.
• India is home to many JCI and NABH accredited hospitals. Many of them have ISO certifications too.
• These famous hospitals of India adhere to strict medical standards and are regarded very highly by medical travel patients.
• The country is also home to a number of American returned doctors.
• Hair replacement surgery for men in India rather than in one’s home country allows the patient to  undergo the surgery in complete privacy. This is in particular an advantage for patients who are embarrassed about undergoing treatment for their hair loss. With cheap cosmetic surgery in India, you can easily afford a well-deserved vacation in the country. Before your surgery, you can head out to one of India’s many warm sandy beaches or hit up the hottest nightclubs. You can also enjoy world famous authentic, savory Indian cuisine.

Seeking a male hair transplant in India can help you get rid of baldness without making you shell out a fortune. If you are looking for the best bang for your buck, India is the destination! With the low cost treatments, suberb quality care, and luxurious facilities, it is a small wonder that more and more medical tourism patients are flocking to India for getting treated.

8 May 2012

Medical Travel and Global recession.


Struggling economies and medical tourism:

The recent economic down turn and protracted recession have prompted a bigger debate about the health care costs today. There have been several speculations about the effect of tough economic times on medical travel industry. Let's review some interesting arguments here.



Disposable income and the effect on Medical Travel:

The hard economic times have created a sharp decrease in the disposable income for many middle class families. This obviously will create the postponement of optional medical care like cosmetic and bariatric surgeries. Then one might ask about the necessary procedures. There might not be a much a much a discussion about medical necessity of these procedures. The
medical travel industry has felt some impact already. The slow pace of recovery did not really help the matters in this segment.



Rising premiums and increasing medical consumerism:

The Americans have seen their health care costs go up each year. The insurance companies have started passing a significant portion of these costs to the patients. With many hospitals abroad with very high standards and international accreditation's, many patients are not hesitating today. The out of the box thinking that is fueling the medical travel industry. Some patients are combining their recreational travel and medical budget to pursue the health acre abroad.



However one should understand and appreciate the fact that undertaking medical tourism is a big decision. The patients are more learned and are willing to take some matters in their own hands. It will be very interesting to watch how this will unfold in the time to come.


1 May 2012

What does Medical Travel mean?

Medical Travel:

The term medical travel has been used very loosely in the literature. Although the term medical travel was originally used to describe the pilgrimages for curing recalcitrant diseases, it has been used often used to describe the travel for charity medical work or missionary medical work that was often undertaken in the under privileged areas.


The other terms for Medical Travel:

The medical travel is often used interchangeably with medical tourism, overseas medical, medical abroad, foreign medical treatment, surgery abroad and many more. In today's context, it simply means acquiring health care in a distant land.

The reasons for the medical travel are varied and are constantly evolving. The following might serve as an outline

Availability:

Some procedures and treatments may not be available in the patients home country. In some cases the treatments might not be approved by the medical authorities in the patient's home country. A good example is liberation surgery for multiple sclerosis in Canada. Further the long wait times in the countries like Canada also serves as an important factor.

Quality:

Many times the patients might not be satisfied with the existing quality in their home country. Then they generally seek out for the treatments in other countries. This used to be the trend in most of the developing countries like India in the past. Even today, some of the elite patients go to United States for their medical procedures.

Affordability:

The run away health care costs and increasing premiums have seen a spike in the number of un insured patients in countries like USA. There can not be a bigger motivator for the patients to get a break on the price . This is especially true for the patients when you see the 70-90% savings.
This has kick-started the

13 Apr 2012

Medical Tourism company and ethics

The difference between a trade and a profession is defined by the self regulation. The so called ethical restraint differentiates a job and adds value as a profession. The medical profession has earned this trust by centuries of ethical practise by the profession in general. Granted, that there are few bad apples, but still the statistics overwhelmingly support the above view.



The medical tourism, although not a new profession as we think, is certainly not yet yet in the stage of self regulation yet. This is partly due to the Internet based approach by the profession. Many medical tourism companies are none but a bunch of sales people selling cheap surgeries. Now, how can we think of enforcing ethics with this opportunistic group of people?

The first step could be facilitated by initiating the changes in the management. Unless that company is run by people who has deep understanding of the current global health care system and are willing to follow ethics, this goal will be far from reality. Mr. Bob Talasila, the founder of the World Medical and Surgical LLC remarks- " We see these temptations everyday- but it is the genuine concern for the patient and identifying the professional ethics with your self respect is the way to go. You need to have formal education and professional pride to accomplish that. Unfortunately, you can't expect that with most medical tourism companies.

7 Apr 2012

Medical Tourism in India- Manipal Hospital

World Medical and Surgical LLC is now associated with Manipal Hospitals in Bangalore, India. This group of hospitals is quality oriented like us. It is in fact one of the premier hospitals in India with a rich history for over half century. Manipal group also owns one of the premier medical university in India. Manipal Medical College has churned out many world famous doctors.

airport

Although the Manipal hospital’s focus is not mainly on Medical tourism, it is worth noting that it is equally competent as the other hospitals. It owns 15 hospitals and 3 primary care centers. The Manipal hospital Bangalore is a quaternary care hospital and should certainly appeal a quality conscious medical tourist. It is conveniently located in Bangalore and offers all medical and surgical specialties needed in a medical tour.

1 Apr 2012

Self insured and Costly surgery

American economy thrives on the small businesses. The small business owners work hard and long to establish their business. Mor most of the small business owners the income is limited and in general could not afford costly insurance for their company. They often end up with the insurance plans with meager benefits. The chances of premium increases are very real, if they ended up using the insurance for a costly procedure.



Many of the self employed needs some of these surgeries
Knee Replacement
Hip Replacement
Shoulder Replacement
Spine Surgeries

Many of these are not necessarily are covered by workers compensation. The prospect of having these surgeries is very real after working in the field for a couple of decades. Our founders understand this. In fact our founder Mr. Bob Talasila had a spine surgery and a joint re-construction surgery. These procedures could potentially extend the productive years in one's life and medical tourism could greatly benefit these group of people. We routinely work with the self employed patints who goes abroad for these life changong surgeries.

We have helped many patients in this category who are seeking revision surgeries after being referred to the "surgery clinics" with questionable reputation. We will never compromise your safety. We are convinced that we are doing the right thing. The gratitude we experience from our patients validates this belief.

A cheap surgery abroad need not be a dangerous one.

30 Mar 2012

Cheap Surgery Abroad- The Right Way

The medical tourism industry has passed its infancy and has now clearly became a force to reckon with. Today, almost everybody understands the importance of health travel. Despite this, many people are still learning the hard lessons in the most painful way. We see these horror stories everyday and want to help out to prevent these tagedies in future.

1. Be Frugal- not Greedy:
Unfortunately many patients seems to think that shopping for the better price in medical tourism. Get a decent price. But don't compromise on the quality. Stick with your earlier objesctive. Safe and affordable surgery.

2. Safety comes first:
Again, many patients planning a medical tour, think all the surgeries are same. WRONG!!! There is a reason why medical facilities are accredited in America. The same is truee abroad. The accreditations will evaluate the quality of the hospitals. The hospitals, once accredited, will work extra hard to maintain those accreditations.

3. The ability of the surgeon:
Most of the quality surgeons will typically practice in high quality hospitals. They are typically reluctant to operate in cheap facilities. They don't want to spoil their reputation by associating with these small surgery clinics. Think about it!! You would do the same if you are the surgeon.

4. Don't play around:
Any reputed medical tourism provider would not entertain patients who would play around. They would help you to find better facilities within your parameters. Be clear to yourself, what you want to do. Then find a good medical tourism provider and stick to them.

5. Reward the ethics.:
There are few medical tourism companies that would strictly adhere to the ethics. They are easy to spot and by reawding them, you would help to bring about a much needed change.



Finally remember: Don't be a medical mishap statistic. Instead, do something about it! 

29 Mar 2012

The top ten considerations in medical tourism

We have recently stumbled upon this great article.we would like to share with you the same.

The medical tourism has radically changed the way to cope with health care problems in the developed countries.  Today patients have a choice to make and can literally take control of their health care. This is also true for the patients in countries which do not have access to latest medical technology like Africa and Middle East.  The explosion in medical tourism services has in fact empowered the patients. The internet age has certainly contributed to this growth.  Unfortunately, it has some UN desired consequences. We have recently seen an increase in patient complications due to this trend. Some companies and medical facilities intentionally with hold information from gullible patients, thus complicating the picture. We therefore thought it would be necessary publish some recommendations for the greater good of patients considering surgery abroad.

1) Get a medical opinion on what you need:
Many patients already know what they need. They might have seen their doctor and was recommended for the necessary surgery. We understand that cosmetic and bariatric surgeries could be exceptions to certain extent. But for most other procedures, it is generally necessary to have current medical opinion to have an optimal outcome.
2) Have your current medical history:
Many patients considering medical tourism are UN insured and under insured.  But it is very important to provide the current medical information. The quotes given by the hospitals are subject to verification by the hospitals. Therefore it is very important to know your complete medical information. Be prepared to give your current medical numbers including Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose and Cholesterol.  Also be prepared to provide the current x rays, CT scans and MRI records.
3) Have Control on your risk factors:
Make sure your current medical condition is under control. For example, the diabetes needs to be under control before surgery. The same is true for hyper tension. If you are using blood thinners, please consult your doctor for the appropriate time to discontinue. It is always a good idea to do the breathing exercises while preparing for your surgery. It has been shown to help in faster recovery.  Also don’t forget to talk about your non-prescription medications. Also make sure that you are prepared to take the rigors of international travel.
4) Expectations:
Set your expectations and make sure to communicate them. It is easy to get lost in the information flow by e mail. Don’t get swayed by the information you see on the internet. Do your research and see what is realistic and practical. For the Cosmetic surgeries, please pay attention to detail about the kind of look you want.
5) Consider where you want to visit:
When price is not a huge factor, it is smart to select that place you have always wanted to visit. The travel abroad can be expensive, and there is nothing wrong to take advantage of it when you can. Also keep in mind that you have a better chance of visiting nearby countries in future. So always go for that big one if appropriate. Also think about other factors like language and security. Make sure to account for the travel expenditure and cost of living. It might be smart to do your research in advance. Think smart. Don’t let the stereotypes around you influence your decision. You need to make the decision. You can always plan to include your family members or the significant other.
6) Price:
Obviously, this does not need much explanation. Get the best value for the buck. Having said that, please keep in mind that the cheapest is not always the best. Remember that you are not buying some consumer durable.  You are getting operated on your body.  You cannot get a refund for your surgery abroad. So, be smart and get the bigger picture. We all know that the reason for the medical tourism is to obtain a cheap surgery, which you can’t afford or obtain in your home country.
But it is very important to differentiate between thrift and greed. It is very essential to understand that. Get a good price. But don’t compromise on the quality. It is very important to consider the potential total cost and consequences. You don’t want to appear on national TV and newspapers for the wrong reasons.
7) Get a qualified Medical Tourism Facilitator:
This is often an overlooked but a vital part. The best medical tourism company is typically managed by health care professionals. They normally deal with only highly reputed hospitals. These professionals are aware of the risk tolerance levels.  It is very prudent to select a medical tourism facilitator with extensive clinical knowledge and vast international exposure. It is not necessary that these elite group of facilitators deal with every country on the surface of earth. Some of them simply won’t do that because, they want to maintain a pool of highly qualified hospitals and at the same time they want to have close working relationship with the top management in these hospitals. Having hundreds of hospitals in the database is not necessarily a desirable sign. Also, a bigger online presence does not equate into better quality either. So, talk to your medical tourism provider.  Sometimes, you might have to leave a message and /or need to provide the relevant medical information to have access to these class of professionals. But it is worth it.
Lastly, don’t let your prejudices force you to make a choice. This is a very important decision in your life. Sometimes, it is possible that some professionals with vast international exposure might have a slightly different accent.  You pay the same price for your procedure, but you can expect better outcome and an excellent service. Also, these professionals are very obsessed with quality and are committed to their patients. Naturally, they expect a degree of loyalty from you.  Be prepared to discuss in detail and provide necessary medical records. Please try to be prompt in your communications. Otherwise, they might think that you are just playing around and might not take you seriously.
8) Evaluate the Quotes:
Once you obtain the quotes, (which might take 2-10 days) consider them along the price, accessibility, and the qualifications of the surgeon and the reputation of the hospital. The price as was mentioned before is just part of the consideration. The surgeon’s qualifications also need a closer look. Please be aware that the qualifications might sound a little different. If in doubt, seek explanation. Many of the reputed surgeons have experience in western countries, although this is not really necessary.
The facility where your surgery is performed and where you recuperate is very critical. Unlike cheap clinics the JCI accredited hospitals have very sophisticated operating rooms and carries a much less risk of infection. They have standard operating procedures for infection control, critical medicine and are very good at what they do. They usually have dedicated international patient departments and it is not rare to see have dieticians, translators and additional services to cater to the needs of every nation in the world.
9) Plan in advance:
You need to have a passport to travel to another country. Try to have passport in hand. The waiting times vary widely by the country. Please make sure you fill out the application form correctly. If in doubt, seek help.
Many countries also need a visa to enter their country. Many times medical visas need medical documentation in detail by your physician. So, please talk to your doctor in advance and get the necessary paper work in order. While it is true that your hospital will ensure that you are in a condition to withstand the international travel to your home country, you still need to have a backup plan. Many times you will be able to get long term prescription medications with you. But you will eventually need care by your physician. Some medications might not be available in your home country. So, planning ahead will help you avoid UN necessary interruptions in your medical care.
If you need a medical loan, many reputed medical tourism facilitators can help you to find it. It will take some time and might need proof of your repayment potential. Some hospitals might need the payment in advance. So talk to medical tourism facilitator. You will need to get your flight tickets. The airline companies will penalize for poor planning by making you pay more. It is recommended that you book the airline tickets at the earliest.
10) Expect the un-expected:
Despite our best precautions, surgery always has its risks. So, access all the risks you are likely to face in your surgery abroad. The preparations include but not limited to: emergency funding in case of complications, your options in case of complications, making a legal will, estate planning and more.
This article is issued as a public service material by World Medical and Surgical LLC

27 Mar 2012

Revision Surgeries

There is a reason why many patients trust us with their revision surgeries. Not many health travel facilitators give much importance for the quality aspect in the overseas surgeries. This situation is further complicated by the fact that many such "cheap" surgeries are performed in outpatient surgery clinics. Obviously, they can't handle the emergencies and don't have clearly defined post surgical protocols.


Even a low grade infection in surgeries like tummy tuck or breast augmentation can severely impact the outcomes. Unfortunately, the complication rates in such facilities are much higher than properly accredited hospitals. In many cases, they are more than double. Statistically, this would more than negate any savings the patient might had in the first place. Normally, most of the expert surgeons won't practice in such facilities, because it could adversely impact their reputation.

We at World Medical and Surgical.Com, welcome the patients seeking revision surgeries. We are a company that adheres to strict ethics and are solely managed by American healthcare professionsls. Many patients trusted us with their revision surgeries. So can you.

26 Mar 2012

The top 5 strengths of Indian doctors

India has indeed became the newfound capital of medical tourism world. Patients flock to India from throughout the world- practically from every continent. One wonders about the contributions o Indian medical profession for this distinction. In fact, it is the characterstic of Indian doctors, that gave a distinct edge to India.



Indian doctors are natural adapters. You can practically see them in every city in the world. They are also very early adapters of the latest technologies and break through medical and surgical procedures.

Indian doctors have no language barriers. Their proficiency in english have made them to connect well with international patients.

Indian doctors are some of the best in talent. The competition is very intense among Indian students. Also the abundance of doctors in India have fuelled competition and drive for excellence.

The advanced training of Indian doctors abroad and their return to their homeland have elevated the standards to the international level. This led to the development of the super specialty hospitals with highest international accreditations like JCI.

The cheaper salaries in India have made the India an ideal combination of quality and affordability for medical tourists around the world.

24 Mar 2012

TUMMY TUCK SURGERY COMPLICATIONS

Everybody wants to have a lean flat tummy. But not everybody have one. The reasons could be multiple and diverse. They range from genetics to underlying medical conditions. Sometimes, the blotched abdominal surgeries, drastic weight loss by dieting or bariatric surgeries, pregnancy related streching and strech marks are other causative factors..


Tummy tuck surgeries (Abdominoplasty) provide an option for these group of patients. Though some patients can benefit from liposuction, the patients with loose skin around the abdomin can not use the liposuction and hence might require liposuction. The candidates for Tummy Tuck surgery in medical tourism needs to be evaluated carefully and choose the facilities that promote optimal outcomes. The medical tourism agencies managed by American health care professionals like "World Medical and Surgical. Com" is usually a good place to start.

It is very important to realize that proper healing and the skill of the surgeon plays a very important role in determining the outcomes of tummytuck surrgeries. The surgery line will fade away in many cases, although the scarring is possible in some cases. Post surgical infections are possible, and sometimes might lead to serious conditions like peritonitis.That is the very reason that made us not to associate with cheap surgery clinics with questionable reputation. Many American doctors trusted us for their medical tourism needs.


It is very important to realize that many patients with tummy tuck surgeries at cheap clinics abroad had complications or less desirable outcomes. It is advised that one needs to take the bigger picture into consideration when planning on a cosmetic surgery. Just remember- this surgery should ideally be performed in a hospital. Not a cheap surgery clinic.

21 Mar 2012

Lung Transplant Surgery

Many patients with chronic lung disease will enter a stage of no return. These patients, especially those with the end stage COPD might eventualy require lung transplantation. The lung transplantation is a highly specialized surgery and can mean the choice of life and death for the affected patient. The candidates for the Lung Transplantation (Pulmonary Transplantation )  Those with end stage COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Primary pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis and Bronchiectasis.
The Transplantation could be single lobe, where the donor could be a live donor. The other techniques involve the brain dead donors and would involve single lung, double lung and heart and lung transplantation.
The contraindications would involve a history of medical non compliance, smoking, HIV, Hepatitis, Cancer, CHF and kidney failure. This is a major surgery with a huge potential for survival for the patient. The studies have shown that the 1st year survival rate is over 83%. Choosing a right medical tourism company like World Medical and Surgical could be a vital step in this process for some patients.