A Patient’s Experience of Checking in for Treatment at Ocean Clinic

Eloise Long recently travelled from the UK to Spain, to have rhinoplasty at Ocean Clinic Marbella. She talks about her experience, from initial consultation through to cast-removal.

Why did you choose to have your cosmetic surgery at Ocean Clinic Marbella?

A friend of mine recommended Dr. Kaye and said he had a very good reputation. This was very important to me because I had already had rhinoplasty in the UK, which I was unhappy with. I’d also had a revision, which still didn’t correct the problem, so I needed a surgeon I could trust.

There’s only a certain amount of times you can have your nose done. You don’t want to risk it collapsing, and unfortunately, the surgery was going to be much more complex because of the previous operations.

I also wanted to keep out of the way of friends and family at home by recovering abroad. In terms of cost, it was better value than having it done at home but that wasn’t my main reason for coming to Spain.

Why were you unhappy with the cosmetic surgery you’d had in the UK?

I had surgery four years ago; I was just meant to have lump removal – minor surgery, really, but afterwards the lump was still there. I had a revision a year later and the lump was still there. When I compared my nose with pre-surgery pictures it looked exactly the same.

This time I wanted a dramatic change and decided to have a curve put in.  I wanted to find a surgeon who could give me what I wanted.

Have you found the standard of care in Spain to be any different to that which you experienced in the UK?

It’s been much better here. The staff have been absolutely amazing, so kind and so caring. In the UK, everyone was a bit more clinical, a bit colder.  Everyone here has been very friendly and that’s very important as you do need to feel very cared for.

The staff were also really accommodating to my husband, letting him stay with me. He could have stayed overnight if he wanted, which is something that wouldn’t have happened in England. It made me feel so much better that he was there with me.

The other difference I found was in the management of pain relief. Here, the team did everything they could to make me comfortable, but back home they weren’t so concerned.

What did you think about the facilities at Ocean Clinic?

The facilities were brilliant. One thing I didn’t have before was an ice mask and I think it’s really aided my recovery. I’ve had swelling but hardly any bruising. Previously the surgeon said he’d never seen someone bruise so badly, so I think keeping the ice mask on really made a difference.

My room was really luxurious and the food was also amazing. I had a prawn and avocado salad for a starter and then salmon with dauphinoise potatoes.

What did you think about Dr. Kaye?

Dr. Kaye had a really warm and friendly persona. I was also reassured by the fact he takes good care of his appearance. It’s like going to a hairdresser with bad hair; you just wouldn’t trust them so much.

I was confident in his abilities. At the first consultation he drew on a picture of me, explaining what he thought should be done and he just got it, without me needing to explain.

He also did a virtual simulation for me and we went back and forth on that until he had a good understanding of what I wanted.

He explained a lot of things to me in the pre-surgery consultation to manage my expectations. He explained that you have to match up the nose to the face – for example, you can’t have a dead straight nose if your lips are off centre. There has to be symmetry.

After surgery, he had a lot of confidence in his work, which also reassured me.

How did you find the recovery?

I was allowed to go home the day after surgery. I was staying in an apartment nearby. The first couple of days I was quite swollen, but I was amazed at how quickly my face returned to normal and how little bruising there was. I was even able to get on with work on my laptop and that kept me really busy.

I had to keep the splint on my nose, so I didn’t want to go out much, but I did go for a couple of walks. I would have preferred to be at home, with my dogs and my home comforts, but I don’t have any regrets about coming to Spain.

The climate has been nice for my recovery. Winter is the ideal time to come to Spain for surgery, as it’s sunny but not too hot. The views and the beauty of the place has been nice, too. I was trying to view the trip as a retreat, although it has been hard as I’m a bit of a workaholic and I find it difficult to take it easy.

You were able to return to Ocean Clinic 10 days later to have your cast removed. Were you happy with the results?

I was prepared for it to be quite swollen underneath – I know that you won’t see the full results of a rhinoplasty for up to a year – but I could immediately see that I had the curve I so badly wanted. I was absolutely delighted!

Dr. Kaye is an excellent surgeon and I would definitely recommend Ocean Clinic to other people.

Thinking about cosmetic surgery? Book a consultation and discover Ocean Clinic Marbella for yourself.

8 Ways to Help Prepare Your Body Prior to Cosmetic Surgery

If you have decided to take the plunge and book your cosmetic procedure, you’ll no doubt be looking forward to your surgery date with a mixture of excitement and nerves!

You may well be wondering if there’s anything you can do to make sure you’re in good shape for undergoing surgery, or if there are any vitamins or supplements you can take to aid the healing process post-operatively.

In addition to eating well, exercising and getting enough rest, there are a number of complementary medicines and vitamins you can take to help prepare your body. There are also some that you should avoid.

Here are Ocean Clinic Marbella’s top 8 actions you can take to ensure you’re in tip-top condition before surgery, and speed up your recovery after.

1) Stop Smoking

For better healing, avoid smoking in the weeks before surgery. The nicotine found in cigarettes increases the level of a pituitary hormone called vasopressin, which causes tightened blood vessels. This leads to decreased blood flow and results in poorer and more prolonged healing.

Of course, if you have undergone surgery with the aim of looking younger, you should stay off the cigarettes for good, because many studies have proven that smoking exacerbates the formation of wrinkles.

2) Use Arnica

Although science is yet to definitively prove the effectiveness of arnica, a herbal remedy, many people believe it can reduce bruising.

You can start taking arnica pills 48 hours before surgery, and continue taking them for 7-10 days. In many patients, this herb appears to lighten dark bruising, especially after rhinoplasty or blepharoplasty, and makes it easier to use concealer and resume normal social activities. You may also apply arnica topically as a cream.

3) Start taking vitamin C and zinc

Vitamin C is important for the formation of collagen (i.e. healing tissues) and will speed up wound repair. Studies also indicate that vitamin C helps prevent surgical shock.

Take 1,000-1,500 mg for three days before surgery and, because surgery depletes your body of vitamin C, up the dosage to 2,000-2,500 mg for two weeks after.

Zinc also plays a major role in wound healing, so increase your zinc intake to 30–50 mg for two weeks before and two weeks after surgery.

Starting three days after surgery, you can also begin taking 250 mg of vitamin B6 twice a day. Use it for a week to reduce post-surgical fluid retention that can cause swelling.

4) Stop taking vitamin E

You should stop taking vitamin E around two weeks prior to surgery. This is because it is a blood thinner. Thin blood can lead to increased bleeding during surgery and impair healing afterward. If you’re taking multivitamins, check the label to see if they contain vitamin E and discontinue use if it’s a high dosage.

Other minerals and supplements that may affect bleeding and should be avoided include fish oil, dong quai, feverfew, cayenne, flaxseed oil, niacin, bilberry fruit, ginseng and ginko biloba.

5) Don’t pop painkillers (or diet pills)

If you have an ache or pain in the run up to your surgery don’t reach for the aspirin or ibuprofen because they may inhibit blood clotting and cause extra blood loss during and after surgery.

Avoid any medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen for 10 days before your procedure. Many medications for colds, flu, headaches and other ailments contain aspirin, so it’s important to read the label. If you need a painkiller, choose paracetamol or one that’s paracetamol-based.

Diet pills commonly contain ephedra, which helps control appetite, however it can also interfere with blood pressure and heart functions so should be avoided for at least 48 hours before surgery.

6) Try a bromelain supplement

Like arnica, bromelain is a natural substance believed to speed up the surgical recovery process. Bromelain, a digestive enzyme, is derived from the stems of the pineapple plant and is thought to reduce inflammation and swelling.

It should be taken twice a day, on an empty stomach, for 3 days prior to surgery, and continued for 7 days following surgery. Bromelain can also be taken in conjunction with arnica.

7) Avoid cooking with garlic and ginger

Garlic and ginger are another two things to be avoided before surgery because they also have blood-thinning properties and are associated with cardiovascular risk.

Used as seasoning in small amounts they are fine, but you should stay away from consuming food or drink rich in garlic or ginger, such as garlic prawns or fresh ginger tea. You should also discontinue taking any garlic or ginger supplements.

8) Give up these herbal supplements

Many commonly taken herbal remedies or natural supplements can actually be potentially dangerous for those undergoing surgery. It is vital you tell your surgeon about anything you have been taking (not just prescription medications).

For example, Kava, St. John's wort and Valerian root have a sedating effect that can prolong the effects of anesthesia.

Meanwhile, supplements that can interact with other drugs and pose a potential risk include echinacea, goldenseal, licorice, Kava, Valerian and St John's wort.

In addition, St. John's wort and dong quai increase photosensitivity, which can be especially problematic for patients having laser skin procedures.

Because there are so many different types of supplements available, and not enough research has been conducted regarding their safety when it comes to undergoing surgery, the best advice is to quit all herbal supplements two weeks prior to your procedure.

Follow these 8 steps and you are giving yourself the best chance of a quick recovery. Don’t panic if you have taken anything you’re advised not to, simply speak with your surgeon for reassurance – in most cases it won’t prevent you from having surgery.

Ocean Clinic Marbella - Changing Lives in Rural Africa

Dr. Kaye, Head Surgeon at Ocean Clinic Marbella, will lead a team of seven doctors and nurses on a trip to Kenya next March to perform life changing reconstructive surgery on children and adults.

The team will operate on patients with disfigurements such as congenital malformations, tumours, burns, scars and other deformities.

Organised in collaboration with the Pablo Horstmann Foundation Spain, the nine-day charitable mission is designed to help the poorest families in Lamu, an archipelago located in the northeastern coast of Kenya.

Says Dr. Kaye: “As a rural area with few medical facilities and high levels of poverty, Lamu suffers a particularly precarious health situation.

“Those who are born with a disfigurement or survive injuries have little chance of receiving adequate treatment and often remain disabled, unable to provide for themselves or their families.

“We will aim to treat as many patients as possible during this mission, making it easier for them to live a normal life and hopefully giving them the chance of a brighter future.”

The initiative is not without its challenges, however – due to lack of facilities, the surgical team will have to supply and transport all necessary equipment. In total 400 kilos of material. 

Dr. Kaye adds: “Our team of volunteers give up their time for free, but in addition to this they have to pay for their own flights and accommodation, so it’s a big commitment.” 

Companies and individuals are invited to support the mission, helping to purchase the materials needed and ensure the team can operate on as many patients as possible. 

The trip to Kenya follows a similar mission to Peru that Dr. Kaye and his colleagues undertook in 2013. The team were able to help nearly 60 patients in just nine days, including many children, all of whom have made wonderful transformations.

“Seeing them smile and shine with confidence makes our work incredibly rewarding. We can’t wait to get going and help the children and their families in Lamu,” he says.

To support the Kenyan mission, which takes place from 18-27 March 2016, donate via our Generosity page.

You can also make a direct donation by transfer to the following bank account: 

IBAN: ES 08-0128-0799-3801-0000-7181

SWIFT: BKBKESMM

REF: Ocean Clinic Lamu