Ocean Clinic’s Doctor Sonja Kästner has successfully completed a Master Course in Penoplasty (penis enhancement).
Having trained in penis enhancement surgery in Germany, Dr. Kästner wished to further her skills and knowledge in this specialist field. She traveled to Milan in Italy to learn about the advanced penoplasty techniques being pioneered by Professor Alessandro Littara, with the aim of making them available to patients here on the Costa del Sol.
Says Dr. Kästner: “Professor Littara is an authority in male genital aesthetic surgery. He’s been performing penoplasty since the 90’s and has continuously modified, improved and perfected the procedure, having operated on thousands of patients from all around the world. It was an honour to learn about the latest modifications in penis enhancement from Europe’s leading surgeon in the field.”
The master course in penoplasty took place over two days and included a total of nine live surgeries. Dr. Kästner was joined by a small number of fellow surgeons, who had also come to be trained by Prof. Littara.
“We got to know urologists and plastic surgeons from all over the world,” she says. “Professor Littara is a genial and interesting guy and we were shown the newest techniques operating together with him.
“As well as studying penile lengthening through cutting of the ligament which attaches the penis to the pubic bone, we looked at increasing girth via fat transfer and treating premature ejaculation through the injection of hyaluronic acid.
“Overall, it was a very worthwhile course and I am now certified as an Associate of the International Academy of Penoplasty (IAP). I am delighted that Ocean Clinic patients will be able to benefit from my enhanced knowledge and experience.”
Penis enhancement surgery, now being carried out by Dr. Kästner in Marbella two weeks per month, can result in additional length of 1.5 to 4 cms, and increased girth of 25 to 35%.
Ocean Clinic Marbella has been recognised for its charity work in Africa in the 2017 German Medical Award.
The highly respected awards, hosted in Berlin, aim to honour medical professionals who show “extraordinary commitment to the principles of medical ethics, innovation and supreme quality standards in patient care.”
Ocean Clinic was named winner of the Medical Charity Award, following two charitable missions to Lamu, Kenya, where Head Surgeon Doctor Kai Kaye and his team carried out reconstructive surgery.
In total across the two trips, 85 adults and children living with disfigurements such as congenital malformations, tumours, hernias, burns and ulcers, were treated. All members of the surgical team from Ocean Clinic gave up their time for free, in addition to paying for their own flights and accommodation. Meanwhile, a fundraising campaign launched by the clinic raised more than €5,000 to purchase essential materials and equipment.
“The Medical Charity Award honours personalities and projects that distinguish themselves through their outstanding medical and social commitment,” says a spokesperson for the German Medical Award.
The award itself supports a charitable project; this year proceeds went to the NCL Foundation (For a Future without Childhood Dementia) from Hamburg.
Dr. Kaye received the award at a ceremony which took place at the Sheraton Grand Hotel Esplanade, Berlin on November 25.
He says: “It was an honour to receive the award in the name of the whole team. The plastic surgery relief project in Lamu was a big achievement for us all and something we are very proud of.
“Giving back is an important part of what we do at Ocean Clinic and, while the gratitude of those we were able to help was reward enough, I’m delighted for my team to be recognised for their amazing work.”
Ocean Clinic intends to run the Plastic Surgery Relief Camp again next Easter. People can support the 2018 campaign through financial donations, providing medical equipment and / or personal involvement. Please contact info@oceanclinic.net to get involved.
To find out more about Ocean Clinic Marbella's charity work click here.
Losing a breast is, for many women, one of the most traumatising aspects of breast cancer. Mastectomy patients often report feeling less feminine, which can lead to a loss of confidence and sexual well-being.
However, advancements in breast reconstruction techniques mean there are a variety of options for women who want to restore their figures.
Ocean Clinic Marbella specialises in breast surgery, including enhancement, reduction, and reconstruction. Read on to discover the treatment options available or book a consultation for personalised advice.
Not about vanity
The decision to have breast reconstruction is a highly individual one; lots of women do decide to “go flat” and avoid further surgery. For others, breast reconstruction is an important part of their treatment and recovery.
Opting for reconstruction can minimise the psychological impact associated with losing a breast, especially if performed immediately after mastectomy. One study, which compared patients who had undergone breast reconstruction with those who had a mastectomy without reconstruction, found they were significantly more satisfied with their appearance and fared better psychosocially and sexually. Furthermore, they functioned better physically, experiencing less pain and fewer limitations.
Reconstruction without implants
In some cases it is possible to reconstruct a breast exclusively with a patient’s own tissue. Known as “autologous flap” surgery, it involves taking a section of skin, fat and sometimes muscle, from elsewhere on the body and transplanting it to the breast.
So-called “flaps” can be taken from the tummy, buttocks, upper back, inner thigh or upper hip. They can be cut completely free or left partially attached to the blood supply (pedicled) and moved up to the chest from within the body. With “free flap” reconstruction, the blood supply is re-established using microvascular surgery techniques.
The most popular autologous flap method uses the tummy as a donor site. This method has the unintentional benefit of providing patients with a tummy tuck at the same time, due to the relocation of abdominal tissue and subsequent skin tightening.
It can be performed either as free or pedicled, but free flap (DIEP flap) is preferred because it means the rectus abdominis muscle can be spared, helping to preserve abdominal strength.
The reconstructed breast can be further filled and shaped through fat transfer, which involves removing fat from another part of the body via micro liposuction and reinjecting it. Like the transplanted abdominal tissue, the fat regains a blood supply and becomes permanent.
Providing a patient has enough donor fat and tissue on their body, autologous flap surgery can offer an all-natural way to restore the shape and size of their breast. The tissue ages naturally and changes volume corresponding to the patient’s overall body weight. While the patient will be left with scars on the donor site, when the flap is taken from the abdomen, these scars are well concealed below the bikini line.
Reconstruction with implants
If a skin-sparing mastectomy or lumpectomy is performed, where much of the breast skin is preserved, an implant can be immediately implanted under the pectoralis muscle. If the mastectomy leaves the skin too tight, a two-stage implant process is necessary.
Firstly, a tissue expander (essentially a silicone pouch) will be put in and slightly expanded with saline solution. Over a period of several weeks, the expander is expanded via the injection of additional saline solution. This gradually stretches the skin and creates a pocket for the implant.
A new type of expander called AeroForm uses carbon dioxide instead of saline solution. It is needle-free and is expanded by the patient, at home, using a wireless, handheld dosage controller.
When the breast tissue expands to the desired size, the expander is replaced with a permanent implant. The benefit of using implants over autologous flap is that scarring is restricted to the breast itself and the procedure does not rely on the patient having sufficient donor tissue. It is therefore the best option for thinner individuals.
Timing for a breast reconstruction
The best outcomes can be achieved when breast reconstruction is carried at the same time as mastectomy or lumpectomy. Not only does it reduce the number of times a patient must undergo surgery and minimise scarring, deciding on immediate reconstructions enables patients to opt for a skin-sparing surgery.
Most women are eligible for skin-sparing mastectomies (unless the tumour cells are close to the skin). During skin-sparing mastectomy, the surgeon removes only the skin of the nipple, areola, and the original biopsy scar. Then the surgeon removes the breast tissue through the small opening that is created. The remaining pouch of skin provides the best shape and form to accommodate an implant or autologous flap. It enables patients to get the most realistic and pleasing results from breast reconstruction.
If a patient does not opt for immediate reconstruction, a skin-sparing mastectomy is not usually performed. The surgeon will most likely remove as much skin as is required to make the scar and the surface of the chest flat.
If a patient decides to wait and have reconstructive surgery later, they may still choose between an implant or autologous flap. The incision will be made along the scar of the previous mastectomy. In the case of implants, an expander will be used first, which does require the patient to have two operations.
Breast reconstruction and radiotherapy
Radiotherapy can reduce the likelihood of a successful breast reconstruction. This is because radiation kills normal tissue as well as cancerous tissue. It is therefore recommended to delay reconstruction until after treatment has been completed.
Radiated skin is hard to stretch and often becomes discolured. In addition, because radiation therapy significantly increases the risk of capsular contracture (the formation of excessive scar tissue around an implant) delayed autologous flap reconstruction is recommended over reconstruction with implants.
The good news is that, whatever a patient’s treatment plan, reconstruction is almost always an option. And although immediate reconstruction is preferable from a surgical point of view, breast reconstruction can be carried out months or even years after surgery. This means patients can take as much time as they need to recover, whether that’s physically or mentally.
Achieving the best aesthetic result possible
Achieving symmetry between a patient’s breasts is a key goal. To this end, a reconstruction can be carried out in combination with surgery on the remaining breast to ensure they are as close in size and shape as possible.
If the mastectomy has included the removal of the nipple, this can be reconstructed three to four months after surgery. This can be done by creating small flaps at the site where the nipple would have been and forming them into a nipple mound.
Micropigmentation tattoo is then used to simulate the natural colours. Alternatively, micropigmentation alone can used, with colour skillfully applied to give the appearance of a three-dimensional nipple.
While your new breast will never look or feel 100% like your old breast, breast reconstruction surgery can help you feel like your “old self” again, making you more confident to be intimate, on the beach or in the changing rooms.
If you are facing the prospect of mastectomy or have already undergone breast removal and would like to discuss your options for reconstruction contact Ocean Clinic Marbella.
It’s often said that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, however scientists have long been fascinated by trying to identify formulas for attractiveness.
On this blog, we have previously looked at the measurements hailed as “perfect” for noses, lips and buttocks - now we can reveal what science says about face shape.
The recent study, conducted by researchers at the Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia and published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal, aims to provide a guide for plastic surgeons to ideal mid-face proportions.
The study involved analysing photographs of 55 women with idealised facial proportions - the images were selected from a stock photography website after running a search for “beautiful young woman not smiling”.
Some 13 facial measurements were taken, but only eight were found to be statistically significant in terms of attractiveness. The researchers recorded the average measurements from the women’s faces (see below).
The most important measurements were:
The distance between the eyes (59.2mm)
Eye diameter (11.5mm)
Nose length (43.6mm)
Distance from the inside of the eye to top lip (53.8mm)
Width from cheekbone to inside of the eye (13.1mm)
Diagonal of cheekbone to chin (98.9mm)
Distance from cheekbone to hairline (86.9mm)
Distance from cheekbone to chin (83.5mm)
The overall conclusion from the study was that a heart-shaped face, with broad cheekbones and a narrow chin, was the most attractive. This face shape can be seen on celebrities like Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Eva Longoria.
Writing in the journal, lead author Dr Gary Linkov, says: “The notion of ‘mathematical beauty’ implies the existence of ideal facial contours, dimensions, and ratios that, when present, create a harmonious, balanced, and attractive face.
“A heart-shaped mid-face is the quintessential symbol of youth and remains the overarching goal of mid-facial rejuvenation. However, few objective criteria exist to describe mid-facial position, whether in the ideal or aged state. We felt that these parameters might be useful to clinicians looking to find means of quantifying ageing changes, as well as postoperative improvements.”
Although some measurements recorded in the study - such as the distance between the eyes - cannot be cosmetically altered, others can be manipulated with injectable filler or fat transfer.
Cheeks, in particular, lose volume with age. This can be restored with fat or filler in order to give a fuller, more youthful looking face. One finding of the study was that cheekbones should be as wide as eyebrows for maximum attractiveness - augmenting the volume in the cheeks can help to achieve this appearance.
Ocean Clinic’s Head Surgeon Dr. Kai Kaye says: “Enhanced volume added to key areas of the face such as the cheeks and lips can make you look younger and more beautiful. However, if you don’t want a cosmetic procedure, contouring with makeup can help create the illusion of the desireable heart-shaped face.”
Meanwhile, women who have experienced facial skin sagging, resulting in jowls that have altered the lower proportions of their face, can have their jawline restored through a mini facelift.
Ocean Clinic Marbella has been named a winner in the Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Awards for the second year running. The clinic clinched the title of “Best Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Clinic - Spain”.
The awards, organised by Global Health and Pharma Magazine, seek to recognise firms and organisations developing new and innovative ways to deliver healthcare around the world.
Ocean Clinic’s founder Doctor Kai Kaye is well known in the plastic surgery industry for pioneering new techniques including the PAVE-Lift facelift and is regularly invited to lecture to peers at medical meetings globally.
In June, Dr. Kaye and his team organised the second annual Marbella International Plastic Surgery Summer School (MIPSS), sharing insight with 110 specialists from 20 countries. The event included live surgery, performed at Ocean Clinic and livestreamed into the conference hall at H10 Andalucia Plaza Hotel.
Dr. Kaye said: “We are always looking for ways to enhance our treatments with new techniques and technology in order to achieve the best possible results for our patients. Since we won the GHP award last year, we have been finding new ways to work with water-jets. We now use water-jets as part of facelift, liposuction and fat transfer procedures. Water-jets reduce trauma to the soft tissues, which means better results and faster healing.
“We are delighted to be recognised, once again, for the progress we continue to make and will endeavour to make further advancements over the next 12 months. One new area of expertise will be penis enhancement, now offered by my colleague Doctor Sonja Kästner following training with a leading German specialist.”
Another innovation now available at Ocean Clinic Marbella is the Crisalix Virtual Reality headset, enabling patients to “try on” a large range of face, breast and body procedures before going under the knife. Ocean Clinic is one of the first clinics on the Costa del Sol to offer this advanced facility.
To find out more about any of our new services, please contact us.
Would you like to give your face a new lease of life? Facelift surgery can, on average, take 10 years off your appearance.
If you have sagging jowls, a sagging neck or deep wrinkles that are making you look old, a facelift can help turn back the clock. Here at Ocean Clinic Marbella, we have performed hundreds of facelift procedures on both both men and women and the surgery has high satisfaction levels.
To learn more about facelift surgery and see before and after photos, you can make an appointment for a free consultation. In the meantime, here are the most commonly asked questions:
Should I have a facelift or filler?
Fillers and fat transfer can address light wrinkles and hollows caused by loss of volume, but they cannot address skin or muscle laxity. If you have any sagging skin or deeper wrinkles, such as nasolabial folds, filler alone will not provide satisfactory results.
A good option, especially for younger patients, is a mini lift targeting the lower portion of the face, combined with fat transfer to permanently replace lost volume.
Am I too young for facelift surgery?
Everyone ages at different rates, so a younger person could well be a good candidate for facelift surgery. This is especially true for patients who have lost a considerable amount of weight and have been left with sagging facial skin.
Since facelift is a highly customised procedure, your plastic surgeon should be able to tailor a treatment plan to fit your exact specifications.
Am I too old for facelift surgery?
Every person must be evaluated individually, taking into consideration their skin elasticity and overall health. A healthy seventy year old can be an ideal candidate for a facelift, providing they have realistic goals.
The main risk for an older person comes from the anesthesia. Your plastic surgeon can work with your primary medical doctor to evaluate your suitability.
How long is the downtime for facelift surgery?
Downtime for facelift surgery is two weeks and it is recommended you take this time off work if you don’t want people to know you’ve had surgery. Although you may feel fairly normal after a few days and able to go about your business, your face will still be bruised and swollen.
Downtime, therefore will depend on your sensitivity to your postoperative appearance. It will take around two weeks for the noticeable swelling and bruising to subside. Stitches will be removed after 10 days and scarring may be covered with makeup.
What scarring will I have after facelift surgery?
Thankfully, modern short scar facelift techniques require far smaller incisions than the cutaneous facelift of old. Rather than one long incision that runs the length of the hairline, two smaller incisions are made around the ears.
For a MACS facelift (our most frequently performed type of facelift), the incision starts in the sideburn area, follows the contours of the ear and then curves behind the earlobe.
How long and how well your incisions take to heal is dependent on several factors, including surgical technique, prevention of infection, not smoking (before or after surgery) and your genetics.
For the most part, facelift incisions heal very well and eventually should be undetectable to everyone but your hairdresser. For the first several weeks after surgery, the scars will be pink and noticeable, but can be covered by makeup and long hair if you have it. After 6-12 months, the incisions fade away to just a pale line.
What are the potential risks and side effects of facelift surgery?
Minimal incision techniques have reduced the risk associated with facelift surgery, however, as with any surgery there is always a degree of risk. Risks include bleeding, facial nerve injury, facial asymmetry, change in ear position and infection - you will be given antibiotics to help prevent this complication. In the event of complication, there is the possibility that revision surgery will be needed, but risk is significantly minimised in the hands of a skilled surgeon.
In terms of side effects, there will be some pain following surgery but it can be well managed with painkillers. You may experience nausea as a result of the anesthesia. Numbness can be expected in the areas operated on and the ear, which can last for up to a year.
What does facelift surgery cost in Spain?
Facelift surgery is not a one-size-fits-all procedure and you might pay anything from €5,500 to €8,500 depending on the treatment you require. While one person may be unhappy with “baggy eyelids”, another person may be troubled by “saggy jowls” or a “floppy neck”. Therefore, your treatment plan will be tailored to you.
For maximum results, your facelift surgery could also include fat transfer to replace lost volume, a chemical peel to resurface your skin and eyelid surgery. Your surgeon will advise which combination of treatments will be necessary to address your specific concerns. It goes without saying, that facelift surgery should not be scrimped on - your face is, of course, the most important part of your body!
How long will the results from facelift surgery last?
Although a facelift can turn back time, it cannot stop it. Once the surgery is complete, you will continue to age but from your new starting point. This means you will always look younger than you would have if you hadn’t had surgery. However, since you will continue to age, you may wish to have another facelift in 10-12 years time. Often a minor skin retuck is all that’s needed to prolong the result.
You can further slow the clock and maintain the benefits of your facelift by adopting an anti-aging skin care regime, including chemical peels, eating healthily, not smoking and minimising sun exposure.
