#YoMeQuedoEnCasa: Vanessa García, Patient Manager

Ocean Clinic is closed during Spain’s state of alarm but our team is still keeping busy. The #YoMeQuedoEnCasa blog series looks at what they’re up to.

What is your role at Ocean Clinic?

I am the patient manager of the clinic. I do all the administration, reception and accountancy.

What are you doing with your time while Ocean Clinic is closed?

I combine taking care of my three-year-old daughter and working from home. Because I can do my job by computer and phone, I’m able to keep the clinic running. I’m still arranging consultations via Zoom and Skype, liaising with post-operative patients and booking in future surgeries. 

How are you staying in touch with the industry and your peers during this time?

As I do with my family and friends, I stay in contact with the rest of the staff by video chats. How wonderful is the internet age!

How are you staying motivated?

I’ve been helping my partner to create protective face visors for people who are fighting against this virus. He uses a 3D printer to make the supports and then adds a plexiglass screen. It takes four hours to make two masks.

Dr. Paprottka and two nurses who used to work at Ocean Clinic have purchased materials to help with the idea. We have made masks for the OC team and for other people working in the emergency services. I have a lot of friends and family who work as nurses, doctors, police, etc. and so this is our little contribution. 

Do you think the coronavirus crisis will have any long term impact on your role or field of specialism?

In the short term, there will be an impact. We will see fewer patients due to the economy and we’ll also have to limit the number of patients we can see due to the new safety protocols. It will take a while for things to get back to normal but I don’t think there will be a long-term impact on my role. 

What are you looking forward to when you return to work?

I want to have my busy days with lots of patients to take care of and help - like we used to do before. I’m sure it won’t be long now.

#YoMeQuedoEnCasa: María del Mar García Cuevas, Theatre Nurse

Ocean Clinic is closed during Spain's state of alarm but our team is still keeping busy. The #YoMeQuedoEnCasa blog series looks at what they’re up to.

What is your role at Ocean Clinic?

I’m an RGN, register general nurse. At Ocean Clinic, I work as a theatre nurse and also as a ward nurse when needed. I’m in charge of ordering medication, gases and other things.

What are you doing with your time while Ocean Clinic is closed?

I’m still working part-time in the operating theatres of our local children’s hospital. Right now, we’re only operating cancer-related procedures and emergency cases, such as appendectomy, bad bone fractures and anything that cannot wait.

We’ve not had any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the theatres. We have had some possible cases but the tests came back negative. If there’s any possibility of COVID, we have to take all the precautions. 

In the intensive care unit of the hospital, there were a couple of positive kids and two pregnant ladies that were also positive. One went home to do the quarantine but the other was worse and so they delivered the baby by C-section. The baby stayed at the neonatal unit and the mum went to the Carlos Haya Hospital to intensive care. I believe both of them are doing fine now.

How are you staying in touch with the industry and your peers during this time?

I keep in touch with my colleagues from Ocean Clinic via our WhatsApp group and we also have video calls.

How are you staying motivated?

The main thing I try to do is not to watch too much TV or read too much news as there are so many conflicting messages and it can be quite demotivating. After that, I try to do exercise and follow a routine to simulate a “normal” life as much as I can manage. I am enjoying spending more time at home with my partner and kids and, as I live in the countryside, there is always something to do.

Do you think the coronavirus crisis will have any long term impact on your role or field of specialism?

I think this crisis will have long term effects on all of us. I hope I can take something from this experience and that it will allow me to grow positively in my professional and personal life.

What are you looking forward to when you return to work?

I’m looking forward to seeing all my colleagues and, most of all, getting our lives back together as soon as possible.

#YoMeQuedoEnCasa: Dr Kai O Kaye, Head Surgeon

Ocean Clinic is closed during Spain's state of alarm but our team is still keeping busy. The #YoMeQuedoEnCasa blog series looks at what they're up to.

What is your role at Ocean Clinic?

As Medical Director and Head Surgeon, I oversee operations, train the younger surgeons and perform all kind of procedures, with the main focus on facial surgery, rhinoplasty and breast surgery.

What are you doing with your time while Ocean Clinic is closed?

Together with some of my colleagues from Ocean Clinic, we’re writing scientific articles covering the effect of COVID-19 on surgical procedures and I’m writing chapters for a plastic surgery book. One positive aspect is that I have more time for my two small kids, so I try to bond and play a lot.

How are you staying in touch with the industry and your peers during this time?

We have several WhatsApp groups of international and Spanish plastic surgeons where we discuss on a daily base new discoveries and the changing situation.

How are you staying motivated?

I miss operating, but I am using this time to formulate new protocols for our return. I have phone or Skype consultations with our patients who want to plan their operations and treatments for when we are back to normal clinical performance.

Do you think the coronavirus crisis will have any long term impact on your role or field of specialism?

Yes, due to the nature of the persistence of the virus, until a vaccine is available we will have to adapt our clinical workflow. We will reduce the flow of patients being in the clinic at the same time. This means we will have to space our days longer and we will maybe not be able to see the same number of patients, resulting in longer waiting times for appointments and surgeries. 

What are you looking forward to when you return to work?

I am looking forward to interacting with our patients again, to laugh with my staff, to manage a business with all that it entails. I’m looking forward to doing what I love: being a doctor and a surgeon who makes people feel healthier, happier and more beautiful.

#YoMeQuedoEnCasa: Dr Nina King, Director of Ocean Dental

Ocean Clinic is closed during Spain's state of alarm but our team is still keeping busy. The #YoMeQuedoEnCasa blog series looks at what they're up to.

What is your role at Ocean Clinic?

I am the principal dentist, specialising in aesthetic dental treatment for adults - not only to enhance the appearance of smiles but also to improve dental function and harmony. I also collaborate with other dental specialists like the orthodontist.

What are you doing with your time while Ocean Clinic is closed?

As per the government directive, I am only allowed to see dental patients who need basic emergency treatment so for the majority of the time I have been staying in like everyone else. 

It seems I’m never short of things to do around the house and garden! I’ve also been enjoying reading, sewing and continuing to study French, plus I am finally getting around to that 1500 piece jigsaw puzzle bought at Christmas!

Professionally, I have been continuing to stay up to date in digital advances within dentistry and learn more about new technology and techniques. Fortunately, I enjoy learning and have a passion for the Cerec crown machine and in-house digital technology so it's a great opportunity for me.

How are you staying in touch with the industry and your peers during this time?

Technology has made self-isolation so much easier. Before the pandemic, I was always involved in discussions and forums with my peers many of whom are based around the world. So this has now increased even further. There has been a huge focus on online continuing professional development courses (CPD) so even though we can't travel to conferences, using webinars, forums and social media means we all stay connected. The Ocean Clinic Team also has an active WhatsApp group that helps keep us united during this difficult time.

How are you staying motivated?

I always try to stay in the moment and simply focus on the positive of my current situation. Part of that means keeping busy and ticking things off my list. So, some days I exercise, meditate and study, other days I can just relax and enjoy the break... it all depends on how I feel. Certainly, some days have been more challenging than others but I rely on daily chats with family and friends to keep my positive energy going! 

Do you think the coronavirus crisis will have any long term impact on your role or field of specialism?

It is clear that this will impact every industry but it's really hard to know to what extent. Realistically, when people are pressed financially, then elective treatments may be the first thing that get postponed. We all just have to take it day by day.

In addition, the nature of my field means very close contact with patients and naturally after all the social distancing measures some patents may be nervous to be in this dental environment. However, we have been closely following the recommended advice and protocols and will implement them once we are back to ensure our patients and staff remain protected.

What are you looking forwards to when you return to work?

I guess I just miss the human interaction, particularly the initial consultations with new patients when we get the chance to sit down and chat about their expectations and the possible treatment options. I truly enjoy my work and giving patients confidence in their smile! Of course, just being able to work with the team again will also be extremely satisfying.

#YoMeQuedoEnCasa: Dr Richard M Fakin, Director of Ocean Clinic Madrid & Zurich

Ocean Clinic is closed during Spain's state of alarm but our team is still keeping busy. The #YoMeQuedoEnCasa blog series looks at what they're up to.

What is your role at Ocean Clinic?

I'm a plastic surgeon and Director of Ocean Clinic in Zurich, Switzerland, and in Madrid, Spain. Both the clinics are closed right now. We cannot operate any elective surgery, only emergency surgery.

What are you doing with your time while Ocean Clinic is closed?

On a personal note, I’m spending a lot of time with my family and my kids. It's something that we're not used to so there’s a lot of bonding. I think in every crisis, there are also positive things too.

On a professional note, I am writing original articles for scientific publications. It’s something I used to do a lot in the past but haven’t had time to do recently. Now that I have time I’m writing about my experience and my surgical techniques. One of the articles is about gender reassignment surgery and another is about breast augmentation.

How are you staying in touch with the industry and your peers during this time?

We have a lot of Zoom meetings and lots of WhatsApp groups, so there is a lot of interesting and interactive discussions. We call each other much more than we used to. It's nice to see and hear my colleagues. I’ve also been reading more scientific literature and staying up to date with all the data that has been published. 

How are you staying motivated?

I think all of us agree that this crisis will eventually go away. It will pass over and life will come back and this is the light at the end of the tunnel. I am still calling my patients by Zoom or they call me. It's a different media but it's a huge motivation to see them.

We’ve also done some first consultations online with people who are interested in reconstructive or plastic surgery. It does have its limitations - it's always different to see someone on the computer and not talk in person but I think the most important things can be discussed. And actually, I think it's worked out much better than I thought it would at the beginning. 

Do you think the coronavirus crisis will have any long term impact on your role or field of specialism?

I think there will be things that will change after the crisis in all parameters of our lives and also in our industry. I think we'll be seeing far fewer patients simply due to the fact that a lot of people are losing a lot of money and aesthetic surgery is not essential. It's a luxury. 

In the longterm, I think there will be a shift back to high-quality aesthetic providers. I think people are being much more sensible in regards to health in general now. They're looking more for facts, for experience, for high quality and experienced surgeons. In my opinion, before the crisis, there was some banalising of aesthetic surgery. There was a lot of advertising, too much on social media and on television and in magazines. I think influencers on Instagram will lose a lot of influence and they'll be a shift back to professionalism, to transparency and quality. 

What are you looking forward to when you return to work?

I'm looking forward to what I enjoy the most, which means to operate and be in the surgery room. I look forward to seeing my patients again in my clinic; to talk to people, to see people and have this human contact. It's something I miss very much. 

#YoMeQuedoEnCasa: Dr Felix Paprottka, Plastic Surgeon

Ocean Clinic is closed during Spain's state of alarm but our team is still keeping busy. The #YoMeQuedoEnCasa blog series looks at what they're up to.

What is your role at Ocean Clinic?

I’m a Plastic Surgeon at Ocean Clinic specialising in face and breast surgery as well as body contouring. I'm treating my own patients and work hand-in-hand with my boss Dr. Kaye.

What are you doing with your time while Ocean Clinic is closed?

I’m staying on call for all of our patients and doing postoperative checkups. We have patients that have been operated on prior to the lockdown and need follow-up care. We have to make sure everything's healing nicely.

Me and Dr. Kaye are the only ones coming into the clinic in order to minimise the chances of anyone becoming infected. Strong hygienic measures are the key to solving this pandemic crisis.

How are you staying in touch with the industry and your peers during this time?

We have quite a lot of contact with our colleagues and coworkers through various forums, where we discuss views on COVID-19 and its future impact, and how we will spend our time once this intense period has passed.

Unfortunately, our annual meeting, the Marbella International Summer School (MIPSS) has been cancelled. It's going to be postponed until next year. It’s sad because we had some excellent international speakers coming and lots of visitors from all around the world flying in. But due to the situation and all the travel restrictions we decided it was too risky to go ahead. The safety of the participants comes first. 

How are you staying motivated?

First of all, I'm motivated all the time. If I’m not working for the clinic, I’m doing my daily sports sessions at home and nowadays working on my cooking skills. I’ve also been doing some research projects. We still have a follow-up publication on the earlobe tailoring technique we published two years ago. 

We are also working on another new technique for breast augmentation in combination with a lifting procedure which prevents a loss of volume behind the nipple-area-complex. It means you have a fuller and more round breast afterwards and therefore it's more aesthetically pleasing.

Do you think the coronavirus crisis will have any long term impact on your role or field of specialism?

This is hard to estimate at the moment, but since patients will always have an interest in improving their looks, we should be fine in the months ahead of us. We have a solid base of faithful patients that use our services on a very frequent basis. Ocean Clinic has been around for over 10 years and has a very good reputation. 

We are trying to stay up to date with all the latest information. The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons is always offering video tutorials and advice on how to handle the COVID-19 situation. 

What are you looking forward to when you return to work?

I miss operating, so I’m looking forward to that. Also treating patients with cosmetic injections and other conservative treatments such as filler, which we are not doing at the moment. Patient satisfaction is, of course, my reward.

Also being an Ocean Clinic team member is like being part of a family. So, therefore, I’m looking forward to reuniting with my colleagues, and with my wider peer group when we’re able to travel to medical meetings again.

#YoMeQuedoEnCasa: Louise Taylor, Head Surgical Nurse

Ocean Clinic is closed during Spain's state of alarm but our team is still keeping busy. The #YoMeQuedoEnCasa blog series looks at what they're up to.

What is your role at Ocean Clinic?

I’m Louise Taylor, Head Surgical Nurse and Operating Theatre Technician. I oversee the day-to-day smooth running of everything to do with the surgical agenda and also assist during surgery.

What are you doing with your time while Ocean Clinic is closed?

I’m really enjoying the unexpected downtime, to be honest! Our working week is always very busy so I normally have to wait until annual holidays to really relax. I’m filling my time by reading, spring cleaning, catching up with friends far and wide by social media, cooking, enjoying the sun on my terrace, with very occasional trips to the supermarket. If isolating means staying safe, it’s worth it.

How are you staying in touch with the industry and your peers during this time?

We have an Ocean Clinic staff WhatsApp group that enables us to stay in contact, share news and articles about the current situation, with plenty of humorous posts to keep spirits up.

How are you staying motivated?

I’m not concerned about motivation right now, for me it’s a time for reflection and introspection. The motivation will return when it’s time to go back to work!

Do you think the coronavirus crisis will have any long term impact on your role or field of specialism?

COVID-19 will affect almost every industry worldwide and it would be foolish to think people will rush to have plastic surgery when this is over. It will take some time for things to return to normal, no doubt some things will be changed forever. There will be some tough times and hard decisions ahead, but normality will return one day and Ocean Clinic, with its world-class services and highly qualified team, will be waiting.

What are you looking forwards to when you return to work?

I’m looking forward to seeing my colleagues, meeting patients new and old, preparing the operating theatre, seeing the magic happen in our surgeons’ hands, and leaving work on Friday evening after a busy but satisfying week!

COVID-19 and Your Plastic Surgery: Dr Kaye Answers Your Questions

If you have plastic surgery scheduled for the coming months or were planning to undergo a procedure, you’ll no doubt have questions about the current situation with COVID-19.

Ocean Clinic has been in contact with patients and prospective patients over the last few weeks responding to their concerns. We’ve compiled the most commonly asked questions, along with answers from Ocean Clinic’s Head Surgeon Dr. Kai O. Kaye. 

This is the latest information we have. Since the situation is evolving all the time, we will update this article as more information becomes available. 

1. When will I be able to schedule surgery?
   
   We don’t know an exact day yet, as it depends on the end of the state of emergency in Spain.  As soon as this is declared we will start re-booking postponed surgeries and scheduling in new patients.
   
2. Will there be a long waiting list for surgery once clinics are open again?
   
   Most probably, as we already have a waiting list and are still doing consultations by Skype. New slots will be given in order of bookings, so we recommend our patients to prebook their dates in advance.
   
3. Is it possible to have a consultation at the moment?
   
   Yes, we are currently offering consultations by appointment via Skype or Zoom. If you would like to arrange a consultation with one of our surgeons, please contact our reception by mail or phone.
   
4. Are there any procedures that can still take place, such as reconstructive surgery?
   
   We are physically closed for elective surgery at the moment, only emergency surgical treatments will be performed to minimise risks for patients and staff.
   
5. What happens if I book surgery for a future date but it's unable to take place?
   
   You can prebook your surgery at no cost at the moment. Closer to the date of your surgery (approximately four weeks) our admin team will confirm the date with you and request a downpayment. If anything happens in the future that makes this date impossible due to external factors, we will refund or rebook at no cost.
   
6.  I have surgery booked but now I'm worried about being able to pay for it - what are my options?
   
   You can speak with reception about fractioning your payments, which we will offer on a case-to-case basis.
   
7. What measures will you take to reduce coronavirus-related risks during surgery?
   
   We have already introduced international safety protocols regarding the protection of patients and staff. You will see your surgeons and nurses in more extended surgical protection gear. As a patient, you will be required to wear masks in many areas and our surface cleaning protocols are more focused on viral contamination. Most importantly, we will spread patient flow to avoid contact with any other patients and non-essential staff by spreading clinic hours and treating patients one at a time.
   
8. Will it be safer to have surgery at your clinic with regards to possible COVID-19 infections than going to a hospital for a procedure?
   
   As a private outpatient clinic, we have a big advantage that we only treat elective cases and can test and separate before we operate. A hospital has to take and treat anybody who is sick, for whatever reason. Furthermore, in hospitals, operating rooms and recovery areas are shared between all patients and this may lead to the risk of cross-contamination.
   
9. Will you perform COVID-19 testing?
   
   In fact, we already performed testing on some patients before the lockdown to ensure safety for staff and patients if there were risk factors. It is possible that we will perform COVID-19 testing within our pre-op labwork (based on test availability ) for a certain time.
   
10. Will I be unable to have surgery if I have a cough or cold or flu symptoms?
    
    Like with any elective surgery that is non-urgent, we will operate on you only when you’re fit and well. In cases of flu-like symptoms, we may test you prior to surgery.

Do you have a question that we haven’t answered? Please get in touch via phone or email.