Reconstructive Surgery at Ocean Clinic

We may be best known for helping our patients to enhance their looks, but Ocean Clinic’s surgeons also have a wealth of experience in reconstructive surgery. 

We’ve treated hundreds of people suffering from deformities following accidents or illnesses, such as cancer, as well as those born with congenital defects. We’re experienced in:

• Breast reconstruction following mastectomy

• Skin cancer surgery

• Septum deformities

• Cleft lip and palate surgery 

• Removal of cysts and tumours

• Eyelid repair for entropion, ectropion and ptosis 

• Correction of diastasis recti following pregnancy

• Treatment of umbilical and scrotal hernias

• Revision of scars and burns

Our specialists in reconstructive surgery

 

All of our surgeons are experienced in reconstructive surgery, having undertaken many additional studies and residencies in specialist units.  

Dr. Kai Kaye

Before receiving his University Doctorate Magna cum Laude, Ocean Clinic’s founder, Dr Kaye spent two years researching in the field of reconstructive plastic surgery at TUM University in Munich, Germany. He went on to join the highly regarded Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department at the University of Aachen where he completed his specialization in the field of microsurgery, burn surgery and hand surgery.

Gabriela Casabona
Gabriela Casabona is Medical Director for Ocean Clinic’s Aesthetic and Skin Cancer departments. She served in the Laser department of Universidade ABC in Brazil, before spending five years undertaking training programs in the USA, Latin America and Europe to further her expertise in skin cancer surgery, Mohs surgery and oculoplastics.

Dr. Richard Fakin

Founder of Ocean Clinic Madrid and Zurich, Dr. Fakin specializes in aesthetic, reconstructive and secondary optimizing surgery. After receiving his degree in Medicine and Surgery from Medical University of Vienna, he went on to join the Division of Plastic and Hand Surgery at The University Hospital Zurich. He remains an associate professor (PD) at The University of Zurich.

Dr. Felix Paprottka 

After his medical studies in Muenster, Germany, Dr. Paprottka undertook five years of residency at the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery at AGAPLESION, ​​the largest denominational hospital in Lower Saxony. He also received further training in burn surgery in the university clinic in Hannover where he was in charge of the burn surgery unit.

Dr. Marco Ranieri

Dr Ranieri studied medicine at the University of Rome before starting his residency program at the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department at the University of Aachen, Germany. He went on to specialise in reconstructive plastic surgery at the University of Regensburg. 

Examples of our reconstructive surgery

Breast reconstruction

Breast reconstruction following a skin-sparing mastectomy or lumpectomy can be carried out very successfully using a breast implant, transplanted fat, or both. Where a mastectomy leaves the skin too tight, a tissue expander is used to stretch the skin over a period of several weeks. 

If a full mastectomy has been carried out, it is in some cases 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. 

Scar correction 

Surgical excision of a scar involves cutting out the existing scar and resealing the wound. There are a number of different excision techniques a surgeon can use depending on the type of scar a patient has. 

In addition to surgical excision, there are non-surgical treatments that can improve the appearance of a scar, such as laser resurfacing and skin peels. Usually, the best results can be achieved through a combination of surgery and non-invasive procedures. 

Facial reconstruction

Facial deformities can be caused by congenital defects, injury to the facial bone complex and treatment for oral, head and neck cancers. Surgery for these types of conditions focuses on rearranging and repairing skin, tissue and muscle. It can also involve skin, bone and cartilage grafts, the use of facial implants and transplanted fat. 

The aim of surgery is always two-fold; to give the patient the best possible aesthetic outcome and to restore full function. Maximising the patient’s ability to eat and speak normally, and relieving pain caused by a facial defect, is always a top priority. 

Nasal reconstruction

Septum deformities can be genetically inherited or acquired due to accidents, soft tissue diseases or previous rhinoplasty surgery. A septoplasty is used to address functional deficits like difficulties with breathing or snoring, while rhinoplasty can address the appearance of nasal deformities. When these two procedures are combined together, it’s called septorhinoplasty.

Ocean Clinic’s humanitarian missions

Ocean clinic’s staff have carried out numerous humanitarian missions to deliver reconstructive surgery in developing nations around the world. The team has visited Peru, Kenya and Ethiopia and operated on hundreds of adults and children.

They have helped change lives by treating a diverse array of conditions including congenital malformations, tumours covering the whole body, chronic wounds and ulcers, burns, and chronic disfiguring diseases like M. Recklinghausen. Ocean Clinic was awarded the Medical Charity Award at the German Medical Awards in recognition of its work. 

Would you like to know more about Ocean Clinic’s expertise in reconstructive surgery and how we can help you or a loved one? Contact us for a consultation with a surgeon.

Three Ways to Get Beautiful Lips

Associated with youthfulness and attractiveness, the shape and size of our lips can make a huge difference to our overall appearance. Unfortunately, lots of us don’t have full lips even when we’re young - and they only lose further volume as we age.

The good news is that it’s easy to augment the lips to make them more shapely and better proportioned for your face. In this article, we present three types of procedures, alongside their pros and cons, to help you decide which might be the best for you.

But first, what does the perfect pout look like?

According to research, the “ideal” lips make up about 10% of the lower third of the face, and the bottom lip should be approximately twice the size of the top one. The lips should thin out towards the corners, resulting in a 1:1 ratio. In addition, the perfect lips should have an accentuated philtrum (Cupid’s bow), and the bottom lip should be plump in the centre.  

Of course, what makes lips attractive is a matter of opinion, but the most important thing to remember when seeking lip augmentation is that the lips must be in proportion with the face. Although you might think bigger is better when it comes to lips, this is not the case. Increasing the size of your lips by more than 50% is likely to look out of proportion. Likewise, over filling the top lip will create an artificial “duckbill” appearance. 

Other factors that contribute to how youthful and attractive a person’s lips look are how defined they are, and the smoothness of the surrounding skin. The border of our lips (called the vermillion border) becomes less defined as we age, allowing lipstick to bleed over the edges. Vertical lines may also appear on the upper lip (known as perioral lines), which are further exacerbated by sun exposure and smoking.

Non-surgical and surgical lip treatments

Injectable lip fillers

Lip fillers are the quickest and most affordable way to augment lips. Fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane contain hyaluronic acid – the substance produced naturally by the body, which is responsible for nice plump lips (alongside collagen).

When injected into the lips, these soft gel fillers feel absolutely natural and move normally, with minimal potential for nodularity. Filler can be placed precisely to create the desired shape and definition. For example, placed along the vermillion border, the entire lip can look fuller and more pronounced. Meanwhile, using a small amount of dermal filler to accentuate the Cupid’s bow draws attention to the midsection of the lips and creates a poutier appearance.

Hyaluronic acid lip fillers are a temporary, non-surgical treatment. How long the results last for depends on the product used and your body’s rate of absorption. Around 6-9 months is typical, however studies show that benefits can last for a year or longer.

Pros: Instant results, affordable entry cost.

Cons: Temporary results, treatment needs repeating meaning higher costs in the long-term.

Fat grafting

Fat grafting is an alternative to hyaluronic acid that uses a patient’s own body fat as a lip filler. Fat is extracted via a gentle liposuction technique from a donor site - this might be the tummy or flanks. It’s then prepared in a centrifuge, which separates the fat from the oil, water and blood. 

The fat is injected droplet by droplet to build up volume and sculpt the shape of the lips. Fat can also be used to fill in lines around the mouth, including perioral lines and marionette lines. Other than a very small incision at the fat harvesting site, no incisions are made in or around the lips and there’s no scarring. 

As well as being completely natural, one of the key benefits of the fat transfer technique is how long it lasts. The carefully injected fat gains a blood supply, meaning it becomes permanent tissue (although patients will experience some initial reabsorption of fat). If a patient desires a plumper effect after the first treatment, a second injection of fat can be carried out at a later date to increase ‘take’.

Fat extraction and grafting is usually performed under local anaesthesia with light sedation. Patients can go home the same day with little discomfort, although we recommend taking some time off if you can as you may experience some bruising and swelling around the injection sites. Likewise, you’ll have some tenderness around the donor area and will need to wear compression bandages. 

Pros: Longevity of treatment, ability to extract as much fat as needed at no extra cost.

Cons: More invasive than using synthetic filler, more downtime required.

Lip lift surgery

A lip lift is a surgical alternative to lip fillers, carried out to change the shape of the upper lip rather than add volume to it. The surgery removes a section of tissue from beneath the nose. Shortening the distance between the nose and lip increases the amount of ‘red’ on show and improves the appearance of a thin upper lip. 

Because ligaments loosen and weaken as we age, lips droop and fall down to cover the upper teeth which can make the mouth appear older. The ideal distance between the top lip and nose in the classically proportioned adult female face is 11 to 13 millimetres, however, that distance elongates by one to three millimetres every decade as we get older. 

Lip lift surgery moves the lip into a more youthful position and exposes a little bit of the teeth. It can be carried out in less than an hour, and is performed under local anaesthesia, with the scar hidden beneath the nose. It is not a painful procedure but some downtime is required because the upper lip will be swollen during the first week. The results are permanent, however, your lips and overall face will continue to mature. 

Pros: Simple surgery, provides permanent results.

Cons: Only addresses the upper lip.

Combined lip treatments

While all of the above lip treatments have their own pros and cons, sometimes we can maximise the benefits by combining procedures together. For example, to totally rejuvenate your pout, you may need the distance between your nose and upper lip reduced, as well as volume added to your lips. Your surgeon will be able to advise on the right combination of treatments to achieve your aesthetic goals.

Not sure which lip treatment is best for you? Get a facial assessment with a surgeon. Contact Ocean Clinic for an appointment - either in-person at one of our clinics or online via Skype/Zoom. 

Is it Time for a 'Daddy Do-Over?'

You’ve probably heard of the ‘mummy makeover’? Well, men are increasingly getting in on the act too. A ‘daddy do-over’ is a suite of treatments especially for men in their forties and fifties, designed to make them look and feel 10 years younger. 

The treatments that make up a daddy do-over vary depending on the needs of the patient but generally include both surgical and nonsurgical procedures. Below we’ll look at some of the most common…

Liposuction

Liposuction is a great treatment for so-called ‘dad bods’, letting you target those stubborn pockets of fat that appear as you get older. It can be used to get rid of fat deposits on the abdomen and those around the waist and back, known as love handles. Some men also store fat on the chest, giving the appearance of ‘man boobs’ - these can also be easily tackled with lipo.  

At Ocean Clinic, we don’t just remove the excess fat, we also sculpt the body during liposuction. Through body contouring, we aim to expose your natural muscle structure underneath and give you an overall more toned-looking body. This means you’ll feel more confident to take your top off, but also feel better in your clothes and be able to wear more form-fitting shirts. 

Eye bag surgery

If you’ve got young kids, you’re likely to be short on sleep. You can often spot parents from the dark circles and bags under their eyes. But bags don’t only appear as a result of being tired; natural ageing can also cause pouchy pockets of fat around the eye. 

Whatever your bags are caused by, if you’ve got them, they’re probably making you look older than you should do. Lower blepharoplasty is a surgery to remove the excess fat protruding beneath your eyes and tighten the skin. The incisions are hidden in the lash line. If you also have sagging eyelids, these can be treated with an upper blepharoplasty. These procedures can have a dramatic effect on your face, making you look refreshed and youthful. 

Cosmetic Facial Injections

The demands of work and family can take their toll on the face. Perhaps you now see crow’s feet and a furrowed forehead when you take selfies with your kids? If you don’t like what you see, cosmetic injections is the answer. These can be used to smooth out wrinkles around the eyes, between your eyebrows and on your forehead.

Facial injections make you look younger almost instantly and last for several months. You’ll still have a full range of facial movement so no one will be able to tell you’ve had them. Lots of men now get injections to look fresher and more rested. Combined with eye bag surgery, the impact on the face can be huge. 

Micro fat transfer

One of the great things about a daddy do-over is that combining procedures offers several benefits. It not only lets you save money when compared to having the treatments separately (and have just one period of downtime), but it’s also an opportunity to get more value for money. That’s because the unwanted fat you have removed via liposuction can be put to use elsewhere.

During the same operation, the fat can be transplanted to your face to replace lost volume. Men typically lose volume from their temples and cheeks as they age and this can lead to a face that looks hollowed out. Using a specialised technique called micro fat transfer, small droplets of fat are injected to rejuvenate your face. Fat can also be placed around your jawline to give you a more defined and masculine outline. 

Are you a good candidate for a daddy do-over?

You don’t actually have to be a dad to get a daddy do-over! Any man who feels that age and life is starting to take its toll on their appearance and wants a confidence boost is a great candidate. You can achieve really impressive results with the right combination of surgical and nonsurgical procedures - and at a price that offers great value for money. Why not book a consultation with a plastic surgeon and see what combination of treatments would make the biggest difference for you?  

​​Book an online video consultation or visit one of our clinics in Marbella, Madrid or Zurich. 

What are the best treatments for flat buttocks?

 Do you feel your bottom looks flat from the side? Do you wish your bum filled out clothing better?

Lots of women find their buttocks lose volume and become flatter as they age. In this article, we look at the reasons for a flat backside and lay out four solutions for you to consider…

 What causes a flat butt?

The most likely cause of your flat buttocks is a combination of genetics and ageing. Your genes dictate the general shape of your bottom, while your age influences how much fat is stored there. During childbearing years, estrogen causes women to collect fat in the hips, buttocks and thighs. However, hormonal changes that occur as you age result in fat being shifted from the back to the front (maybe you also have a rounder tummy than you used to?). 

Lifestyle factors can also contribute to a flat bottom, including sedentary jobs or activities that require you to sit for extended periods. Prolonged sitting can result in the gluteus maximus muscle becoming weak and shrinking in size. In addition to giving you a poorly-defined butt, weak glutes can also cause back, hip and knee pain.

What can you do about a flat bottom?

Shapely buttocks have become very desirable for women in the last few years, which may make you want to add shape to your derriere. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to improve your silhouette. 

1. Exercise

First and foremost, you can improve the appearance of your buttocks through building muscle. Strong gluteal muscles will add considerable shape to your rear and will also help you develop better posture, increase mobility, and avoid injury.

There are lots of exercises that you can do to get a more rounded, perky butt, like lunges, squats and leg lifts. You can also target your glutes through walking - especially uphill. Exercising regularly will absolutely have an impact on your bum, but while you can shape muscle through exercise, you cannot shape fat. Where extra volume is required, you’ll need to consider a surgical option.

2. CoolTone

If your main issue is lack of muscle definition in your buttocks, you can boost the results of your exercise with a new device to tone muscles called CoolTone. It uses Magnetic Muscle Stimulation (MMS) technology to penetrate below the fat layer, strengthening, toning, and firming the muscles beneath. 

CoolTone can also be combined with Coolsculpting, which is another non-surgical technology for fat reduction. Fat can be precisely targeted in order to sculpt and shape around the bottom and make it appear more pert. 

3. Fat transfer

When you have strong gluteal muscles but not enough fat on top, fat transfer to the buttocks can be a great solution. Also known as a Brazilian Butt Lift (or BBL), this procedure involves taking fat from a donor site/s and meticulously grafting it into place in the buttocks, where it becomes permanent.

The fat is removed via liposuction and can be taken from anywhere on the body there is an excess, so it’s like two surgeries in one. The surgeon will aim to remove fat from the waist and flanks (i.e your love handles and muffin tops) in order to sculpt around the buttocks and give the illusion of a more accentuated backside. 

In the photo above, the patient (a 55-year-old female) had liposuction in the abdomen, hips, flanks and back, with the fat transferred to her buttocks. There is no visible scarring with this procedure, since the lipo only requires tiny incisions. 

4. Gluteal implants

If you are very slim, with little fat available for transfer to the buttocks - or you desire a more accentuated lift - you can choose to have gluteal implants. Silicone implants are inserted through an incision placed in the middle fold of the buttocks, leaving a single scar between 5-6 cms long.

There are different sizes, shapes and projections of butt implants, which your surgeon will help you select depending on your anatomy and aesthetic goals. Liposuction will be used to sculpt around the buttocks to achieve more prominence and definition. Meanwhile, the fat that’s been removed will be used to smooth over the implant and add further shape. 

In the photo above, the patient has undergone gluteoplasty with 270cc anatomical gluteal implants. The implants are made from high resistant silicone that does not rupture, and placed under the great gluteal muscle, meaning they are not detectable under the skin.

Want a rounder, perkier bottom? Contact Ocean Clinic for a consultation or 

check out more before & after photos of buttock augmentation

Coming Soon: An Exciting New Development in Breast Augmentation

Lots of women dream about having larger, fuller breasts, but not everyone likes the idea of breast implants. 

One solution is fat grafting, which allows fat to be transferred from one part of the body and into the breasts. Now, a new technology promises to make this procedure even more effective, with incredible results.

The technology involves 3D printed ‘breast implants’ that are specially tailored to each woman’s body. Read on to find out more…

How do 3D printed breast implants work?

Well, first off, these aren’t breast implants in the traditional sense. They act more like scaffolding, around which to build the breasts. The implants are made out of bioabsorbable polymers and can be printed in various sizes and shapes to suit patients’ anatomies and needs. The polymers dissolve after a year meaning there’s no need to have surgery to remove the implants.

But what do they actually do? The 3D printed implants provide a structure, with a defined shape, which surgeons can use to guide fat grafting. The implants have a lattice design, meaning there are thousands of tiny grooves and holes into which fat can be deposited.

This is a more efficient way of grafting fat because it provides a precise roadmap for where the fat should be added. Currently when fat is grafted to the breast, it’s put into multiple planes so that it’s evenly distributed, but it’s harder to shape. 

The new possibilities with 3D breast implants

What’s really exciting about this new technology is that it will allow women to achieve larger breasts through natural fat grafting than is possible at the moment. That’s because the implant acts as a tissue expander and can be used to create a bigger pocket into which fat can be transplanted.

Patients who have thick or tight skin on their breasts have previously been limited to how big they can go - it all depends on how much fat the surgeon can get into the breast. And if the skin is too taught, it cuts off circulation and the fat doesn’t survive. 

However, by placing the 3D printed breast implant on top of the muscles, it can stretch the skin. And there are more blood vessels and better blood circulation here, which helps the fat to survive. 

3D printed breast implants aren’t only useful for breast augmentations, they can also be used for breast reconstruction surgery. If a patient has undergone a mastectomy and had a breast removed, the implant can be inserted under the skin to both stretch it and create a scaffold for transplanting fat. The implant can be printed to replicate the shape and size of the remaining breast.  

What are the results with 3D printed breast implants?

The big benefit of 3D printed breast implants is that they can be produced to exact specifications, meaning you can choose the ideal shape and volume. With traditional silicone implants, although there is a big range, you’re limited to what’s available ‘off the shelf’.

Being able to print the implant to your requirements means you can really customise the end result. And not only do you get the perfect breast outline, you get it without the firmer tone that comes with standard implants.   

Once the 3D printed breast implant has dissolved, all you’re left with is the grafted fat, which looks, feels and behaves totally naturally.

Another plus point of the technology is that it encourages the growth of new tissue and collagen, further enhancing your results.

When will 3D printed breast implants be available?

Not just yet. The first clinical trials of the ‘Senella scaffold’ developed by BellaSeno are scheduled to begin in Germany before the end of the year. They are yet to be clinically approved, however, according to the company, preclinical studies have had promising results.

“Preclinical studies have shown that the scaffolds slowly get absorbed by the body while the patient's own tissue forms synchronously. After the scaffold has been fully resorbed, the preclinical trials show that the end-result is natural breast tissue with no foreign body remnants,” they say. 

Looks like we’ll just have to watch this space. But until then, we can still create amazing results with fat grafting. Ocean Clinic’s Head Surgeon Dr. Kaye is an expert in the field and is highly skilled at sculpting beautiful, shapely breasts with transplanted fat. 

The procedure is especially effective in women who have lost volume in their breasts due to pregnancy and breastfeeding, weight loss or just ageing. Learn more about our all-natural breast enlargement or contact Ocean Clinic for a consultation.