The Heart of Europe Lures Medical Travelers

Europeans traveling to foreign destinations for a multitude of cosmetic dentistry procedures are taking advantage of excellent and high class accommodations, technologies, (as well as lower costs) of cosmetic and dentistry procedures available in the heart of Europe and are flocking to Poland, Croatia, and Hungary for their needs.

Leading highly trained and experienced care providers in these countries are able to offer a multitude of services that include but are not limited to:

• Plastic surgery
• Mesotherapy treatments
• Dermatology
• Breast reduction
• Facelift procedures
• Aesthetic dentistry
• Dental procedures 

Hungary has long been a popular medical tourism destination for their reputation in providing superlative dental and cosmetic surgeries and procedures. For example, Aesthetica International Medical Center, located in Budapest, Hungary’s capital, provides such services as:

• Tummy tucks
• Liposuction
• Mesotherapy
• Chemical peels
• Laser hair removal 

Aesthetica International Medical Center has been serving the needs of European and International consumers for two decades. In addition to being able to benefit from superlative expertise, medical travelers to Hungary are also to take advantage of attractions in and around Budapest, such as Hero’s Square, the City Baths, the Chain Bridge, and Statute Park in the midst of this ancient, wonderful city. Castles, art museums, and a wealth of travel opportunities await medical travelers venturing to Hungary for their needs.

To the north, Poland also offers a wide range of medical facilities that cater to the needs of Europeans and international travelers seeking dental and cosmetic procedures. Two popular providers in Kraków, Poland are the ComplexMedica and Dental Travel Agency and the Stomatologia Steczko Dental Clinic. 

Conveniently located in Kraków, medical tourist travelers are able to enjoy the thousand-year-old history of Poland, whose name means “people living in open fields.” Poland is a country rich in history, architecture and art and visitors to this ancient land enjoy the benefits of sightseeing as well as taking advantage of amenities that modern civilization in this bustling city has to offer. Fine dining, sightseeing, shopping, and people-watching are some of the favorite occupations of visitors to this ancient city.

The ComplexMedica & Dental Travel Agency offers a wide range of excellent services to serve the dental needs of resident as well as international travelers including:

• Pedodontics
• Teeth whitening
• Crowns and bridges
• Root canal treatments
• Dental implants and surgeries  

Clinic staffs are versed in a multitude of languages including French, Italian, Swedish, English and German. Staffs meet top training standards and focus on specializations in multiple fields of dentistry.

Stomatologia Steczko Dental Clinic has been serving the needs of Kraków and international residents since 2002 and offers conservative dentistry, as well as dental implant treatments and treatments for periodontal disease.

Nearby Croatia has also become an extremely popular medical tourist destination, most specifically, facilities that offer cosmetic and plastic surgeries and dentistry. Two of the most popular include Dr. Toncic at the Cosmetic Surgery Clinic in Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, and Trident, a center for aesthetic dentistry and implantology located on the gorgeous Adriatic coast in the town of Rovinj.

Croatia is a gorgeous country with a rich history filled with cultural, scientific, and industrial fields and discoveries. The Croatian countryside is filled with beautiful landscapes, historical landmarks, and friendly inhabitants. The Croatian Islands, dotted throughout the Adriatic Sea, provide one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in middle Europe, and her mountain vistas attract adventurous souls from around the world.

Medical tourists seeking high class, experienced and economical surgical procedures and treatments for their needs are learning that various locations throughout Western Europe offer the best in modern and high-tech equipment, training, and experience. Growth and development in Hungary, Poland and Croatia are among the fastest growing in the 21st century, and offer excellent services, products and expertise in the medical field. 

Read additional European Medical Tourism stories at PlacidWay.com

Highest quality Cosmetic Surgery at an affordable Price

by Jenny | Dr. Toncic | Cosmetic Surgery Clinic in Europe

This is my account of my experience when I visited Croatia for a Rhinoplasty and a Breast enlargement. My surgeons were Dr Toncic Senior and Dr Toncic Junior. I have decided to try and write a detailed description so that it may help other people, as I could not find a lot on the internet. As I wanted a Rhinoplasty I was very scared what would happen if I chose the wrong surgeon. I looked at three of the top nose surgeons in the UK but the price was around 5000 and I really could not afford that. If I went with a different UK surgeon it would cost around 3000 but I did not feel confident as I wanted someone who specialized in nose jobs. As a Guide, the cost of my surgery in Croatia was 4700 for the Rhinoplasty and breast enlargement. Then another 800 for flights, accommodation, taxis, ECG and blood tests. If anyone can explain to me how to load pictures on for people to view then I will do this and post a link. I have pictures of the staff, location and my results.

Day 1: 15/04/08
Very nervous. Got a flight from Luton to Zagreb with Whizz air. Arrived at the airport in Zagreb which is small but good, Boris the taxi driver who would be driving me everywhere over the next 9 days was easy to find. He was directly in front of me when I walked out the doors into the Foya. Boris had a sign with my name on.

He speaks little English but is fine for small talk and arranging times of collection and drop offs. He drove me for about 45 mins from the airport to a private doctor’s surgery for an ECG. This is required by Croatian law before any surgery involving a general anesthetic.

Cost of this was 50 Euros. The clinic opened a 17.00. When the doctor arrived, he asked me to go behind the screen and remove my top and bra and then to lie on the table. He then attached some monitors to my chest and ankles and my heart movements were displayed on a screen. The doctor then printed the screen. He listened to my chest and said all was ok for the operation next day. I was given a print off to take to Dr Toncic in the morning. This all took about 20 to 25 mins and Boris waited outside for me. He then drove me to the Sikoronja family house. It is located in a built up area and is a very well kept first floor flat. The building is 3 storey high, splints into 3 flats, The Ground floor flat is the nurse’s mother in-law. There is a nice garden and balcony. I had my own bedroom with TV and bathroom which had a shower, toilet and sink. Toilet paper and towels were provided. I had dinner, a shower and then settled for the night ready for my big day tomorrow.

Day 2: 16/04/08
Boris picked me up at 8am and took me to a local clinic for my blood tests. Cost 20 Euros. It was very busy and we waited in a queue for about 10 mins then a nurse who new Boris took us out of the queue and to a room for the blood test. I think we would have been late for the surgery other wise but she seemed aware of this and Boris said it was not normally this busy.

The blood was taken and the results are faxed to Dr Toncic with in the hour. Boris waited with me. He then drove me to the hospital. It’s a purple building on a hill very new and modern looking with nice views. Dr Toncic senior and junior both took me into a consultation room where we discussed what they would do to reshape my nose and enlarge my breasts. They were both taller than I remember when I meet them at the body beautiful show 2 years ago. But I felt comfortable although I was shaking and very scared.

I was taken to a side room to undress. I stripped down to me knickers and then a nurse helped me into a gown and a pair of them very sexy tight knee high socks that prevent blood clots. I was given a pair of clogs to walk in with the nurse to the operating theatre were 2 anesthetics, both doctors and nurse Versna (who I was staying with) were waiting. I felt a bit calmer when I saw nurse Versna. I lay on the table and the anesthetics put me out, which hurt a bit as they put the needle in. When I woke up I was a bit uncomfortable so nurse Versna administered some pain killers in my arm.

Nurse Versna stayed with me and looked after me for the night. I was not allowed to eat until the next day so had gone from Monday evening having a meal then on Tuesday, allowed to eat Wednesday morning. She gave me a number of ice packs to keep on my fore head and neck for the bruising and swelling. It was fine and I was comfortable. I was also not allowed to get out of bed until Wednesday morning. So if you need a wee it’s a bed pan. (I waited). I spent the night in just my knickers and no medical bra I had drains in each breast.

Read complete affordable cosmetic surgery story at PlacidWay.com

Health Tourism Portal Optimizes Offerings for Consumers and Providers

by Laura Ettinger | PlacidWay

PlacidWay, a health & wellness tourism web portal, recently debuted an enhancement to the site that further solidifies its position as a leading authority in the industry. The centuries-old practice of health tourism has recently experienced explosive growth. This has provided an opportunity for a one-stop, interactive, full service site to exist that answers the needs of both health tourists and healthcare facilities. “We are environmental scanners of the industry, and work hard to monitor trends and gather information that can be trusted,” said Pramod Goel, president of PlacidWay. “All you need to make an informed and intelligent decision about health tourism is on the site.”

“Attention to the needs of both sides of the health tourism coin—consumers and healthcare providers—has been a differentiator for PlacidWay from its inception,” says Goel. “With our enhanced site, we can deliver the most comprehensive, unique, customizable and convenient healthcare solutions for our clients.” It is a goal of PlacidWay to be a knowledge repository and to be on the forefront of the trends of the health tourism industry, with resources that other sites don’t have.

PlacidWay’s expanded site makes it even easier for a potential health tourist to define whether they are searching for a medical procedure/treatment or a wellness program. They can then further refine their search by choosing a destination and facility. While on the website, they can also access hotel and airfare rates, as well as specific informative articles about their chosen procedure, facility or specialist. “All of this can be accomplished with a sense of security for the consumer,” says Goel. “They can rest assured that all their physical needs and comforts will be met by our providers, and feel confident from the perspective of knowing that they have the most current, reliable and accurate information on hand.”

PlacidWay is a leading authority in the field of health tourism through its vision, commitment to service and determination to be the most complete resource possible. PlacidWay offers world class healthcare providers in exotic destinations, a formidable knowledge and information base, quick response turnaround and a one-stop interactive approach to booking a health tourism experience. For more information on PlacidWay, go to www.placidway.com.

Bypass That Saved His Life – National Heart Centre Singapore

Five years ago, Indonesian Goenawan Endro started experiencing tightness at his chest area and chest pain. Visits to the doctor in his hometown Surabaya revealed that he had a heart problem. He was prescribed medication, told to stop smoking and was recommended to go for a balloon angioplasty. Mr Goenawan took all but the advice to go for the angioplasty as he felt that his medication was enough for him. He was also apprehensive of the complications that may arise from the procedure. He had since changed doctors three times.

In end 2005, Mr Goenawan’s symptoms took a turn for the worse and he suffered a heart attack. The doctor Mr Goenawan saw after his heart attack suggested that he should go through the angioplasty for his own good. This time round, Mr Goenawan complied. “Dr Irwan is very patient, he is unlike my previous doctors who only instructed me to go for the angioplasty without being able to tell me exactly why I needed to do it. This doctor explained my condition in detail and the need to go for the procedure. After 2 to 3 visits, I was finally convinced to go for the procedure,” said Mr Goenawan.

The angioplasty revealed that Mr Goenawan had very serious blockages in his arteries – total blockage on his left side and 20 to 30% on his right. Given the results, Dr Irwan advised him to go for a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG). Dr Irwan provided him with the choice of undergoing treatment locally, in Indonesia or in Singapore. He was informed that the National Heart Centre of Singapore (NHC) offered a comprehensive and affordable package that suited his needs. Mr Goenawan finally decided on Singapore after strong recommendations from friends and relatives.

Arrangements were made with a Global Patient Services Officer at the National Heart Centre and the family took a flight over to Singapore. At the National Heart Centre, the cardiothoracic surgeons performed a successful CABG on Mr Goenawan. Post-operation, he was warded for observation for 6 days.

Visibly happy with the success of his operation and positive experience at the National Heart Centre, Mr Goenawan gave two thumbs-up to the staff of the National Heart Centre, “The service quality is very good, we felt welcomed and I was well taken care of. The nurses, especially those in the intensive care unit, were professional and kind. My doctor-in-charge, Dr Sin, was very informative and professional as well. I also did not have much problems communicating with him because he could speak Bahasa Indonesia.”

Click here to read complete story at PlacidWay.com

Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress 2008

Welcome to the inaugural Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress 2008.

A global event dedicated to the complete supply chain of the medical travel industry.

Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress 2008 is a groundbreaking platform bringing together macro level decision makers on healthcare policy with payees of medical travel, specialized medical suppliers, travel providers, medical facilities and representatives from major medical tourism destinations all under one roof making this exhibition and congress truly representative of the total international medical travel industry.

Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress 2008, under the guiding theme of “the Globalisation of Healthcare”, brings together the entire cluster involved in medical travel at one specific event that is dedicated to the development of this growing sector.

This event establishes a platform for Medical Travel professionals to interact on a variety of business platforms:

• Exclusive networking opportunities made possible through innovative corporate match making
• A world-class conference streaming across multiple sectors
• Global exhibition, showcasing all segments of this exciting industry
• Internationally accredited CME endorsed through the AACME

This ground breaking platform focuses on all aspects related to the global healthcare travel market. Healthcare Travel Congress 2008 brings you exclusive and high level conferences ensuring the world’s leading decision makers discuss relevant issues to target audiences involved in medical travel.

Themes to be explored at Healthcare Travel Congress 2008:

• International standards and accreditation
• Building strategic partnerships
• Perspectives from international providers and regional initiatives
• Business and investment opportunities
     – Business opportunities in Healthcare Travel
     – Factors to consider when preparing your business for international patients
• Financing of medical travel & medical insurance
• Gaining competitive edge through marketing and promotion
     – How to attract the global consumer
     – Build brand recognition and loyalty
• Risk management an legal issues related to medical travel
     – Legal aspects and medical liability of medical travel
     – International standards for patient safety and quality control
• Best practices worldwide
     – Dental tourism
     – Hospitals
     – Travel Agents for medical travel
     – Ministries of health
     – Ministries of Tourism
     – International health insurance companies
• Overview sessions and panel discussions
     – Latest trends in healthcare travel
     – Issues and challenges facing medical travel
     – Understanding the key drivers for medical tourism

Take advantage of this exciting event to gain knowledge about best practices, share insights with key players, attend presentations from industry experts and interact direct with colleagues from around the globe.

To learn more about the conference please click here…