Looking Forward to My New Body by Dr. Tania Medina in the D.R. - Dominican Republic

I made this supply list for myself. You can modify it for your own personal liking. What I need may not be what you need. It's also changed since I changed surgeons from Dr. Fisher to Dr. Medina.

Unless you have met the surgeon on a prior visit, and have seen the surgery facility, how do you know that you will be comfortable with him or her, and feel secure in proceeding with surgery? Remember, a successful; doctor-patient relationship is based on confidence and trust, not on perceived savings and price. Make sure you are fully comfortable with the surgeon providing your care.

* What are the risks of long flights and any additional land travel before and after surgery? Will travel have an impact on my surgical outcome? Will I have to stay longer at the tourist destination to decrease the risk of post-surgical deep vein thrombosis (DVT) before I get on a plane?

* Is there an increased risk of DVT in the legs, or pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs) associated with long air travel before and after surgery?

* What is the surgeon's training?
Be sure that your physician has specific training in cosmetic surgery procedures through an accredited plastic surgery residency program and/or fellowship.

* What specialty certification does the surgeon hold?
* The International Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery ( www.isaps.org ) is a good source for finding qualified cosmetic surgeons.

* What happens if you develop complications?

Make sure you know who will care for you and who is financially responsible for secondary or revisional procedures. Before you leave home check with a local Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to see if they will be willing to provide post-op or revisional care if necessary.

* If you feel the surgeon has been negligent, what recourse will you have?
Find out in advance what liability coverage the physician holds and what are the local laws regarding medical malpractice.

* What are the local standards of anesthesia and nursing care? What credentials do these providers hold and what are the standards of the credentials?

* Is there an acute care hospital nearby if complications should arise? Is it a fully licensed, modern facility?

* What physician will care for you at home if complications arise?

* What are the surgeon's recommendations for aftercare? How long after your procedure will you need to stay in the area? Who will care for you in your initial recovery? What are the costs for this post-operative care?

* Do the key personnel at the surgeon's office and in the operating room speak fluent English?

* Carefully consider the total costs involved with having surgery abroad, including the additional time off work required for travel and recovery, the costs of air travel and extended stays abroad, potential costs if surgery revisions are needed subsequently, and unanticipated expenses if complications occur.

It's best to get the medication from your pcp. If you don't, you'll need to pay $250 to Medina for the medication below. My PCP wrote my prescriptions and it all costs under $50 with my insurance.

Medication after Surgery (cost US$250):

·       LEVOFLOXACIN 750 MG EVERY 24 HOURS PER 10 DAYS (antibiotic)

·       CLINDAMICINA 300MG  1 TABLET EVERY 8 HOURS FOR 10 DAYS (antibiotic)

·       ENANTIUM 1 TABLET EVERY  8 HOURS FOR 10 DAYS (pain pills -most get percocets)

·       OMEPRAZOLE 40 MG 1 TABLE EVERY 24 HOURS PER 10 DAYS (Prilosec aka reflux meds)

·       VITAMIN C 1000 MG EVERY 24 HOURS FOR 30 DAYS

·       IRON 1 TABLET EVERY 24 HOURS FOR 30 DAYS

·       BANEOCIN UNGUENTO/ BIAFINE OR TELEANGIL FACIAL/TROFOBOL (neosporin, etc.)
(CREAMS WILL DEPEND ON THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF THE PATIENT)

OTHER MEDICATION THAT YOU MAY NEED HAS AN EXTRA COST (heparin injections to prevent blood clots; 1 every day for seven days) I think I paid $10 for my bag of injections.