Obamacare and Bariatric Surgery

In the last few years, healthcare has been a major topic of debate in the United States. Further, many policy changes have occurred, most notably, the instatement of Obamacare. But what does Obamacare entail? Does it cover bariatric surgery? If you were planning on getting gastric sleeve in Mexico to save money, should you just wait for Obamacare? 

Obamacare is a common term for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The idea behind Obamacare is that access to health is a right and therefore healthcare should be accessible and affordable for all Americans. Many would assume that Obamacare would then make bariatric surgery available to obese people, particularly those suffering from a co-morbid disease. If you are looking forward to using Obamacare for bariatric surgery, you might be disappointed. 

Obamacare allows each state to choose whether or not to cover weight loss surgeries like gastric sleeve or lap band. More than 24 states have already decided that bariatric surgery will not be covered under Obamacare, and many of those states happen to have some of the highest obesity rates in the United States, among them being Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas. And this despite the astonishingly high obesity rates. These states have failed to recognize the role weight loss surgery plays in eliminating other diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Even if a doctor recommends weight loss surgery as a treatment for diabetes, heart disease or another co-morbid disease, Obamacare will not cover it in the aforementioned states and many others.

For many states, the decision not to offer the uninsured bariatric surgery under Obamacare is an attempt to keep health insurance premiums low. Experts argue that people who suffer from obesity pay around $1,429 a year more than people at a normal weight, and when bariatric surgery costs insurance companies and Medicare around $42,000 a person, there is no financial benefit to cover weight loss surgeries.

What are Your Options?

If you live in a state where Obamacare will not cover weight loss surgery, unfortunately you cannot just travel to a neighboring state which provides coverage for the procedure. If you could, then the solution would be simple. Instead, if you want weight loss surgery and live in a state where Obamacare will not cover it, then your options are:

·         Pay the full price for bariatric surgery

·         Travel abroad for more affordable bariatric surgery 

For years, many people have traveled abroad for more affordable healthcare for treatments such as bariatric surgery. When you travel to Mexico for bariatric surgery, for example, you can save 40-65% of the total price of the procedure charged in the United States. Because of the ease of travel to Mexico, the country is a popular medical tourism destination with Americans. If Obamacare cannot help you, then it may be necessary to explore affordable bariatric options like surgery in Mexico to help you get your health back on track.

Dentures in Mexico - Benefits, Considerations and Tips

According to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, around 75% of the US population has periodontal disease, a leading cause of tooth loss, and almost 50 million Americans wear dentures. Though the US is known for high quality dentures, the expensive cost of getting them has pushed many Americans to consider affordable alternatives abroad, particularly in neighboring Mexico. The high quality yet low cost of dentures in Mexico has made this country a popular destination for Americans and Canadians looking to show off a complete and beautiful set of teeth without emptying their pockets.

 

Dentures: Benefits and Challenges

Here is a quick look at some of the benefits and challenges involved in getting dentures:

Benefits:

• Improved ability  to chew food with a better bite
• Better enunciation of words after gaps are filled with dentures
• A boost in confidence to smile and talk in front of people
• Helps retain the full shape of the face and prevents facial muscles from sagging

Challenges:

• Uncomfortable, awkward feeling while eating and speaking (which you’ll get used to after a while)
• Dry mouth (can be managed with certain oral care products)
• Dentures need to be cared for regularly

Advantages of Getting Dentures in Mexico

• Impressive cost savings of around 50%, compared to the price of dentures alone in the US
• Highly competent dentists, many of whom have earned their degrees and training in the US and Europe
• State-of-the-art dental facilities with in-house laboratories
• Cutting-edge dental technologies
• English-speaking dentists and supporting clinic staff
• Non-existence of long waiting times for a dental appointment
• A grand opportunity to get a taste of the exotic beauty of Mexico

Some Pointers for Medical Tourists Visiting Mexico

Here are a few things to consider when traveling to Mexico for getting dentures or any other dental treatment:

• Prepare a travel itinerary to make the most of your dental holiday in Mexico.
• Depending on the country you’re from, check out the visa and other entrance requirements when staying in Mexico for less than 30 days.
• Carry with you your passport/passport card to cross over to the Mexican side from the US-Mexico border.
• Tourists are advised to get a taxi through their hotel to avoid robbers who pose as a driver or a taxi company’s representative.
• When visiting Mexico during the summer months, make sure to bring sunscreen lotion and light clothing as it tends to get very hot and humid there.
• As a general health precaution, make sure to always drink distilled, bottled water and avoid street foods.

Getting dentures in Mexico is not just about getting an affordable treatment. It’s also about making good, practical choices and taking steps to improve your dental appearance and overall oral health. 

Getting Your Chin Augmented in Thailand

Are you dissatisfied with the size of your chin? Having a proportionally smaller chin can have a negative impact on the overall appearance of your face.  With chin augmentation, doctors merely alter the size of your chin, but the results positively affect you entire facial structure. And if you choose to get chin augmentation in Thailand, you can leave for your holiday unsatisfied with your appearance and return home more confident than ever!

 

Finding the Right Surgeon for Chin Augmentation in Thailand

Getting a chin augmentation can drastically change your appearance, which is why it is very important to get a doctor you trust to perform your chin augmentation.  Whether you get chin augmentation in Thailand or America, you should do ample research about your potential surgeon.  Some tips to help you choose the right chin augmentation surgeon in Thailand are:

Search the internet and make a shortlist of potential chin augmentation surgeons in Thailand.    Once you begin your search, you will probably find there are many cosmetic surgeons in Thailand. To help you narrow it down, look at the doctor’s:

·         Educational qualifications

·         Number of years in practice

·         The clinic or hospital he/she works in

·         His/her experience particularly with chin augmentation

Contact the potential chin augmentation surgeons in Thailand that you have shortlisted.  Write an email or pick up the phone. This exchange will help you learn more about the surgeons on your list. 

Ask for references. It is always a great idea to speak with the doctor’s previous clients as well as see some before and after pictures of people who have had similar surgeries. Ask your doctor for both. You can also check online forums to get feedback from the surgeon’s previous clients.

What to Do in Thailand During Your Chin Surgery Trip

When you travel to Thailand for chin augmentation, you will realize that the procedure itself will probably not take much time. Instead of flying all the way to Thailand for a simple surgery and then returning right back home, why not make a vacation out of your cosmetic surgery trip to Thailand? By staying there after getting your chinplants, you will be able to go home completely healed, avoiding any questions people may have about your bandages. Instead, you can travel around Thailand and visit places like:

·         Phuket - Thailand is made up of more than a thousand islands. Phuket is the largest island in the country and a great destination for a little rest and relaxation after your chin implant in Thailand.

·         Ayutthaya - This is the former capital of Thailand and boasts many ancient ruins. Even if you are not a history lover, Ayutthaya is a beautiful city worth a visit. You can plan a day trip to Ayutthaya from Bangkok after your chin implant procedure.

·         Chiang Mai - This northern city is situated in the middle of lush green hills and rice paddies, leaving visitors in awe. Chiang Mai has a slower pace of life which makes it a nice getaway from bustling Bangkok. 

Thailand is a diverse country with many things to see and do. Depending on what you prefer, you can easily plan a vacation of a lifetime to Thailand for chin implant. When you travel to Thailand for a chin implant, you will get much more than a new look; you will get the opportunity to take a trip of a lifetime! 

Top Bariatric Surgeons in Mexico

If you plan on getting weight loss surgery in Mexico, then you want to find the best bariatric surgeon possible. With so many weight loss surgeons in Mexico, it’s hard to figure out which ones are good and which ones are not. But don’t worry; we’re here to help you find the best bariatric surgeons in Mexico.

 

What to Look for in a Bariatric Surgeon in Mexico?

When you are trying to find the best bariatric surgeon in Mexico for you, there are certain things you should look for. Some of the important things to look into include:

What are the bariatric surgeon’s qualifications? Where did he/she go to medical school? Has the surgeon continued his/her education after medical school? Knowing the educational qualifications of a bariatric surgeon can help you figure out whether or not he/she is one of the best.

How experienced is he/she in bariatric procedures? Some of the renowned surgeons are fully dedicated to bariatric procedures, meaning they perform hundreds every year. Whatever kind of weight loss surgery you choose, just see to it that your bariatric surgeon has ample experience in it.

What do previous clients have to say about the surgeon? It is important to get feedback from people who have been treated by the surgeon in question. Testimonies from previous clients can give you valuable feedback about the surgeon.

Which bariatric surgery does the surgeon specialize in? When you are researching the top bariatric surgeons in Mexico, it is important to keep in mind the type of bariatric surgery you have chosen to undergo. Even if a bariatric surgeon is one of the best lap band surgeons, doesn’t mean he/she is the best gastric sleeve surgeon.

Two Top WLS Surgeons in Mexico

As long as you do ample research when choosing a surgeon, you can and will find a great surgeon in Mexico who is on par or better than his/her American competitors. To make that search a little easier, here are two highly qualified bariatric surgeons in Mexico with ample experience:

Dr. Ismael Cabrera Garcia

Performing laparoscopic weight loss surgeries for four years, Dr. Ismael Cabrera Garcia is a qualified weight loss surgeon practicing in Tijuana, Mexico. Dr. Cabrera earned his medical degree from UPAEP in Puebla, Mexico and became a certified in digestive surgery specialist from IMSS Hospital in Monterrey. He participated in the IFSO 2010 World Congress International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders held in Long Beach, California. 

He is highly experiences in a wide range of bariatric surgeries including:

• Gastric plication
• Gastric banding
• Gastric sleeve
• Gastric bypass

Dr. Louisiana Valenzuela Sanchez

With her practice located in Tijuana, Dr. Louisiana Valenzuela has performed hundreds of weight loss surgeries. She earned her medical degree from Universidad Autonoma de Baja California in 2002 and specialized in Advanced Laparscopic and Bariatric Surgery in Tijuana. She is known for being a caring surgeon able to comfort her patients throughout their bariatric surgery. Her immense experience in bariatric surgery makes her a highly sought after weight loss surgeon in Tijuana.

Angelina Jolie's Double Mastectomy to Avoid Breast Cancer

A mastectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of a woman’s breast. A double mastectomy is removal of both breasts. This is usually done in cases of breast cancer or even in cases where there is no breast cancer but as a preventative measure. Women who have had genetic testing and discovered having a mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene are at increased risk of getting breast or ovarian cancer.

According to studies, women having a mutated BRCA1 gene have a 50% to 65% chance of developing breast cancer by age 70 and 35% to 46% chance of developing ovarian cancer. Having a mutated BRCA2 gene lowers the risk factor to 40% to 57% for breast cancer by age 70 and 13% to 23% for ovarian cancer. The gene mutation is inherited from one’s parents.

Angelina Jolie’s doctors calculated that she had an 87% chance of developing cancer, not just because she had inherited the faulty gene, but also because her mother died of ovarian cancer at age 56. Angelina decided to have a double mastectomy as a preventative measure and this has apparently reduced her chances of getting breast cancer to about 5%. More and more women are undergoing genetic testing and when they find out that they have these faulty genes, they are getting mastectomy and having their ovaries removed in order to prevent cancer.

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women in the United States after skin cancer, as per Cancer.org. Ovarian cancer is much harder to detect and 5 year survival rates of 44% (as per American Cancer Society) are much lower than for breast cancer.

A Quick Glance at Breast Removal

The process of removing the breasts is termed a prophylactic mastectomy. There are several types of mastectomys, depending upon the cancer situation:

·        A radical mastectomy is done on women with invasive breast cancer. 

·        A simple mastectomy achieves the greatest risk reduction because it removes most of the breast tissue. It is recommended for women who don’t plan to have breast reconstruction.

·        Skin-sparing mastectomy removes breast tissue, nipple, and areola but leaves some excess tissue to allow for breast reconstruction. It results in less scarring.

·        Nipple-sparing mastectomy removes the breast tissue but leaves the nipple and areola intact, so that the breast look more natural.

There are other types of mastectomys, as well, and which one is used depends on the nature of the cancer, age and health of the patient.

Angelina’s Surgery

Angelina had her nipples preserved but most of the breast tissue was removed and lymph nodes also tested for traces of cancer. Following a mastectomy, most women have a plastic surgeon reconstruct their breasts. Angelina had implants inserted and skin grafted over them to create new breasts.

A mastectomy affects each woman in different ways. Some become depressed at feeling that they have lost a part of their femininity. Their self-image may be affected. There are also side-effects to the surgery. Scars may be visible and lifting your arms can be very painful in the beginning due to stretching the skin and the scar tissue.

Most women tend to only have a mastectomy if they do have cancer and if it is necessary. However, gene testing is being pushed and when faulty genes show up, a mastectomy is often recommended. Still, the decision to surgically remove healthy breasts is certainly controversial, since every human body part is susceptible to cancer and removing body parts is not really the ideal solution.

The cost of a mastectomy is very high in Western countries and even those who have medical insurance report being charged fees of between 10-25,000 dollars for miscellaneous things. In the US alone, about 21 million women do not even have health insurance. However, consider a low cost mastectomy in Turkey, Mexico or any other medical tourism destination where you can get your procedure done quickly with no waiting times and also save a bundle of money.

7 Unique Ways to Pamper Your Mom This Mother’s Day

Every year people from around the world show mothers appreciation by celebrating Mother’s Day. But how can you give your mother a day that truly shows your gratitude for the patience, love, and protection your mother has given you year after year? Here are some truly unique ways to show your mother how much you cherish her this Mother’s Day:

1.     Give her the chance to get fit. Taking care of our bodies is one way we care for ourselves. What better way to tell your mom that you appreciate all she’s done than to give her the chance to focus on herself? You can book her sessions with a personal trainer or a yoga class, or gift her gym membership.  

2.      Take her on a holiday. As we get older, most of our mothers really want only one thing - time with their young ones. Whether it’s a weekend getaway to the mountains or an exotic cruise, all mothers will appreciate a holiday with their family. Plan a trip to a place you will both enjoy to ensure that you and your mom have a great time.

3.      Help your mother rejuvenate. Mother or not, almost every woman is unsatisfied with some aspect of her appearance. Let your mother feel more beautiful than ever by giving her the chance to enhance some part of her that she’s always wanted. If she wants a facelift or wants to get rid of her batwing arms, then you could perhaps book her a consultation with a plastic surgeon. You can give her an even better present by taking her on a holiday to get plastic surgery in Thailand, Costa Rica or any other exotic medical tourism destination of your choice. Don’t worry; you’ll likely spend less money by taking her to a medical tourism hub for plastic surgery than you would in your home country.     

4.      How about Painting-n-Cocktails? There are many shops opening up throughout America where you can book a time slot and learn how to paint while drinking a nice glass of wine. This is a great way to spend quality time with your mother while helping her to unwind and relax on Mother’s Day.

5.      Go on a walk through the park. It may sound quite simple, but most mothers will love to go on a stroll with their children on Mother’s Day. During this time, you’ll not only get that extra boost of daily fitness, but also have the opportunity to take a moment to talk like you rarely get the chance to do.

6.      Take a class on clean eating and cooking. One of the newest trends in fitness is eating clean. Learn how to make health a priority by taking a clean eating and cooking class this Mother’s Day.

7.      Gift her a spa treatment. There isn’t a mom in the world that won’t enjoy a day at the spa. You can book her a session with a professional massage therapist and let her indulge and unwind with a body wrap, facial, mud bath and a manicure. There’s a spa treatment for everyone; it’s just about finding the one your mom will enjoy the most.

Finding the Right Weight Loss Surgeon in Mexico

Traveling to Mexico for weight loss surgery can be an affordable way to reach your ideal weight and get healthy. But how do you find out who are the top bariatric surgeons in Mexico while you’re in the United States? Here are some simple tips to help you find the right surgeon for your bariatric surgery in Mexico that is right for you.

 

Researching Weight Loss Surgeons in Mexico

Step 1- Use the internet to your advantage. The first thing to do when you are looking for a weight loss surgeon in Mexico is to get on the internet. The internet can be one of your greatest resources as you search for the right weight loss surgeon in Mexico. Start by doing a simple internet search for qualified weight loss surgeons in Mexico. Add keywords specific to the place and type of weight loss surgery you are looking for to help you find the right doctor in Mexico. For example, if you know you want to visit Tijuana for gastric band surgery or you want to go to Cancun for lap band surgery then search accordingly. 

Step 2- Sift the useful from the useless. Searching the internet will give you a lot of information, but much of it is of no use. Deciphering what is valuable information and what is not can be tricky. Remember, just because a website claims a particular doctor is the best weight loss surgeon in Mexico doesn’t mean it’s true. Shortlist doctors that fit your initial criterion and then do more research on each. The facts should match up.  Look out for red flags like negative personal testimonies, unfavorable news articles or anything else that may make you question the weight loss surgeon’s ability.

Step 3- Get in touch with the surgeon. Now that you’ve narrowed down your list of potential bariatric surgeons in Mexico, it’s time for some real interaction. Get in touch with each doctor by phone or by email. Feel free to ask important questions. You can get a better idea about each doctor by interacting with him/her, and hopefully this will help you narrow your list down even more.

Step 4- Double check facts. After speaking with potential surgeons in Mexico, you can double check what he/she has said against other facts. If the surgeon has told you that you will be fully recovered from weight loss surgery in a week, you should probably question what he/she has said. 

These are some steps to help you find a top weight loss surgeon in Mexico. If you follow these steps you should be able to find a highly qualified weight loss surgeon in Mexico to perform whatever weight loss procedure you desire. It is important to keep in mind that a weight loss surgeon that is right for another person may not be the right surgeon for you. Always remember that should you feel uncomfortable or unsatisfied with your weight loss surgeon at any time, you can change surgeons. Your health and comfort are top priorities when getting weight loss surgery in Mexico or anywhere else.

Traveling to Cancun for a Dental Job

It is recommended that you visit a dentist every six months for a regular check up and cleaning, but sometimes you might need more than that. Dental work can be quite costly in the United States, which may prevent you from getting the procedures you really need done in order to have optimal dental health. Getting dental work in Cancun can be an affordable and fun option for just about any dental procedure you may need.

 

Dental Treatments Available in Cancun

Whether you are in need of whiter teeth or total mouth restoration, chances are you can get your dental procedure done in Cancun, Mexico. Some of the major categories of dental work available in Cancu 

• Whitening     
• Contouring
• Straightening
• Implants
•  Veneers
• General repairs (i.e. fillings, dental crowns, etc)

 

Two in One: Affordable Dental Work and A Memorable Vacation

Cancun is known to be a popular destination for honeymooners, which means it has to be a great place to go for a vacation. When you travel to Cancun for your dental work, you are sure to have the vacation of a life time. You can do many interesting things while you’re getting your dental work in Cancun. Some things you can do to make your dental trip to Cancun into an unforgettable vacation include:

• Visit Xel Ha Park - Here you can swim with the dolphins, go on a dolphin trek, and snorkel.
• Relax on the beach - When you are in a world famous coastal town like Cancun, part of the fun is just lazing around on the beach, staring at the ocean, and waiting for the sun to set. 
• Check out Historical Sites - Cancun is rich in Mayan history and boasts the El Meco archaeological zone, the Temple of the Scorpion, and much more. When you are take a dental vacation to Cancun you can be amazed by ancient sites from important periods of history.
• Enjoy the nightlife - With great bars, infamous drinks, live music, and an overall lively atmosphere, Cancun is known for having incredible nightlife. During your dental trip to Cancun you can chill out and cut loose like you haven’t in a long time.

Safety Tips for Your Dental Trip to Cancun

When you travel to Cancun, Mexico for dental work it is important to remember that you are traveling to a foreign country. Whenever you are traveling you should exercise standard precautions. We suggest that you:

• Register with the embassy – Whenever you travel abroad it is a good practice to inform the US Embassy (or your home country’s embassy) that you have entered the country. By registering, it helps the embassy to be of immediate assistance to you if anything should go wrong. 
• Don’t carry many valuables - In every country tourists are often easy targets for petty crime like theft. This is why it is recommended that you do not carry large amounts of money or expensive objects such as jewelry when you travel to Cancun for dental work. Most hotels will have a safe where you can place your valuables. 
• Don’t drink tap water – It is likely that your stomach is not used to the microorganisms in local water. For this reason, it is advisable that you drink only bottled or filtered water during your dental holiday in Cancun.

Empress Crowns in India - Pros and Cons

If you are in need of empress crowns, then you may be exploring more affordable options than are available in your home country. One such solution is to get empress crowns in India. But if you choose to go to India for your dental treatment, what should you expect? Like with any dental tourism destination, there are pros and cons associated with traveling to India for empress crowns.

Pro - Getting empress crowns in India will be much more affordable.

Even after you include the cost of travel to and from India, it is likely that you will save a large portion of money in comparison to the cost quoted by a dentist in the United States, Australia or elsewhere.

Con - You will have to fly to India.

If you are flying from the Middle East, the duration of flight to most cities in India will be around 2-5 hours. From Australia, the UK, or the United States it will be considerably longer. For some people, the long travel hours can be off-putting.

Pro - There are many great dentists in India who can give you empress crowns.

No matter if you get empress crowns in New Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai or elsewhere in India, you will find a well-trained dentist who will do a great job. There are many dentists working in India that were educated in top dental schools in the world.

Con - It may be hard to find out which dentists are good and which are not.

Of course there are many great dentists in India, but the country also has its share of quacks and fakes. As you look into planning a trip to India for dental crowns, you may find that deciphering between the good and the bad may be difficult, especially as a foreigner. However, you can do ample amounts of research about the dentist and the dental clinic you plan to visit prior to your dental trip to India. This will help you choose the right dentist to give you empress crowns in India. 

Pro - There are many cities in India where you can get dental work done.

If you decide to go to India to get empress crowns, you will quickly find that there are many different cities within the country that can fulfill your needs. By taking into consideration things like accessibility of the city, weather, and tourist attractions you can find a place suitable for you to get your dental treatment. If you want to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra you may want to consider getting your empress crowns in New Delhi; Agra is only a couple of hours away from the national capital. If you find the beaches of Goa more alluring, then you might find Mumbai or Bangalore a more suitable option for your treatment. 

Con - You probably won’t get to meet your dentist prior to the procedure. 

Many people like to meet their dentist once before getting empress crowns. If you travel to India for empress crowns, it is unlikely you will have the chance to meet your dentist prior to the procedure. You can, however, contact the dentist before your trip to India.

Scaling and Root Planing in Costa Rica

Plaque and calculus on the crown and root surfaces of the teeth can cause periodontal diseases. This is when the gums and teeth begin to separate, exposing more of the teeth. Eventually, this can lead to tooth loss. Scaling and root planing help stop periodontal disease from exacerbating. In the United States, this procedure can cost thousands of dollars, but if you get your scaling and root planing in Costa Rica, you are likely to save a lot of money.

All That You Need to Know

As you begin to explore the possibility of traveling to Costa Rica for scaling and root planing, you should keep a few things in mind.

Most people traveling to Costa Rica do not need a visa. If you are an American, Canadian, or from the UK, then you will be allowed to stay in Costa Rica for up to 90 days from the time you enter the country without a visa. You will need to have your passport on hand when traveling to Costa Rica for your dental treatment. 

Costa Rica is a premier holiday destination. Every year millions of people travel to Costa Rica for vacation. People who visit the country of Costa Rica do so in order to enjoy a vast array of wildlife and natural settings. With lush forests, scenic riverfronts, magical mountains, and sandy beaches, there is something for everyone. When you travel to Costa Rica for scaling and root planing, you too can enjoy the offerings of Mother Nature to the fullest.

Costa Rica is known for its dental care. Scaling and root planing is just one of the several dental treatments offered in Costa Rica. This small country attracted around 48,000 medical tourists in 2013, with a 42% increase in demand for dental services. 

Many dental tourists are American. If you are an American seeking dental care abroad, then you’ll fit right in when you travel to Costa Rica for scaling and root planing. You will find many other Americans traveling to Costa Rica for dental procedures. Knowing that someone else is going through the same or a similar thing as you can make the experience of dental care abroad in Costa Rica much more enjoyable. Prior to traveling to Costa Rica for your procedure, you can find others who have already been through it on online forums or through personal recommendations. 

It’s possible to find the dentist that is right for you. When you travel to Costa Rica for scaling and root planing, the thing you want to be sure of the most is your dentist. Don’t worry; there are many experienced dentists in Costa Rica that can perform your procedure. By doing some simple research prior to your scaling and root planing trip to Costa Rica, you should be able to find the dentist that is right for you.

ACL Repair – All You Need to Know

This article is a compendium of essential information for ACL tear patients, such as - What is an ACL tear? Do you really need surgical intervention as the only treatment for ACL tear? Is ACL repair in Tijuana, Mexico, a good option for American patients who’re considering medical tourism to save bucks? And a lot more…

 

A Zoom-in on ACL

Anterior cruciate ligament is one of four ligaments that connect tibia or the shin bone with the femur or the thigh bone. A ligament connects a bone with a bone while a tendon connects a muscle with bone. As the word anterior suggests, it is placed on the front, right behind the knee cap, and prevents the shin bone from jutting ahead of the thigh bone.

 

What Causes ACL to Tear?

70% of the ACL cases are non-contact, for example, a wrong landing from a jump may cause ACL to tear. The rest 30% result from a collision with an external object. The incidence of ACL injuries is higher in women with active lifestyles. Mostly a sports injury, ACL is pretty common in basketball and football. Here’s a list of some NBA players whose careers were threatened by ACL tear:

1.       Al Harrington – Orlando Magic

2.      Al Jefferson – Utah Jazz

3.      David West – Indiana Pacers

4.      Kyle Lowry – Toronto Raptors

5.      Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls

Why are ACL injuries so common among sportsmen? Because leaping, sidestepping, and cutting weren’t our evolutionary learnings. Leaping, cutting, and sidestepping are as new to us as the game of basketball itself.

 

Who might need ACL Surgery?

Not all ACL tear cases require ACL repair surgery. Rehabilitation, as Swedish researchers have found out, may do away the need for a surgery. In a study involving 121 patients divided into two groups—with one group undergoing rehabilitation followed shortly by surgery and the other group undergoing the rehabilitation alone—researchers found that only 40% of the patients in the “rehab only” group needed ACL surgery after 2 years.  

“There are almost 10,000 scientific publications addressing the ACL and 50 per cent of these are about surgical treatment. However, none of these studies have shown that surgical reconstruction produces better results than rehabilitation alone,” said Stefan Lohmander, professor at Lund University and Skåne University Hospital.

Sportsmen and sportswomen, however, cannot rely on rehab alone and almost always undergo surgical intervention in order to save their careers.

 

Which is Better: Allograft or Autograft?

 Autograft or use of own tissue for reconstruction of the torn ligament has been found out to perform better in the long run. This fact was reported by the Fox News in a story “Study: Autograft ACL Repair Better in Young Athletes,” published on May, 2012.

Allograft, on the other hand, employs a donated tissue from a cadaver for ACL repair. While, absence of discomfort of removing one’s own tissue is an advantage, an allograft is fraught with risks, such as, HIV or bacterial infections or the graft losing its tension over a period of time. Failure rates of allografts fall in the range of 23% to 34%.

Medical Travel – Does it Make Sense?

A lot of people wait a lot longer before ACL repair through surgery becomes an absolute necessity. Waiting longer translates into cost of alternative treatments. If you wish to maintain an active lifestyle, ACL repair surgery is better done sooner. But for majority of Americans cost of ACL repair remains off limits.

This high cost is prompting them to travel overseas to India, Mexico, or Costa Rica. Medical tourism is a win-win for both the medical tourist and the local economy. While the former saves a fortune and satisfies his wanderlust, the latter generates a lot more jobs.