Following years of battling with my weight, having a successful gastric band for nearly 10 years, I found that I was beginning to struggle and the weight gradually began to increase.
After completing as much research as possible on-line to find out which bariatric procedure would be best suited to my needs, I began the process of looking for a provider outside of the UK as price was a factor in my deliberation.
I was conscious though, that I wanted a safe and well-practised provider to help me reach my goal. Part of my consideration was a local, single point of contact, who was knowledgeable and trustworthy, after all I was essentially putting my health in their hands.
My first contact with Laura
I was made aware of Ivy Health Surgery; in particular Laura, who was responsible for setting up the company aimed at providing patients with excellent, safe and competent cosmetic and bariatric procedures in Europe. The Czech Republic to be exact. On the Ivy Health website there are photographs of the SurGal Clinic in Brno, which on the face of it looks like a 5* hotel.
When I first contacted Laura, she immediately put me at ease with her knowledge of the procedure I wanted, her contact with the surgeon who is of a Professor level, and efficiency at which she followed up on things.
I only had a very small window in which I could be considered for the surgery I thought best, Laura emailed me a medical questionnaire and I was also able to provide her with my own summary detailing the last two decades and my struggle to lose weight. This information was forwarded to the Professor in London to review as it was his decision as to whether he would consider me or not.
I was pleased to hear from Laura that I could see the Professor in his private practice in London and I provided her with additional reports that I had done locally in order to discuss the results with the Professor at the consultation. The consultation fee was included in the cost of the procedure.
Once I had met the Professor and he had agreed to operate on me, explaining in full his limitations given my history, it was action stations and I was keen to proceed.
Laura emailed me the invoice, it was paid directly and I received a confirmation of the funds paid. Laura was great at helping me source flights, explaining the accommodation at the SurGal clinic and the local hotel should I want a family member to accompany me.
Laura also explained that I would be in intensive care the night of the procedure before being moved to my room in the clinic for the remainder of my stay. In all I stayed 3 nights and was perfectly able to return home on my own. I was a little concerned about the flight, but the privately arranged transport with David to and from the clinic made the journey more comfortable.
The SurGal Clinic
The hospital I found welcoming, given my nervousness upon arrival as I had my procedure the same afternoon I arrived! The nurses, especially Nina was lovely and very caring. Her English was good, probably the best of all the nursing staff I met.
The room was fully tiled, there was a flat screen TV although the English channel wasn’t great but I had downloaded programmes from home to watch using the hospital’s WiFi. The bathroom was like a wet room with ample space, emergency call button and amenities like shampoo. I was also able to use a hairdryer during my stay.
The bed was very much like a normal hospital one with a button to press for elevating the head and leg end along with the emergency nurse call button and all exactly as Laura had told me. I felt that I knew what to expect from the minute I arrived.
There were various forms to complete, further health questionnaire and consent which you would expect. Then it was time for Nina to put my cannula in and await a visit from the Professor.
I was then taken by Nina for a chest X-ray, ultrasound and to see their resident hospital Doctor who performed a breath test and checked my height and weight.
Shortly after returning to my room, Professor Patel arrived with his surgical assistant from London who was going to be present in the operating theatre. The Professor reassured me that everything would be alright and I felt surprisingly relaxed given that 2 hours later I was having my operation.
I was taken to theatre from my bedroom, securing a few things I would need in ICU overnight in a black plastic bag (which I think could be improved on from the hospital perspective as I thought it might get thrown out with other rubbish).
Overnight in ICU the staff were constantly monitoring my recovery, taking blood samples, changing my fluid bags, checking on my catheter and blood pressure. There was literally a nurse in front of me all the time and I felt like I was in good hands.
I was returned to my room the next afternoon and left to sleep. My blood pressure, temperature and pain levels were constantly checked by other nursing staff.
Whenever I pressed the nurse call button, I never had to wait any longer than 1-2 minutes which I thought was excellent.
The Aftercare
As well as family contact over the next few days, Laura rang me from the UK and reassured me she was there if I had any difficulty. Laura rang me every day, sometimes twice to check on me which was a great help and made me feel that I was really being looked after by Ivy Health.
I was discharged by the clinic Manager, Vendy who provided me with all the necessary painkillers and DVT injections that I had to use on my return. I was shown by Nina how to administer the DVT medication which was straightforward and pain free. The support stockings were an attractive addition! There was supporting paperwork should the medication be checked at the airport and it was all officially stamped.
Since my return Laura has been contacting me daily either by phone call, text or email. I have found her to be attentive, reassuring and extremely organised throughout the whole process. She will offer to make calls to the Professor on my behalf, arrange my follow up appointment with him and without her being there every step of the way, I would not have found the courage to go to Europe, on my own, and have a major procedure.
Laura has been helping me with the post-op diet, ensuring that I was drinking enough fluids, checking on me daily and ensuring there were no complications. She has been able to advise me on the diet for the last solid stage of the process and I found that if Laura didn’t immediately know the answer then she soon found out and told me.
Recommending Ivy Health
If Laura spends as much time with her other clients as she did with me, then she must be a super organised person and value for money is certainly given. Laura seems to care personally that each of her clients has the best attention she can give, even out of hours and she really does deliver on this.
I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Ivy Health Surgery to anyone who is looking for help with finding a safe and reliable cosmetic or bariatric provider abroad. Their costs are very good in comparison to the same procedure in the UK, the standard of care in the clinic itself is very high, family members can accompany you and I would not hesitate to contact Laura and use the services of Ivy Health Surgery again.
(The bedroom at SurGal Clinic.)