Treatment Stages
1.1 Initial Consultation and Preliminary Assessment
- When the patient reaches our clinic through any of the relevant communication options (such as WhatsApp, social media, e-mail or face-to-face application), they take the first step to receive information about the Ribella Procedure.
- The patient fills out the preliminary assessment form sent to them and shares it with us. This form is reviewed by the Dr. Curver Clinic team. The accuracy of the information in this form is entirely the patient’s responsibility.
- If the information provided by the patient in the preliminary assessment form is deemed appropriate for the Ribella procedure, the patient will proceed to the online consultation with the doctor (or face-to-face examination if the patient lives nearby).
1.2 Initial Assessment by the Doctor
In the online consultation (or face-to-face examination), the doctor makes more detailed examinations and the decision for the procedure is clarified.
In the next step after the online consultation, if the patient wants a 3D preliminary simulation, he/she sends us the 3D images. With the 3D editing made by our team and doctor, the patient’s approximate recovery after the surgery is simulated in a 3D environment. Before and after 3D images are sent to the patient again. Thus, the patient is shown the approximate result he/she can get from the Ribella procedure before he/she even comes to our clinic.
1.3 Surgery Planning and Consent Process
If the patient accepts the Ribella procedure, the surgery date is determined and, if necessary, package options and travel arrangements are made (see Out of Town Patients).
Simultaneously, the surgery consent form is sent to the patient by e-mail. This form is requested to be reviewed in detail and the patient sends an e-mail confirming that he/she has received the e-mail. This form will be signed by him/her before the procedure when he/she comes to the clinic on the day of the surgery.
1.4 Preoperative Preparations
- On the day of surgery (or the day before due to flight times), the patient first comes to Dr. Curver Clinic and the necessary drawings are made on the patient. The surgery design is carried out with standardized professional photographs of the body and a 3D scan.
A 3D simulation is performed on the patient using virtual reality glasses, depending on the patient’s taste and the doctor’s approval, and a mutual decision is made about the approximate improvement that will occur in the patient after the surgery (some time may be needed for this process depending on the status of the preliminary scan taken for the 3D simulation, but this simulation will definitely be provided to you during your hospitalization).- The patient is asked to sign the informed consent forms that were previously sent via e-mail (the consent forms are signed in 2 copies by the doctor and one copy is given to the patient) and the patient is asked to go to the hospital where the procedure will be performed. Patients who purchase an intracity transfer package are taken to the hospital and accompanied by our clinic’s team.
- Solid food intake must be completely cut off at least 6 hours before the operation, and liquid intake must be completely cut off at least 4 hours before. It has been shown in scientific literature that a high carbohydrate diet is very beneficial just before this fasting period. If your doctor has previously recommended the use of certain medications, you should use these medications with a small amount of water, in accordance with your doctor’s recommendations, despite these hours.
- In order not to affect the pre-operative blood tests to be performed in the hospital, you should not eat or drink anything except water for at least 8 hours before these tests.
A 3D simulation is performed on the patient using virtual reality glasses, depending on the patient’s taste and the doctor’s approval, and a mutual decision is made about the approximate improvement that will occur in the patient after the surgery (some time may be needed for this process depending on the status of the preliminary scan taken for the 3D simulation, but this simulation will definitely be provided to you during your hospitalization).
2. Operation Day
2.1 Preoperative Preparation
- On the day of surgery, the patient comes to the hospital and is admitted, having completed the procedures specified in the previous article at the Dr. Curver Clinic and having complied with the fasting periods.
- Hospital nurses will have you sign some documents and if your doctor requests, a vein will be opened and some medications will be given. Necessary pre-operative tests such as blood tests, x-rays and computerized tomography may be performed upon your doctor’s request.
- An anesthesiologist will assess the patient for suitability for surgery. If deemed necessary, additional tests and consultation with other specialists (e.g. cardiology) may be requested. In this case, there may be an additional charge, but this is not usually necessary.
- Once the suitability for surgery is confirmed, an informed consent form regarding anesthesia is signed.
- When the time for surgery arrives, the patient is asked to take off his/her clothes and put on the hospital gowns. After the preparations are complete, the patient is taken to the operating room by the hospital staff.
2.2 Early Postoperative Period
- After the surgery, the patient is kept under observation in the operating room for a while to fully recover from the effects of anesthesia. Then, they are taken to their room in the ward on a stretcher and taken to their bed.
- When the patient wakes up, a suitable corset is wrapped around their waist area. The patient should not remove this corset without informing their doctor.
- Oral nutrition is not given for a few hours after the surgery; their water needs are met with fluids given intravenously. Medications are also given intravenously or by intramuscular injection. It is normal for the patient to feel a little restless and experience symptoms such as nausea and vomiting in the first few hours.
- If the patient does not experience nausea and vomiting, they will start to be fed with liquid foods a few hours after the surgery (the nurses will inform you about this) and then they can start to eat solid foods within the following 1-2 hours.
3. The Recovery Process
3.1 Pre-Discharge and Recovery Instructions
- On the first day after surgery, the patient’s condition is evaluated and medications are prescribed during the morning visit. The patient can continue normal daily activities by continuing to use the corset.
- The patient can walk and perform daily non-sports activities the day after surgery.
- The patient is discharged within 1 or 2 days after surgery. The decision on which day to discharge is determined by your doctor, considering factors such as the patient’s medical condition or the distance of their place of residence.
We would like to remind you that it is very important to continue using the corset as and for the periods recommended by your doctor during discharge, otherwise relapses may develop and the doctor cannot be held responsible in this case. This issue is also included in the consent form, and the patient is deemed to have accepted the procedure by signing this text. - During discharge, the patient will be given all necessary documents such as an epicrisis (admission summary) form in Turkish, a fit to fly document in English for patients coming from abroad (in Turkish and English for domestic patients), and a report stating the patient’s condition. In addition, for patients coming from abroad, the English translation of the epicrisis report will be made by the translator of the hospital where the patient is admitted and will be sent to the patient by e-mail by the hospital administration within a few days.
- After the patient is sent home, our clinic will contact him/her through communication channels to obtain information about his/her general condition. During the first month, the patient will be informed that if deemed medically necessary by your doctor, a free online consultation (or a face-to-face examination if he/she lives nearby) can be provided.
4. Monitoring and Controls
4.1 First Check (2nd Month)
- In the second month after surgery, the patient’s bone union and general condition are evaluated. A computerized tomography is taken, necessary measurements are made, and patient satisfaction is checked. In addition, the patient’s old and new images are compared and satisfaction is evaluated with 3D simulations.
- If requested, flight tickets and city transfer services can also be provided for this check.
4.2 Second Control (6th Month)
- At 6 months, measurements are repeated. Patient satisfaction and image comparison with 3D simulations are repeated.
- If requested, flight tickets and city transfer services can also be provided for this check.
- Unless otherwise stated by your doctor, no follow-up or examination will be necessary after the 6th month, the procedure will be completely completed; no recurrence is expected after this stage.
- Length of Stay: Unless there is an additional condition, the entire 2-night stay can be spent in the hospital. However, if longer stays are required due to reasons such as inconvenience of flight times, these stays can be provided by staying longer in the hospital or by transferring to a hotel, depending on the situation. The hotel to be selected will be a 4 or 5-star quality hotel and will be submitted to the patient’s approval before the reservation is made
- Intra-city Transfer: All intra-city transfers, including meeting the patient at the airport, can be provided by our clinic’s professional team. From the airport to our clinic, from our clinic to the hotel if necessary. All intra-city transportation from the hotel or our clinic to the hospital, from the hospital to our clinic, to the airport or back to the hotel, from our hotel or our clinic to the airport can be provided by our professional staff.
- Interpreter Services: If requested, an interpreter service in the patient’s preferred language can be provided to accompany the patient throughout the entire process.
- Professional Caregiver Service: If requested, a professional caregiver service can be provided to accompany the patient throughout the entire process.
- Full Package: Covers all transactions; includes all the services mentioned above such as airport reception, city transfer, accommodation.
- Partial Package: Only certain services are offered, based on the patient’s preference.
- Isolation Treatment Package:This package includes only essential medical services and does not include additional services. They include:
- Pre-operative measurements, photographs and 3D scanning-simulation services to be performed at Dr. Curver Clinic.
- Computerized tomography and X-ray imaging to be taken before and after the surgery until discharge, routine blood tests related to the surgery process (hemogram, bleeding diatheses, blood group, Hepatitis-HIV serological markers), and ECG if deemed necessary.
- 2 nights hospital stay.
- The use of the operating room in the hospital, the consumables to be used for the Ribella Procedure and the Ribella Procedure surgical service fees.
- 3D Custom Ribella Corset to be used after the Ribella Procedure and a suitable textile corset to be used in social times
- Check-ups and online consultations during the first month after surgery.
Note: Additional medical examinations, consultations, surgeries, extended hospital stays, etc. other than those specified in the 5 items above are subject to a separate fee. Post-operative check-ups after the first month and examinations to be performed for these check-ups are subject to a separate fee.