General information and response from Dr Jean-Marc Guichet of Leg Lengthening Clinic based in Milan, Italy and London, England. Contact the Clinic for specific details and latest updates.
Note: Previous Discussion Thread Linked Here
http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=131.0
Surgery MethodI offer the strongest nailing technique with the fastest recovery in the world, the Guichet V2 Nail. I can also offer others, including external fixators, but when you have a Porsche, why would you like to get a Yaris?
I consult and currently do surgery in Milan, Italy, and London (which replaced Marseille). It will depend on your preferences and on the periods as I am covering both places.
An evaluation consultation is necessary to plan a specific training program for you.
It should be performed as soon as you decide to do this surgery, or want to qualify for it, knowing the preparation depends on it for designing specific training program according to your body/exam.
The nail authorizes a maximum of 10 cm, but we can achieve more with repeated surgeries. The actual gain you will get depends on your body characteristics and on your training.
It depends on your body, and that must be evaluated. Some patients stop at a 5 cm gain, while others may go to 9 or 10 cm. All patients do not have the same body or psychological capacities. In Dr. Guichet’s practice, the average gain is 68 mm in cosmetic lengthening (115 cases).
It depends also of your job and various parameters (preoperative preparation, aimed gain, etc.) that we will discuss at the consultation after the examination.
ConsultationIf you wish to get an initial evaluation at the clinic, the first step is to complete the joined form and return it WITH a copy of your passport (bring ALL originals with you at the consultation).
The consultation will allow me to understand your request and dream for a better answer. In addition, you will have answers to all your questions, you will meet patients during elongation and will also visit the Fitness Centre and the World Excellence Centre of FIFA where my patients are training. Allow plenty of time for that. You can also achieve the specific 3D X-rays and a strength test (Cybex Isokinetic) to save time if you want to follow.
After the consultation, the training can initiate. You need to put on muscle and flexibility. For final tuning and boosting (extremely important if you did not prepare with high level competition trainers), a one month pre-op training is often performed by patients. In this time, we will perform all necessary check-ups and exams.
As the lengthening period is far shorter than in other teams, the overall time including the preparation and the lengthening is overall not much more than the pre-op exam and lengthening period with others. But you benefit of an extremely valuable training decreasing the risks of complication and fasting your recovery.
CostThe overall budget for one level of surgery (both femurs for instance) that you need to face is approx. 65000 Euros for surgery (hospital, implants, fees) and 2 months of training/physiotherapy (11 sessions per week), housing, exams, but not food nor transports. With a very specific preoperative training program for one month under my full control in Milano or London, count approximately 5000 Euros more.
RecoveryMy patients are resuming bike on the first post-operative day, and from 2015 I even created the ‘Hyper Fast-Track’ where patients, even bilateral, are resuming full exercises, walking in the corridor, climbing up (and down) stairs, and biking less than 2 hours from the awakening from anaesthesia in the operating room! It is currently the fastest recovery in the world.
44 mm are obtained in one months and 7 cm in two months. Further gains should be discussed in consultation, according to your wishes and your evaluation. At the end of lengthening, you can return home.
Intensive sports can be resumed after full fusion, which occurs generally approximately twice faster than in other teams (count 4 months for a 6-7 cm gain).
Femoral lengthening should be performed first as it heals far better than tibias. Tibia may take over one year to heal, while femur take generally far shorter. Both at the same time is too much demanding from your body and risky.
If you are interested, and for taking an appointment in consultation, I would appreciate if you could fill out with great attention the attached medical form, and return it with a copy of your passport/ID, and tell me where and when you want to come.
[link to form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3k4SvffTIpnLXpKUXdRcWMwaEE/view?usp=sharing ]FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions1)
Why should I prepare for the operation? Will the results be worse if I do not prepare?- Preparation allows your muscles, tendons and whole body to accept the 'shock' of the operation. Proper preparation and conditioning will make both the surgery and the healing period afterwards easier on the body and the mind.
Preparation for any stressful situation is necessary to help prevent unexpected complications. You would not write a university exam, run a marathon or climb a mountain without first training! If we do not 'tune' the body (as you would a car before a race), the resulting risks will be much higher, which can lead to serious complications or sequelae.
Furthermore, by properly preparing your body (and mind) before the surgery, you further increase your chance of obtaining the results you seek.
2)
What exactly do you mean by pre-operative preparation? I do sports and I consider myself fairly athletic, is this good enough?- Although you may practice sport regularly, even strenuous ones, it is very likely that you will need further conditioning to prepare yourself for surgery. Only Olympic athletes in top physical, competition-ready form would be able to have limb lengthening surgery almost immediately. For this reason we require all patients to train with a personal trainer before their surgery. This will be discussed further when you have your consultation with us.
3)
I was offered an external fixator. Can I get a nail?- In most cases, the Guichet Nail can be used in place of an external fixator. Furthermore, the long bones (femur, tibia , humerus) are ideal for lengthening using an internal nail.
4)
I was told that my bone is not big enough, that there is associated axis deviation, or that my background prevents me from using a nail, and I can only lengthening using an external fixator. Is this right?- There are very few cases in which an external fixator would be more beneficial to limb lengthening then an internal nail. This is why a consultation with the Guichet team is so important; to discuss all your options.
5)
How long should I prepare for surgery?- It depends both on your initial level of fitness and your desired outcome. During your consultation Dr. Guichet will discuss your optimal level of fitness before going into the surgery. It is important to understand that the more prepared for the limb lengthening surgery you are, the more successful your outcome will be. A body in peak condition will react better to the stress that limb lengthening places on it. This is also true of your mental state of mind. The more mentally and emotionally prepared you are, the more successful your outcome will be. A quicker recovery time is a result of thorough preparation.
6)
Can I be guaranteed 10 cm of length gain? I don't want to wait, I want this surgery now.- The amount you gain is dependent upon your body, your pre-surgery conditioning, your 'tolerance' to the lengthening procedure and your mental state. You are limited by what your body can tolerate. During your initial consultation, Dr. Guichet will assess what kind of length gain you can expect to achieve. If your body can tolerate an 8cm gain, but you want more, more preparation on your part will be necessary.
Dr. Guichet schedules your operation for when your body is able to tolerate a 10cm gain. If, however, you want the surgery immediately, you will have to accept that the amount of length gain you will achieve may be much lower then you wish. Furthermore, you must accept and understand that you risk of complications and sequelae will be much greater.
7)
I do not want a consultation until right before my operation. Can I set my operation date before I arrive for my consultation? - Not only would it be unreasonable not to have a thorough evaluation before surgery, it would be extremely risky and dangerous. The consultation is important to discuss desired results, possible complications and what can be expected after the surgery. Any surgery without prior discussion with the surgeon would be like jumping from a plane in flight without first knowing how to use a parachute.
8 )
Is there a minimum length gain I can expect? I would like to have an idea before I book my consultation.- The leg lengthening procedure and outcome is body dependant; therefore we cannot estimate a minimal length gain. This is why a consultation is necessary. Everyone has different body and psychological capacities.
With this in mind, the average length gained in cosmetic lengthening is 6.8 cm or 2.67 inches (in a sample of over 100 cases).
9)
How long will the lengthening process take? How long should I stay in Milan or London?- It takes one day to gain 1mm of length. There are risks associated with the lengthening period, which is why you should stay the entire time. Furthermore, by staying, you will be better able to focus on your recovery.
As with any surgery, you must be prepared to stay until you are well enough to return home.
10)
I want a lengthening surgery right now. Other surgeons are willing to do it for me now, why do you insist on a consultation and preparation first?- As stated in previous answers to similar questions; you must be prepared for the surgery for it to be successful and to lower the risk of complications. The 'shock' of such rapid bone growth in such a short amount of time is very stressful to your body. This is why preparation is necessary.
Be aware that many doctors or surgeons who offer to leg lengthening surgery without a prior, in-depth consultation are likely more concerned about getting your money then actually helping you achieve your height goals. This is a dangerous surgery and thus all aspects of it should be considered with your doctor before. It is important to do you research before you commit to a surgeon. What is their experience? What is their success rate? What have previous clients said? What is the clinic like? How many similar operations have they done before?
The Guichet Team is highly skilled and has extensive experience with limb lengthening. Dr. Guichet insists on his regulations for your safety and for your best interests.
11)
How much does it cost to receive limb lengthening?- There are many factors that will affect the price of your surgery and the price of your stay during the recovery process. The cost varies by what you want (How many limbs? Which bone(s)? How much length wanted?) and what options you decide on.
During your consultation, you will be told the estimated cost of your surgery. Other costs to consider are; personal trainer, category of hotel or accommodations, length of time (the longer you stay, the more length you can expect to gain), the current exchange rate ect. An accurate quote with options will be delivered after your consultation.
Plan for higher costs then you initially anticipate. Use the remaining money for your next holiday!
12)
I am of very short stature (woman; under 4'10.5" or 1.49m, men; under 5'.75" or 1.54m). Can health insurance or social security (CPAM) in France cover the cost of the surgery?- No. Health insurance only covers 'official' dwarfism (achondroplasia, Turner syndrome, etc.) or recognized discrepancy (generally over 1 or 1.5 inches). Otherwise it is considered cosmetic. Note that if you have health insurance cover the cost of the surgery under false pretense, you will be liable for reimbursement as well as a penalty (in France €15,000).
13)
I was told by another surgeon that operating on both legs at the same time would be difficult and that it would be better to do one first, then the second. Is this correct?- No. Operating on one leg at a time means two separate procedures. Dr. Guichet's patients have only two to three surgeries in total (including the nail removal surgery) when he operates on both legs at once. By lengthening one leg at a time, you will spend twice the amount of time in surgery, twice the amount of post-operative pain and have a twice as long period of rehabilitation. There are no benefits in treating each leg as a separate case.
Studies on bilateral operations have shown that the cumulative risk of a two-step bilateral surgery is a 2 (1+1), while doing the two operations at once lowers the risk to 1.6. In other words, the more surgeries you endure, the greater your risk of complications both during and after the surgeries.
14)
Will Dr. Guichet be my primary surgeon, and will he conduct the follow-up?- Dr. Guichet performs all of his leg lengthening surgeries himself, with the Guichet nail he invented. He also plans the individual and personalized pre-operative preparation parameters and operative parameters. He also monitors all of his patients post-surgery. By eliminating any "middle-man," Dr. Guichet minimizes risk of complications. As the most experienced surgeon in the world in the use of the Albizzia and the Guichet Nails, Dr. Guichet's customized controls prevent the "dilution" of responsibility for the procedure that occurs with multiple surgeons. Dr. Guichet works closely with a team of specialists (anesthetists, personal trainers ect) to ensure that the patient receives the best treatment before, during and after surgery.
Dr. Guichet also ensures that his patients can always reach him to answer their questions or offer support, as evidenced by their testimonials.
15)
I found a surgeon who has not yet used your technique, but is willing to try to do it for me. Where can I buy the Guichet Nail?- The Guichet Nail is not currently available for use outside of the Leg Lengthening Clinic or by any other surgeon besides Dr. Guichet. Using an internal fixator is a difficult surgery and it would be extremely dangerous for a surgeon without extensive experience using the Guichet Nail to perform.
Although you may feel more comfortable receiving a surgery close to home, it is much less risky to travel to the Leg Lengthening Clinic for this difficult surgery.
16)
I do not want to leave my city for the surgery. Can you recommend a surgeon who will use the Guichet Nail here?- As explained above, only Dr. Guichet and his experienced team are currently offering the leg lengthening procedure using the Guichet Nail. Highly demanding operations should only be done by teams experienced in the techniques and the possible risks and complications that relate to it. By being operated upon by the inventor of the Guichet Nail, you are guaranteed the highest level of success possible with minimum risk. For this reason, the Guichet Nail is only offered by Dr. Guichet and the Leg Lengthening Clinic.
Contact InfoE-Mail: jeanmarcguichet@gmail.com
Web:
www.allongement-os-grandir.comStudio Medico
Corso Magenta, 44
20123 Milano (MI) - Italy (metro Cadorna)
Personal Assistant: +39.329.852.0407
Private: +39.328.634.2941
Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place
London, W1U 5NY - UK
SELARL du Docteur Jean-Marc Guichet
Centre Phocea, 14 Bd Ganay
13009 Marseille - France
Office: +33.491.777.547
Office (mobile): +33.664.163.890
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Topic: Dr Jean-Marc Guichet (Milan, Italy & London, England) 2015 Update (Read 35340 times)