Dr. Karidis, Micro-Aire & other suregons?

[midlands brit]

Hi,

Firstly I would just like to say thanks for all the advice and feedback members have given on this forum. It has been really very helpful. After reading the feedback on Dr. Karidis I have decided to book a consultation with him.

But on his website he says he is cosmetic and not plastic surgeon. And he doesn’t have the FRCS (Plast) after his name. Does anyone know if this is significant or even relevant? Maybe it is not because I think the gyno is a cosmetic procedure? But he does have the GMC specialist registration for plastic surgery number so I am not sure what that means? All a bit confusing? Does anyone know the difference between plastic/cosmetic surgeons are the former more skilled for gyno or does it not make any difference when selecting a surgeon for gyn op? Just thought best to double check.

Also there has been a lot of positive feedback on Karidis. That has been really helpful in helping me narrow down potential surgeons, but I just wanted to know if anyone had any negative feedback?

It's really amazing that has just so many positive reviews, I read so many reviews on this forum and its almost shocking as to just how good he seem to be. I don't mean to sound negative but I just think its a good idea to have a second thought because he sounds so good it almost sounds too good to be true, he sounds like a magician not a surgeon lol. So I just wanted to know what anyone else might think about that? I really hope he is as great as all the reviews say he is. Gyno has caused me a huge amount of problems, you suffer in silence, not that anyone would understand the problem anyway, thought of as lazy because of the fat and then have problems of appearance, embarrassment etc etc etc !So if Dr. Karidis is the man who can correct the problem then he will really be changing thousands of life’s for the better ...so personally a lot of respect to him just for that, (even if he does charge 4-5k for it but if you get good results it so worth it). So any bad Karidis experiences, is he really superman? I really hope I am worrying unnecessarily and he is the man! Just after having this problem for so many years just really want to pick the right surgeon so I can move on with life, as a bad operation after all these years would just be a nightmare.

Also the name Karidis and Levick seem to come up again and again. Any other highly recommended surgeons who have performed this procedure a lot? I would have thought that in the entire UK there would be many surgeons who would have performed this procedure hundreds of times...? But Levick and Karidis are the only ones I could find who on their website say they have performed this procedure xyz amount of times and the only names that consistently come up on this site. So it only down to Karidis and Levick (and who openly disclose the number of times they have performed the procedure)?

Lastly I noticed on Dr. Karidis’s website that he has mentioned he uses Micro-Aire for his liposuction. All the other plastic surgery sites I visited mentioned they use vaser lipo to perform the liposuction but it looks like Karidis is using something different. I dont know if I am wrong here, perhaps it is a similar instrument to the Vaser Lipo. Basically just wanted to know if anyone knows anything about the Micro-Aire, is it essentially a similar tool, is it better as Karidis says on his website? Just that he is the only one who I could find that mentions he uses that instrument.

Thanks in advance for any advice...much appreciated.

[zm]

Hi mate,
I'm sure you are absolutely right in saying that there are other surgeons who carry out gyne ops. I too am in the same boat as you in my thoughts.  However, i have decided to go ahead and booked my surgery date with Dr. Karidis.  There are guys on here who have a lot of reviews with pics etc having done the surgery with Karidis so i felt better in knowing that he can give you the results you are after.  However, i also understand that results may not be what i'm after if i'm unlucky.  We must remember that a procedure like this is controlled injury and that every healing is at of different levels.

[Bikkembergs]

Hi Midlands Brit,

Firstly, I can tell you that Karidis is a plastic surgeon. I just checked and in our email correspondence and on all of the literature I've received he is referred to as Karidis MD FRCS. Plus during my consultation when discussing something I had previously discussed with a breast surgeon, he dismissed it and said "that's probably because he's a breast surgeon, not a plastic surgeon like I am"

As far as the difference goes, I think its basically just a description of the same thing it just depends what the purpose is. Cosmetic surgery is for aesthetic purposes whereas plastic surgery can be for the same types of surgery but might treat burns, clefts and other disfigurements etc. So is gynaecomastia plastic or cosmetic surgery? Good question!  I suppose with that in mind, surgeons like Karidis and Levick are "cosmetic" surgeons.

I also tried to research other surgeons but all I could find were surgical companies which lacked individuality. And it is indeed very hard to look elsewhere when you're bombarded with pictures and good results from these two.

In regards to the micro aire technique. I believe it's some revolutionary technique that he uses. I think the diameter of the needle/tube is incredibly small and as a result the incisions you're left with are no larger than 2mm and I think this is the main difference on previous techniques. Scarring is a big concern for people considering this operation and I can honestly say I have to squint to see mine, they're totally unnoticeable.

As far as criticism goes, I'll give it a go! I thought the consultation examination was very brief. And the marking up stage was even more brief, I thought he'd have me raise my arms, tense, do this do that but it was literally hands by your side and in 30 seconds he was finished. I have actually read elsewhere that this is the most true position to observe the glandular tissue but if that is true, it still seemed worryingly quick. I've also had no contact with his clinic since I was discharged. I haven't needed any but it'd still have been nice, I've also read that others have had a call. Lastly, the compression vest I was given was obviously too small, I had circulation issues and felt light headed when wearing it and so took it off earlier than I was supposed to. I thought that was pretty poor considering how integral it's supposed to be to your recovery.

I can only be honest with my experience though. The chunk this has taken out of my bank balance is huge but nothing as big as the one on my chest. My case was larger than average and I, like most here, spent years subconsciously tugging my shirt, pinching my nips and avoiding tshirts because my moobs stuck out. But for the last 5 weeks I've walked around chest out, flat, wearing tight tshirts on nights out and in the gym and I'm bloody loving it.
 
I'd still say try to see an NHS surgeon first. As you say there must be others with good experience and that's what it's there for. Unfortunately my NHS experience didn't go well and I couldn't get a look in. Thoroughly research until you reach a decision you're comfortable with.

Hope that helps.

[zm]

some valuable info there Bikkembergs.  The compression vest does worry me a little. Do you happen to know if they are the same standard size? i'm a 44" chest so i'm hoping they have something reasonable for me..

[sparta]

thanks for your honest post bikkembergs. it is good to get a balanced view about karidis

he is obviously very good at his job and that is the most important thing i guess

bikkembergs, have you not had your follow up appointment? or am i thinking of someone else? i only ask this because you say you have not had any contact since you were discharged

did you not wear your vest for the whole time you were supposed to then? do you think it has made much difference? and how has the massaging been going?

[Bikkembergs]

ZM, It ranges ro XXL I think (on the website that provide their vests) so I'm sure you'll be fine. To be honest my chest fit well, it was my belly that caused the problem  So when you look at it like that, it's not exactly a valid criticism. It was like the problem Victorian women used to face with corsets haha.

Sparta, not exactly. I cut off the belly part about 10 days post op so it finished somewhere between my sternum and belly button. Pressure felt exactly the same. Some say it's crucial but someone on here said Karidis told them after 10 days it didn't make much difference. I stopped wearing it to sleep after 2 weeks. As far as I can tell, it hasn't done much, I'm flat as and skin is not saggy whatsoever, it's lovely and taught. But then pretty every surgeon makes you were one so I guess it must do a job.
It's great for the gym though, it's not painful to have it all move about when on say, the treadmill or cross trainer. But it feels "fluidy" and just a lot more comfortable when the vest has it pressed in place. Doesn't affect your fatigue either surprisingly.

I havent had my appointment yet either. He said it'd be about a month, 2 weeks ago. So who knows. I'm not that bothered to be honest, I have minor swelling under the left, but other than it looks great, and theres nothing happening that the literature doesn't explain.

[zm]

Bikkembergs, you talk of literature, is this something that is given to you post op or are you referring to documentation that you're given before surgery?

[Bikkembergs]

Both. They'll give you (by post or email) all of your forms and post op instructions. Then when you're discharged you're given a bit more paperwork about the drugs they give you, plus I think I received the same post op instructions again.