A keloid scar develops when excess skin forms over the site where you had an injury or previous skin condition, such as acne. Apollo Hospitals is an organization in India that caters to medical tourism through 50 hospitals offering 8,500 beds nationally. Additionally, Apollo Hospitals serve India's population with sometimes cutting edge medicine. The Cosmetic and Aesthetic Surgery department at Apollo prides itself in using state-of-the art technology and experienced specialists to treat various skin abnormalities, including keloid scars.
Function
Apollo Hospitals markets its services to a growing number of patients seeking cosmetic surgery in a state-of-the art facility with lower costs than they can receive in Europe or the United States. Apollo employs specialists in more than 50 fields, and also builds on its reputation through overseas recruitment efforts.
Keloid Scars
Keloid scars tend to run in families. According to MayoClinic.com, the raised, bumpy scars are difficult to treat because any trauma to the skin, including microdermabrasion or surgery, usually results in more keloids forming. Keloids usually form on the chest and around the ears, neck, shoulders and upper arms.
Procedures
Apollo uses procedures referred to as Z-plasty and W-plasty. The procedures call for repositioning and reconfiguring the scar so that it's not so visible. A Z-plasty is created by cutting along the line of the scar and adding ends like on the letter "Z" to break up the straight and obvious appearance of the scar, turning the straight line into a more natural curve, following the shape of your skin. The W-plasty procedure follows the same principles, and is used to camouflage unsightly keloid scars.
Effects
As wealthy patients from around the world take advantage of the lower costs of cosmetic surgery at Indian hospitals such as Apollo, the medical community in India continues to face staggering numbers of sick and injured among their own citizens. According to an October 2009 report in the The Huffington Post, private hospitals in India receive land from the government at reduced prices in exchange for community healthcare services. While Apollo claims to meet those obligations, healthcare for poor Indians remains abysmal.
Significance
Because of its increasing popularity, medical tourism companies are sprouting up to help you find the right doctors in India and arrange transportation and guides to help you through the maze of bureaucracy abroad. Packages from medical tourism companies include spa treatments for your recovery and side trips to tourist destinations. According to Your Guide to Plastic Surgery, prices for cosmetic procedure in India can run as much as 40 to 80 percent less than the same work done in the United States, even when you factor in travel costs.
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