OKAY GUYS I GOT A REPLY FROM DR. MITKOVIC!
I asked him the following:
1) How much longer are you going to be doing this procedure for?
2) What is included in the price?
I highlighted somethings I found that are important in red.
His response:
DEAR SIR,
I WILL PROBABLY GOING TO BE DOING THIS PROCEDURE FOR ANOTHER 8-10 YEARS. NEW LL CLINIC IS UNDER CONSTRUCTIONS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE FIND BELOW COPY OF OUR FIRST ROUTINE LETTER.
BEST REGARDS
DR. MITKOVIC
The safest method for leg lengthening is External method although we do internal as well.
The cost for lengthening operation using Mitkovic 3D External method and devices is 9,300 EUR for both tibias only or for both femurs only. In that price it is included: The cost of lengthening operation including anesthesia, medicines, using of devices, preoperative investigations and checking, 6 days hospital stay after the operation and weekly changing gauzes around pins during the lengthening process. There are no other charges regarding this LL operation except wheelchair (buying or renting). Operation is performed several days after patient's arrival. First 3 weeks patient uses wheelchair, after that can start to use walker. Crutches can be used 3-6 weeks after the operation. Walking with full weight bearing, without crutches, can start 4.5-5 months after the operation. Some of patients walk with full weight bearing after the operation but we do not recommend it although these patients did not have problem relating to such walking. Healing time is 5-9 months depending of lengthening size (the recommended maximal lengthening is 5-7.5cm or 2-3 inches). Lengthening for more than 7.5 cm leads to permanent loosing of muscles power accordingly and leads to other complications as misalignment regardless of using external or internal method. If patient wants lengthening from 8-12 cm then it is recommended lengthening to be performed on tibias first and 4-5 months later operation on femurs to be performed (recommended lengthening on femurs is 4,5-5 cm). After that time external devices are removed without new surgery - in out patient clinic as it is painless. Frames removal is free of charege.
Regarding accommodation some patients prefer to stay in some of ***hotel (or hostel) in down town where the price with food is about 500 Euros - monthly price. Some patients prefer private furnished apartment which is in this city cheaper then hotel.
New lengthening clinic is under construction but will be ready until the end of 2017. Regarding returning to home country, patient can travel one month after the operation but it is recommended to stay in Nis at list until lengthening completed (about 3 months). It is recommended patient to stay under our control until lengthening finished or even more until full recovery and device removal. At home, if go early, patients must have the possibility to change sterile gauzes around the external fixation pins and to do exercises. Complete treatment (healing) depends on the desired length, age and body features (soft tissue elasticity) and it is 7-9 months average. After that time external fixators can be removed which is free of charge if done here. Regarding this place Nis: It is one University City of more then 300,000 residents and 25,000 students, with nice spring and autumn and no very hot summer and no very cold winter. It is surrounded by mountains and forests. People of Nis are very friendly with very positive behavior to foreigners regardless of country origin or religion or others. Many of our patients visited Nis again several years after the treatment finished and several of them married here. For information regarding visa you can contact the nearest Serbian consulate on
http://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/consular-affairs/entry-serbia/visa-regimeNo special preoperative preparation is necessary other than stretching of the ankle and knee.
Do not wear shoes with heels higher than 2 cm.You are welcome for further questions.
Regards
