Interview With Serbian Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Gorana Kuka.
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Dr. Gorana Kuka works in private plastic surgery practice at the Colic Hospital with patients coming from around Europe.
Name: Gorana Kuka, MD
Clinic: Colic Hospital
Location: Belgrade, Serbia
Website: dr-colic.com
That's interesting: Dr. Gorana Kuka is board certified by Serbian Medical Society.
She is a member of ISHRS (International Society for Hair Restoration Surgery), IPRAS (International Confederation for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery) and a women for women organization that aims to supply help by female surgeons to patients.
Your website is translated in eight different languages including English, German, French, Russian and Italian. Where do your patients come from? Are you seeing 'medical tourism'?
Since around 60% of our patients are coming from abroad, we had to translate our webpage into different languages. Most of our patients come from Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Some of them are of Serbian origin and some of them are foreigners. They have found about us either from their Serbian friends living abroad, or looking through internet for aesthetic surgery of best quality and lower fees.
What is it like practicing cosmetic surgery in Serbia and Europe? How has plastic and cosmetic surgery developed in Serbia?
Cosmetic surgery in Serbia, like in other countries, is very popular nowadays. Development of cosmetic surgery started in 90's when very few doctors, including the head of Colic hospital, Prof.dr Miodrag Colic was able to travel to South America to visit some of the well-known Brazilian plastic surgeons, to learn from them and then to share his knowledge in Serbia through his lectures.
The majority of our patients are not looking for a dramatic change in their appearance, but for a natural result. Some of them want to look a bit younger, some of them want to change something that has been bothering them for so many years. Luckily, there are few demands for extreme makeovers.
As in other countries, cosmetic surgery in Serbia follows trends in using less invasive techniques and in providing services to our patiens that require shorter recovery period with satisfying results.
How is medicine regulated in Serbia? Is there a government regulatory body that approves medical treatments and technology?
Every doctor is board certified by Serbian Medical Society, a main regulatory body in the country. The Society aims at promotion and advancement of medicine and science in order to protect and improve public health, education and training of health professionals, the protection of patients' rights, cooperation with other profiles of health workers and all social actors involved in achieving a unified multi-sectoral health policy, with respect for and protection of personal and ethical integrity of its members.
How does malpractice insurance and liability work in Serbia? What typically happens when patients experience complications or are unhappy with results?
As a developing country, private insurance companies are still establishing their services in Serbia which they find as an interesting market.
We treat every patient with respect. If we have an unhappy patient with undesired result, we are there for them until we have found a solution to the problem. Colic hospital has 23 years old tradition which is built up on the satisfaction of more than 15,000 patients.
Where do you think that advancements in cosmetic surgery will come from in the next ten years? Is there anything that's being developed now that you know of that you find exciting?
I hope that the treatment with stem cells will become more popular not just in the field of cosmetic surgery, but entire medicine. It can be done so much with stem cells-correct deformities, augment breasts, correct scars, define shapes of the face and body.
What's the best advice you've ever received as a physician?
Since I work in private practice, critical thing, beside surgical skills and knowledge, is to learn how to deal with patients and to meet their expectations at the consult, in the operating theatre and at follow-ups. Once, I was told by one senior fellow- be honest to your patients, tell them what they can expect and especially what they cant cause “everything you say before the surgrey is an information, bur whatever you say afterwards is an excuse”. I follow that advice and I see that patients are satisfied when they recognize doctor who is honest with them.
About: Dr. Kuka was born in Belgrade, Serbia in 1980. She graduated from Medical School University of Belgrade 2006. After completing a year of internship at Clinical Centre Belgrade, she started working in private hospital specialized for plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery “Colic” in Belgrade. In 2009, she enrolled residency training in plastic and aesthetic surgery at University of Belgrade which lasts for 5 years. She has also completed trainings in general surgery, anesthesia, transfusiology, physical medicine and maxillofacial surgery as a part of her residency program. She has a high interest in aesthetic surgery, especially aesthetic surgery of the face.
This interview is part of a series of interviews of physicians running medical spas, laser clinics and cosmetic surgery centers. If you'd like to be interviewed, just contact us.
