FAQ

Do I need a referral from my family doctor to have a surgery consultation at Lakeview Surgery Centre?

For procedures that are not insured by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), such as Ultrashape body contouring, removal of noncancerous moles and lumps, you do not require a referral from your family physician; you may call Lynne at Lakeview Surgery Centre directly for an appointment. For all other consultations, you will need to see your family physician for a referral to our clinic.

Are private surgery centres allowed in Canada?

Yes. There are numerous privately funded surgery centres in Canada. If a procedure is insured under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), it can be performed either in a public hospital or a private surgery centre. The patient does not pay extra for the procedural fee in either facility. Some procedures, such as removal of benign moles and lumps, are not covered by OHIP in either public or private facilities.

Are private surgery centres as safe as hospitals?

Yes. Private facilities such as Lakeview Surgery Centre undergo immense preparation to meet or exceed the standards of public hospitals. The Canadian Association of Accredited Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (CAAASF), which is currently accrediting our centre, has established numerous criteria for accrediting private surgery centres. This allows these centres to perform procedures safely and with the highest of healthcare standards. Because many patients undergoing surgery are ambulatory and do not require intense hospital resources, they can safely have their procedure performed in a private surgery centre.

How does the Lakeview Surgery Centre's hernia repair differ from the Shouldice repair?

The hernia repair used at Lakeview Surgery Centre is the Perfix Mesh Plug technique. This is the most widely used and accepted outpatient hernia repair technique in North America. Initially designed by two general surgeons in Freehold, New Jersey, the mesh plug technique was rapidly adopted by the vast majority of general surgeons in U.S.A. and Canada. Recent studies on the mesh plug repair have reported recurrence rates of between 0.1% to 0.5%. The mesh repair is an outpatient procedure, and patients may resume full physical activitiy, including heavy lifting, within three weeks of the procedure.

The Shouldice repair has remained unchanged for many decades, and uses wire suture material to close the hernia defect. Patients are admitted to the Shouldice hospital for two to four nights. It has a low recurrence rate as well, but may require a longer period off heavy physical activity following the procedure.

What type of anesthetic do you use for procedures at Lakeview Surgery Centre?

The type of anesthetic depends on the procedure being performed. Most minor procedures, such as carpal tunnel decompression and the removal of benign lumps, can be performed using a local anesthetic alone. Other procedures such as hernia repairs can be performed using either a local anesthetic with sedation or a general anesthetic. Some procedures, such as thyroid surgery and the LAP-BAND® gastric banding for obesity, require a general anesthetic.

How does the Ultrashape® technique work for fat reduction and body contouring?

Ultrashape®, designed by plastic surgeons and engineers, uses ultrasound waves to break down fat cells without affecting surrounding structures such as nerves and blood vessels. The dissolved fat is then metabolized by the liver in the usual physiologic manner. The most common areas that respond to Ultrashape® are the flanks ("love handles"), the anterior lower abdomen ("tummy fat"), and the lateral thighs ("Saddlebags"). There is an average loss of 6 cm in circumference following the recommended three treatments of Ultrashape ®. Health Canada has recently approved Ultrashape® for clinical application in fat reduction and body contouring. At Lakeview Surgery Centre and other sites using Ultrashape®, the technique is currently undergoing study for application on soft lipomas (noncancerous "fatty tumours"), with successful results in numerous cases.

Is the LAP-BAND® procedure as effective as the gastric bypass for weight reduction?

Yes. Both procedures are successful is achieving significant weight loss in obese patients. The LAP-BAND® will result in gradual weight reduction until the target weight is achieved, whereas the gastric bypass results in more rapid early weight reduction. At the two year interval, both procedures achieve comparable overall weight loss; they differ primarily in the rate at which that weight loss is achieved. In 2008, more LAP-BAND® procedures were performed than gastric bypass procedures. The advantages of the LAP-BAND® procedure are: a) It is less invasive; laparoscopic, with no incisions on the stomach or bowel; b) It is a day surgery procedure; c) It has less complications; d) It is adjustable; e) It is reversible.

How can I achieve the best cosmetic result on my incision?

Wound healing is a complex process, involving both patient factors and surgical factors. Patient factors that promote healing include absolute avoidance of smoking and maintaining proper nutrition. Smoking is one of the major obstacles to healthy wound healing, as one cigarette alone impairs the blood supply to the wound for 30 minutes. Eating a healthy diet with ample protein and fiber is also important, as protein is the building block for wound healing. Following surgery, we recommend daily application of a vitamin E based cream (eg: Regenerating®) on the wound for 4 to 6 weeks, starting one week following the procedure.

Surgical factors that promote the best cosmetic result in an incision include well established techniques such as directing the incision along the natural skin lines, avoiding tension on the wound edges when closing, using meticulous sterile technique, and proper selection of the dressing.

What procedures do you perform at Lakeview Surgery Centre?

You will find a list of procedures that are performed at our centre under the category "Our Centre" and "Services" on this website.

What procedures are considered "private" and therefore not insured under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan?

Any procedure or service to enhance appearance without being medically necessary is considered cosmetic or aesthetic. These services are not insured benefits under the OHIP guidelines (page SP4, surgical preamble). This would include services such as Ultrashape® and surgical removal of most lipomas, cysts, and noncancerous moles.

How are private facilities such as Lakeview Surgery Centre funded?

The vast majority of private surgery centres are funded entirely by the owner, who is usually the primary surgeon and director of the facility. Most of these owners are plastic surgeons; in the case of Lakeview Surgery Centre, the owner, Dr. Emad Guirguis, is a general surgeon.

For private, nonOHIP cases, the cost of the service includes the surgeon's procedural fee, the staff fee, and the facility fee (to reflect building and equipment cost and maintenance). In the case of OHIP cases such as hernia repairs and thyroidectomies, the surgeon can only collect the procedure fee from OHIP, thereby absorbing all remaining fees (staff and facility costs) himself/herself.

Does Lakeview Surgey Centre have Patient parking??

Patients can park at the Harbour View Inn (Berczy Street) across from Lakeview Surgery Centre. If you require handicap parking please contact our office.