| North Chicago Location Van's Salon & Laser Center 5022 N. Broadway Chicago, IL, 60640 Free On Site Laser Evaluation and Hair Makeover Evaluations: (773) 878-0413 FREE Online Consultation: For Cosmetic Surgery Consultations at this location: Dr. D. Katsaros (219) 736-2047 Dr. Mike Ferdkoff: (630) 212-7765 On-site consultation fee at this location is $50, which may be applied to the surgery. North Suburbs Skokie/Bloomingdale Mall Location
Dr. Alla Brodech Dr. Mike Ferdkoff Dr. D. Katsaros 9933 Lawler Avenue, Suite 520 Skokie, Illinois 60077 Free Online Consultation: On-site consultation fee at this location is $50, which may be applied to the surgery. Free On Site Laser and Weight Loss Evaluation: 847-763-1775 Western Suburbs Downers Grove/Hinsdale Location Dr. D. Katsaros Dr. Mike Ferdkoff 4333 Main Street Downers Grove, 60515 Office: (219) 736-2047 Dr. Mike: (630) 212-7765 On-site consultation fee at this location is $50, which may be applied to the surgery. Free Online Consultation: As Seen on Network Television Dr. Katsaros is a Board Certified General and Cosmetic Surgeon who has appeared on the Fox  television network as well as radio. Dr. Katsaros is widely published in popular magazines. His most recent publications were featured in Bride,Wedding Essentials, Shore, Children's Essentials and others. In a recent Children's Essentials article entitled "Mommy Makeover", Dr. Katsaros describes the  profound and permanent changes that occur to the body during pregnancy.The "Wedding Makeover" article in Wedding Essentials outlines the types of wedding makeovers that are performed, depending on the time frame available. On network television, Dr. Katsaros describes how large volume abdominoplasty is a great procedure in its own right. In selected patients, this is the only procedure that removes a lot of weight immediately.The consequences of immediate, permanent and large volume weight reduction is improved survival,reduction of hypertention, heartburn and diabetes, reduction of back strain, hip strain etc. Similarly, dermabrasion of the skin not only improves its appearance, but is the treatment of choise for premalignant skin conditions. Dr. Katsaros has published original research in Peer Reviewed medical journals including the Annals of Thoracic Surgery and won the prestigeous Cleveland Clinic Research Recognition Award. Dr. Katsaros has recent appearances with Spanish radio (Univision) and has Spanish translators in his staff. Which Procedures are Cosmetic/Aesthetic and Which are Plastic/Reconstructive A simple rule of thumb is: "if the insurance company covers it, its reconstructive/plastic, if it does not it is considered cosmetic/aesthetic". Reconstructive procedures are typically performed after a prior operation has been performed for some pathologic condition. For example, if a surgeon performs breast augmentation after a breast cancer operation, it is considered plastic/reconstructive and is covered by insurance. Breast reconstruction for improved appearance only, is cosmetic/aesthetic. A tummy tuck, if performed by a general surgeon after a hernia repair is reconstructive. If a tummy tuck is performed for purely cosmetic reasons, it is cosmetic. Face lifts that are performed after excision of a tumor of the face are reconstructive. Face lifts which are designed to improve appearance from the beginning, are cosmetic. The difference between a cosmetic/aesthetic procedure and a reconstructive/plastic procedure is not merely in the name, it affects insurance coverage in a major way. For example, when Dr. Katsaros was at MD Anderson Cancer Center, he removed a chest wall tumor en-bloc (in one piece) with the entire breast, part of the chest wall and lung (Pancost tumor). After removing the tumor, there was a 1 foot hole in the chest wall. One could literally see the heart and lungs from the outside. Reconstruction would mean just closing the hole-not an easy feat. Reconstruction would restore function but not beauty. The insurance industry and employers are mainly interested in functional capacity, not beauty. Consequently, when an operation is deemed to be cosmetic, it is not covered by insurance and is usually performed outside of the hospital setting so as to reduce costs (assuming the patient has no major co-morbidities and is a good candidate). The whole concept of cosmetic surgery is that people are not merely machines to be restored, but aesthetic beings who espouse beauty for its own sake. Beauty in this sense is not attaining something frivolous or superficial, but contoured and well balanced. | | Southern Suburbs Surgery Center/Horseshoe Casino Site: Twenty Minutes South of Downtown Chicago Dr. D. Katsaros Hammond Surgery Center 2143 S. Calumet Avenue Whiting, IN 46394 (219) 741-1510 Free on-site consultation at this location Free Online Consultation: Directions to Ambulatory Care Center: From Chicago: Take the I-90 toll road East to the Cline Avenue Exit (Exit 3). Exit 3 merges into Cline Avenue (912 S). From Cline Avenue turn left at South Calumet (US 41). The Surgery Center is within 1 mile of the Cline exit. The Hammond Ambulatory Care Center Functions Like a Miniature Hospital The Hammond Community Hospital Ambulatory Care Center is a fully accredited ambulatory care center. An ambulatory care center (ACC) has many more services than the typical ambulatory surgery center (ASC). An ACC may see primary care patients and has CT scans and MRI machines on site, whereas an ASC does not. Since the Hammond Ambulatory Care Center has CT scans, ultrasound machines and MRI machines on site, it functions like a miniature hospital. In addition the Hammond ACC is staffed by over 90 physicians, covering all medical specialities including: Cardiology, General Surgery, Gynecology, Pain Management, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Orthopedics, etc. The advantage of an ACC over a hospital is lower cost when compared to a hospital. The ACC does not have to be open 24 hours per day and does not operate an emergency room, which increase the cost of services. On the other hand, the ACC has more staffing and imaging capability than a surgery center or surgical office suite, so it has higher facility and staffing charges than either. Merrillville/Star Plaza Theater Location Forty Minutes South of Downtown Chicago Dr. D. Katsaros 7863 Broadway, #135 Merrillville, IN 46410 (219) 736-2047 On Site Consultation Fee: Free Online Consultation Fee: Free at: Directions: From Chicago or Northwest Indiana take either I-94 or I-90 East to I-65 South. Going South on I-65 for about 5 minutes and exit onto US-30 West (exit 253). At the intersection of US-30 and Broadway (Rt 53) turn right (North). We are located 2 lights North of this major intersection, across the street from the Merrillville Police Department. From South Bend Indiana or Valparaiso, take either I-94 or I-90 West to I-65 South. Going South on I-65 for about 5 minutes and exit onto US-30 West (exit 253). At the intersection of US-30 and Broadway (Rt 53) turn right (North). We are located 2 lights North of this major intersection, across the street from the Merrillville Police Department. We offer the full line of Natrelle and Mentor silicone and saline breast implants in a variety of diameters, profiles, volume and shell texture. Cosmetic/Aesthetic Surgery vs Plastic/Reconstructive Surgery What is the difference between a cosmetic/aesthetic surgeon and a plastic/reconstructive surgeon? Both the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) and American Society of Plastic/Reconstructive Surgery (ASPS) have their own fellowship training and accreditation programs. Both the AACS and ASPS require their fellows to be board certified, whereas members of these organizations do not to need to be Board Certified. Board Certified surgeons are registered with the American Board of Medical Specialists. Historically, cosmetic surgeons have been focused on cosmetic/aesthetic surgery for its own sake, whereas the plastic/reconstructive surgeons have been more focused on reconstructive/restorative procedures. For example, a patient with an abdominal tumor or breast tumor may require the removal of the tumor by a general surgeon, followed by "reconstruction" of the area. Reconstruction implies that the region is restored to a functional status, not necessarily beautiful. In cosmetic/aesthetic surgery, creation of beauty is the whole point. Over the years, the lines between these organizations have blurred. Thus plastic/reconstructive surgeons may perform cosmetic procedures (however some plastic surgery training programs do not provide training in cosmetic procedures per se). Similarly, cosmetic surgeons perform "plastic/reconstructive" procedures as well as purely "cosmetic" procedures. By definition, all cosmetic surgeons perform cosmetic surgery. However most plastic surgeons train foe and perform reconstructive procedures, rather than cosmetic procedures. In fact, many plastic surgeons do not perform any cosmetic surgery, and limit their practice to reconstructive surgery only. | |