DTP TUESDAY 30 JUNE 2015BOMBAY TIMES, THE TIMES OF INDIA8

D r Sandhya Pophale’sinstitute, the PophaleNursing Home was

started by her late father-in-law Dr H V Pophale in 1969and was aimed at providingcomprehensive, value-for-money healthcare services.The obstetrics and gynecolog-ical services were provided byseveral noted doctors beforeDr Sandhya took over in 1982.The Family Planning andMedical Aid Trust was simul-taneously started as a charita-ble NGO. The Frederation ofIndian Chamber ofCommerce and Industry(FICCI) Award was presentedto the institute in 1989 for themaximum number of sterili-sations (2,465), medical termi-nations of pregnancy (917)and intrauterine contracep-tive device insertions (986)done by any institute inMumbai that year. In a quicktête-à-tête, Dr Sandhya talksabout IVF and womenshealth issues...How have womens healthcareperspectives changed overthe years?The era of various nationalprograms, which guidedwomen’s healthcare and fami-ly planning services in the 70’sand 80’s, have given way to tai-lored-for-individuals, holisticand advanced healthcare withmultiple options to choosefrom. With the advent ofsuperspecialty fields such asMinimally Invasive Surgeryand IVF, the focus of treatmentoptions has shifted from amore generic approach to thatcentered around the patients,their lifestyle, health condi-tions and other specific wants.For example, a patient mayrequire a particular surgery

but nowadays they want aes-thetically appealing results,which are offered by scarlessor laparoscopic surgery. At ourcentre, we aim to provideaffordable, world class, com-prehensive women’s health-care tailormade to individualneeds and budgets.What is the scope and advan-tages of keyhole or scarlesssurgery?Almost all gynecological sur-geries and procedures fordiagnosing and treating vari-ous conditions causing infer-tility are done laparoscopical-ly these days. Advantagesinclude a much shorter hospi-tal stay, minimal post-opera-tive pain, quicker return tooral nutrition and overall — amore pleasant recovery.How can minimally invasivesurgery be made cost effec-tive?Typically, a gynecologistenlists the services of anexpert gynecological endo-scopic surgeon who operateson the patient in either a cor-porate hospital or some other

facility. A patient’s bill keepsswelling under all thesecounts. We perform the sur-gery ourselves at our placethus reducing the variousheads of expense.Do you offer IVF? Could youexplain how IVF works?Yes we do. Put simply, itmeans that the process of fer-tilisation, which essentially isthe union of the egg and thesperm to form an embryo,occurs outside the humanbody. Normally, this is left tochance, but in IVF, we take itin our own hands. Theembryo is also formed beforeour very eyes and is thentransferred back into theuterus or the womb.Why does IVF not offer a 100%success rate? After the embryo is trans-ferred, it needs to ‘implant’ inthe uterus to grow into a foe-tus. Here, above all else, weneed help from mother natureand blessings from God — orput simply — luck. Thus, thisintroduces an element ofuncertainty. Typically, as withus, any good centre has a suc-cess rate of around 40-50%depending on various factors,the most important one beingthe age of the lady undergo-ing the treatment (theyounger, the better).How can IVF be made morecost-effective?With us, all the aspects of thetreatment, right from hor-monal stimulation, retrievalof eggs, actual fertilisationprocess and the transfer ofembryos, are done in-house.My daughter-in-law Dr AditiPophale is a gynecologist andextensively trained in the sub-ject. She is committed to herfield and completely involved

in the treatment of herpatients. Also, starting thisfacility has been a part of nat-ural evolution and growth ofour institution. It is one of theseveral technically and scien-tifically advanced treatmentswe provide.We see patientsthrough their entire journey,right from conception to theprecious nine months of preg-nancy to the delivery —another crucial aspect of theentire process. So, yes, withthe right expertise and entiresupport system under oneroof, IVF can be made cost-effective.

Where: Pophale NursingHome, 6- Indian Mercantile

Mansion, Madam CamaRoad, Opposite Prince ofWales Museum, Colaba.

Call: 9819069105, 022-22028879.(*Procedures given are

based on the expert’sunderstanding of the said

field)

Dr SandhyaPophale

I-Sight Eyecare And Surgery — achain of multispecialty eyecarecentres are a brainchild of Dr

Nikhil V Nasta. These centres aimto provide quality eyecare and var-ious specialised treatments forpatients at affordable prices. Theseinclude cataract, glaucoma, diabet-ic retinopathy, laser eye numbercorrection/ LASIK, paediatric eyetesting and keratoconus. All sur-geries are performed in a state-of-the-art operation theatre with lam-inar airflow and HEPA filters. Thisreduces the chances of infection toalmost zero.

Dr Nasta has personally lookedafter every aspect of the clinic —right from administration to oper-ation and day-to-day functioning.With quality and systems in place,the clinic runs smoothly under hissupervision.FACTS ABOUT CATARACT SURGERY● It is a daycare procedure and

takes 15 to 20 minutes per eye.● Usually one eye is operated at a

time, followed by the other eyeafter a gap of seven days.

● It is a painless procedure. A fold-able intraocular lens is implant-ed in the eye after the cataract is

removed.● A good phacoemulsification

machine gives a superior result.● Recovery is quick and one can

resume normal activities withintwo to three days.

● Cataract surgery is mostly anelective surgery and can be wellplanned in consultation withyour doctor.

● Correct selection of IOL is cru-cial for optimum results.

● Newer lenses also correctrefractive numbers and glasspower.Says Niraj Shah, “When it came

to selecting a doctor to performcataract surgery on my mother’seyes, I had complete faith in DrNasta. I have known him for closeto a decade now. Apart from beinga brilliant and dedicated doctor,his calm and reassuringdemeanour puts you at ease. Wevisited his hospital and wereimpressed with the state-of-the-art operation theatre, fullyequipped with the latest machinesand a live relay facility. This facil-ity allowed me and my wife to seethe surgery being performed inreal time. My mother was com-fortable throughout the procedureand thereafter due to excellent

post-operative care. Thestaff at the hospitalwas equally warm sowe felt at ease, justlike we would at home.With minimal restric-tions, my mother’s lifewas back to normalwithin a few days. Hermuch improved eye-sight has increasedher confidence andgiven her a new leaseof life.”

Where:● I-Sight Eyecare &

Surgery, 402, 4th Floor,Sapphire Building,

Above State Bank ofMysore, S V Road,

Khar (W).Call: 022-26485231,

26485232.● 102, Earth Galaxy,

Dr BabasahebAmbedkar Road,

Dadar (E).Call: 022-24152120,

9820677715.E-mail: nikhil

nasta@gmail.com orinfo@isighteyecare.com

(*Procedures givenare based on the

expert’s understand-ing of the said field)

U ndergoing orthodontictreatment as an adult wasusually considered a stress-

ful activity. Even if one wanted tocorrect their smile by orthodontictreatment, wearing visible braceswas a daunting thought. Now,however, thanks to neweradvanced digital 3D technology inthe field of orthodontics, this is nolonger an issue.

With the help of newer innova-tions of digital invisible braces inIndia such as Lingual Matrix andSmile Align, it has become a bet-ter option for all those who wantto correct their smile at any agewithout anyone even noticingtheir braces.

Dr Pravin Shetty, founder mem-ber and president of the LingualOrthodontic Society is also a pio-neer in Lingual Orthodontics,

Aligner Systems and 3D DigitalTechnology. He has specialised inthese techniques from Germany,France and South Korea and nowsuccessfully uses these systemsin India on his patients to get

good results and put a smile ontheir faces.

Says Dr Shetty, “With thesenewer invisible braces and align-ers, the whole process of ortho-dontic treatment has becomemore comfortable for patients.We can achieve great results in ainvisible way.”

Dr Shetty has conducted numer-ous workshops on invisible bracesnationally and internationally toeducate and create awarenessregarding this new technology.

Where: Orthodontic Care, LaxmiNiwas, 1st Floor, Near Fabindia,

18th Road, Khar (W).Call: 26059987, 9321739096.www.invisiblebraces.in

www.lingualmatrix.com(*Procedures given are based

on the expert’s understandingof the said field)

Providing cost effective women’shealthcare solutions

Dental treatments can now be painlessCertified endodontist and

implantologist DrSanket Mehta, who has

been practicing since the past10 years, says that all dentaltreatments can be absolutelypainless thanks to the newertechnology, which ensuresmaximum patient comfort. Atthe Smile Studio Dental Clinic,Dr Mehta uses lasers for a lot ofdental procedures like gum sur-geries, tooth whitening, crownlengthening etc. Phospherplates, which are extremely softand comfortable are used forsingle tooth digital X-rays. OPGmachines are present in-houseso that a patient doesn’t have togo elsewhere for a full mouth X-ray.

Certified cosmetic dentistand implantologist Dr ManishaMehta, who also has a decade ofexperience behind her, takesspecial interest in paediatricdentistry and makes sure thatall children coming to the clinicenjoy their visit. A separate softvinyl floored room where child

can unwind and play before orafter the treatment, ensuresthat there are no tantrums.

The couple also practicesconscious sedation dentistryespecially for children or adultswith major dental phobias.This way a patient is calm andtreatment gets completed in asingle sitting. Ensuring theclinic is warm and inviting,walls are covered with beauti-ful photographs, taken by DrSanket himself.

Where: ● Smile Studio DentalClinic, 8A Kutchi House, K A

Subramanium Road, OppositeJain Temple, Matunga.

Call: 022 24086364.● 101, Navneelam Cooperative

Society, First Floor, Next toSadanand Restaurant, AboveChang’s Beauty Parlour, R G

Thadani Marg,Worli.Call: 022 24923194, 9769923194,

9819883194.(*Procedures given are

based on the expert’sunderstanding of

the said field)

Dr Manishaand SanketMehta

Invisible braces are a unique digital innovation for creating a beautiful smile

Dr PravinShetty

Clearing various mythsabout cataract surgery

Dr Nikhil V Nasta

Dr AshitShah

The 21st century has seen a sharpincrease in the number of lifestyle dis-eases both in the urban as well as rural

population. A common ailment is kneearthritis, which is a debilitating and painfulcondition that almost makes a person feelhandicapped. Arthritis generally affectsjoints of the legs mainly the knees, due towhich one finds it difficult to walk, stand,climb stairs or perform daily routine activi-ties. Consultant knee replacement surgeonDr Ashit Shah explains the causes and treat-ment of knee arthritis.What causes knee arthritis?In our country, it is mainly found in middle-aged women. The ratio is 4:1 for women v/smen. The pain starts during the 50s and dete-riorates over a few years. Hereditary factors,

injury to the knee, obesity and lack of exer-cise are other causes. An increase in longevi-ty has also seen an increase in the number ofpeople suffering from knee arthritis.What is the best treatment for knee arthritis?During the early stages, physiotherapy andcalcium supplements help. Lifestyle changeslike avoiding sitting on the floor and the useof a commode type of toilet or chair helpreduce stress on the knee. One must exerciseand keep fit. If all this fails, a knee replace-ment operation is the only option.What are the new techniques in thisoperation?Newer designs of the knee cap and ultra mod-ern surgical techniques have made this oper-ation tremendously successful. Rapid reha-bilitation techniques have greatly reduced

the recovery period.Asha Patel, 76, says, “I was completely

handicapped and depressed due to severeknee arthritis. Dr Ashit performed anoperation on both my knees on the sameday six years ago. Now, I am enjoyingevery bit of my life as knee pain hasbecome a thing of the past.”

Adds Sunil Poddar, 70, “Dr Ashit gave me anew lease of life 10 years ago with completemobility without any knee pain. Dr Shah isamongst the few doctors in India to perform aknee replacement operation using theunique Trivector Arthrotomy approach,which helps a patient recover quicker. He alsoperforms Revision Re-Do Knee Replacementand half knee replacements.

Where: TechKNEEque®: The CompleteKnee Care Clinic, 7, Nilanjana CHS, Marve

Road, Malad (W).Call: 28017108, 28017109.Timings: 11 am to 6 pm.

E-mail: techkneeque@hotmail.com ordr_ashitshah@hotmail.com

(*Procedures given are based on theexpert’s understanding of the said field)

Treating knee arthritis

W ith over 42,000 men a year diagnosed withprostate cancer, it’s the most common toaffect males — and one that can easily be

prevented. Here is some useful information on pros-trate cancer that the man in your life could do withknowing...

WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER?The prostate is a small walnut-sized gland which isa part of the male reproductive system – that sitsbelow the bladder and surrounds the urethra. Itsmain job is to help make semen, the fluid that car-ries sperm. The prostate often enlarges as men getolder, and for two-thirds of men aged 50 years andover, this doesn’t cause a problem. But cancer candevelop through the growth of abnormal cells with-in the gland, and although this can occur slowlyover many years, it’s vital to stop them from spread-ing outside the prostate.

WHO’S MOST AT RISK?Men aged 50 and over are more at risk of gettingprostate cancer, and this can increase with age.Ethnicity and family history may also be factors.Those with a brother or father who have the diseaseare two-and-a-half times more likely to get it thanthose who don’t have relatives with prostate cancer.

DON’T BE SCARED TO GET CHECKEDIf you notice any of the symptoms, or if your manmentions anything, encourage him to see his gen-eral practitioner as soon as possible. Offer to gowith him to show your support and keep him atease, while allowing you to stay informed. He mayfeel embarrassed or afraid, but your doctor willhave seen it lots of times before, and will try to keephim relaxed. Remember, the sooner abnormal cellsare found, the easier they are to cure.

TREATMENTThe most common is removal of the prostatethrough surgery, and by radiotherapy, orchemotherapy and hormone therapy. ‘Active sur-veillance’ doesn’t involve treatment, but maymean regular blood tests and check ups.‘Watchful waiting’ again doesn’t involve treat-ment, but will require regular appointments tomonitor the cancer.

— Daily Mirror

LESS COMMON SYMPTOMS● Pain when urinating.● Pain when ejaculating.● Problems getting or keeping an erection —

although this is more often caused by otherhealth conditions.

● Blood in your urine or semen.If you have any of these symptoms it does-

n’t necessarily mean you have cancer, but theyneed checking out. A general practitioner willusually take samples, get you to do a diary offluid intake and urine passed, and carry out arectal exam, then a plan can be made.

SYMPTOMS TO WATCH OUT FORIn the early stages, there are often no warningsigns at all, but your loved one should look outfor the following:● Needing to pee more often, especially at

night.● Difficulty starting to urinate.● Straining or taking a long time to finish uri-

nating.● A weak flow when you urinate.● A feeling that your bladder has not emptied

properly.● Needing to rush to the toilet — you may

occasionally leak before you get there.● Dribbling urine.

Men should be alertof any changes theynotice in their body

Prostate cancer can be prevented

Thin

ksto

ck

Thinkstock