WHY WE STOP EVERYTHING AND WHEN IT WILL GO ON AGAIN?

A blog post by Dr. Rolf Bartsch

First of all, it must be said that I am a plastic surgeon and not a virologist and these lines contain my very personal opinion on this subject.

The Corona virus called COVID-19 already has the world firmly in its grip. The pandemic is spreading and the number of infected people is probably only at the beginning. From my point of view, Austria, and thus the Austrian Federal Government, has reacted very well and, above all, comparatively quickly with its measures. The question that many patients still ask me by phone or email is, why do we have to keep the quarantine at the moment? The answer is simple – if we manage to make the number of infected people grow more slowly, patients who have a more severe course of the disease can be cared for in intensive care units in hospitals. Unfortunately, this does not only affect old people and people with previous illness, but also younger patients, these only less frequently.

Conclusion therefore: a slow spread can save lives, even if we pay the price that the time of infections is significantly prolonged.

Another question I’m often asked right now is, “Why have we completely stopped aesthetic and surgical treatments?” Especially in the coming days and weeks, when social contacts are to be reduced to a minimum, and everyone has time, surely one or the other treatment could be carried out?

However, the answer to this from our side is quite clear: NO. Any aesthetic intervention in the form of surgery weakens the immune system for a short period of time, as it is busy healing. As a result, a simultaneous or previous infection with the corona virus COVID-19 can take a more severe course. That is, the immune system is preoccupied with the consequences of the operation and can care less about the spread of the virus in the body. The number of viruses can thus multiply in a very short time. This could lead to a more severe course of the disease in a young patient who normally fights the virus without symptoms with his own immune system, but in the worst case he needs intensive care and has to be ventilated.

Therefore, all surgical interventions should be discouraged at this time.

Health before beauty.

Non-surgical aesthetic treatments would be possible from a medical point of view, but not from an ethical point of view. And even with minor surgery, the infection can be carried on. If we all do not adhere to the prescribed reduction of social contacts, but continue to perform aesthetic treatments in our surgery, do not keep the prescribed distance, bring people together, we can infect ourselves, become carriers and infect others.

Unfortunately, the urgency has not yet reached many people. We receive a lot of incomprehension on the phone when we are currently forced to announce surgery appointments and procedures. It is precisely for these patients and also for new patients that this blog post is intended and should explain our view of things.

We are and remain medical professionals and do not want to sell. We want to do our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

When do we move forward?

This question is both an ethical-medical and an economic question. Not only employees depend on our ordination, but also many suppliers, i.e. people again. When will normal operations resume? At the present time, no one can answer this question 100% with 18.3.2020. However, it is to be hoped and assumed that the infection curve will subside in the next few weeks. Then governments will be forced to slowly restart public life. The economy is suffering enormously and many people fear for their existence. However, it is difficult to estimate today when we will see a resumption of operations. Will it be at the beginning of May, June, or even July? This depends on how many people, exactly adhere to the reduction of social contacts. And this is where each individual can make his or her contribution.

My appeal to you: Follow the current measures!

Ensure intensive hand disinfection.

Keep your distance.

Leave the house only for urgent things, like an urgent purchase for food or ways to the pharmacy, or to help others.

Because that’s the only way we can slow the spread of the virus and save lives.

We hope for your understanding and look forward to seeing you in our office in hopefully a few weeks.

Good health and all the best to you and your families.

I am available for personal concerns via Whats App +4369911222000.

Dr. Rolf Bartsch and Dr. Katrin Bartsch with theaesthetics team.