Dr Franz Birkholtz (Pretoria, South Africa)

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Quote from: Franz on March 10, 2015, 07:46:49 PMHi guys,

We've looked at the numbers again. There is currently a lot of volatility in the international currency exchange rates. For this reason we have decided to change our costing model so that the quoted price is in South African Rand (ZAR). We pay the subcontractors in Rand so it makes sense to peg the price locally. This will obviously make our prices more competitive to some people and less so to others.
Secondly, we have started a second office at the brand new state of the art Mediclinic Midstream Hospital with fantastic facilities. We will be offering our CLL services at this hospital. It is more upmarket and discreet. The price quoted is for a private room in this facility (flat screen tv, private bathroom etc).
Remember that although we are getting progressively more known for internal lengthening with Precice, we have had many years of experience with the Ilizarov method, Taylor Spatial Frame, Truelok and Truelok Hex frames as well as other techniques. Therefore we can offer a high level of expertise and care should you require external fixator based treatment.
Lastly, we have decided to include all medical related costs into our package price estimates, but to leave accommodation costs out for now. The issue with accommodation is that the cost can vary widely depending on the option chosen. We can however put you in touch with relevant facilities that provide accommodation services.
The package includes:
- all hospital fees
- surgeon, assistant and anaesthetic fees
- prosthesis (implant) fees
- multidisciplinary team support
- physio daily in hospital and 3-5 days per week as outpatient
- regular doctor and nursing follow ups
- xray follow ups
- walking frame and wheelchair rental

For Precice 2 femorals it works out to 550K ZAR. Current exchange rate = 45800 USD.
Externals only: 300K ZAR. Current exchange rate = 25000 USD.
LON/LATP: 400K ZAR. Current exchange rate = 33000 USD.

I hope this clears up some confusion.

More expensive then... So sad! It was my first option.

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Quote from: tallerbetter on March 11, 2015, 11:44:49 PMMore expensive then... So sad! It was my first option.

In US dollars is about 10k less now...

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Quote from: growfrance on March 12, 2015, 01:00:57 AMIn US dollars is about 10k less now...
There is some minor price adjustments done from the original price list (on page one) because now the accommodation is no longer included in the total package. There isn't much of a difference from the original price quotes, it's just that you will now be responsible for obtaining your own accommodation. Depending on your housing preferences/needs, that may or may not save you a few bucks.

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Quote from: Franz on February 24, 2015, 02:35:17 PMI am not aware of any data to suggest that it is purely due to the ratio change. I think it is more the muscle length changes as well as the surgical trauma. If this is the case, athletic ability will worsen with further surgery.

If surgical trauma is a big factor, would that mean that athletic ability is adversely affected the least using external only methods? Because there is no reaming or going through the knee isnt surgical trauma from exfix minimal on tibias? Or is this incorrect?

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Hello Dr Franz Birkholtz. I am currently residing in Vereeniging. I would like to undergo the limb lengthening with the PRECICE 2 but only in 2 years time from now. My problem is I don't want to lengthen my legs but rather shorten it. I read from Dr Paley's webpage that the Precice device can either shorten or lengthen legs. I have really long and lanky legs and it makes me feel uncomfortable. But I have a long torso as well. I would like to shorten my femurs so that my legs are just a little longer than my torso, not very long. How long would it take it shorten the femurs 6 cm? And can I still do normal activities while I am undergoing leg shortening? I would like to shorten my legs purely for aesthetic and cosmetic reasons

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Quote from: Lucy Fae on June 01, 2015, 06:52:24 PMHello Dr Franz Birkholtz. I am currently residing in Vereeniging. I would like to undergo the limb lengthening with the PRECICE 2 but only in 2 years time from now. My problem is I don't want to lengthen my legs but rather shorten it. I read from Dr Paley's webpage that the Precice device can either shorten or lengthen legs. I have really long and lanky legs and it makes me feel uncomfortable. But I have a long torso as well. I would like to shorten my femurs so that my legs are just a little longer than my torso, not very long. How long would it take it shorten the femurs 6 cm? And can I still do normal activities while I am undergoing leg shortening? I would like to shorten my legs purely for aesthetic and cosmetic reasons


Hi Lucy,

How tall are you and could you tell us your age?

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Quote from: Blackhawk on June 01, 2015, 07:04:07 PMHi Lucy,

How tall are you and could you tell us your age?

I am 23 and im 174 cm tall i would like to be 168 cm tall. I would like to be shorter than I am now purely for aesthetic reasons

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I think your height is fine.
your height is like the models.

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there is no way you should do that, your height is perfectly fine, most males are taller than you and your height is considered a model height so you only could get benefits for that, long legs in womens are beautifull

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Modeling isnt the be all end all for women. Statistically 174 cm is quite tall for a woman so it makes sense she may feel awkward or too leggy.