Brunno Ristow, M.D., F.A.C.S
2100 Webster Street, Suite 501
San Francisco, CA 94115
Tel: (415) 202-1507

Information for patients outside of the San Francisco Bay Area

With the modern world of easy accessibility to websites, we are seeing a significant and steady increase of patients that come to us for their surgery but that reside out of town, state, or even out of the country.

In fact, these patients now constitute a considerable group in our practice. We, therefore, have made arrangements to have it all go as smoothly as it is possible for these individuals. To that effect, we offer a town car pick up at the airport, either San Francisco International or Oakland International, by a trusted chauffer, who is also utilized by us personally. His car and manners are impeccable. He will take you to your hotel, bring you to our office for suture removals and take you back to the airport for your departure. This is all complimentary from our office.

You can stay in any of the excellent hotels in San Francisco, and we can offer recommendations. We also have nurses that are available for private duty to accompany you to the hotel and visit you as often as you desire. (They are independent contractors and their fees are handled separately.) There is also a post-operative recovery place that offers 24-hour care, meals, and transportation.

Information needed prior to surgery

If you are interested in surgery, and you do not live in the San Francisco Bay Area, we would need the following sent to us at least one month prior to the surgery date:

Photographs (front view, right and left profiles). These can be taken digitally and emailed.
Blood tests mailed or faxed by your physician. We need a SMA 12, CBC, Hep C, and a brief note from him or her stating that you are in good health for surgery.
In case of other concerns (disease, diabetes, etcetera) we also need appropriate tests.
Over 40, we need an electrocardiogram done within the last 30 days.

Office contacts and information sources

A telephone exchange with Ms. Camille Perez, our Patient Care Coordinator, is the initial contact (USA 415-202-1507). Dr. Ristow will then review your photographs and suggest a course of action. Thereafter, you can schedule your cosmetic surgery, discuss the fees, etcetera. The head nurse, Anna Parker, R.N., Helen Sung, R.N., and Valery DeSimone, the Physician Assistant, will be available to speak with you as well to answer any pre and post operative inquiries you may have. The staff is exceedingly well informed and capable of answering questions. The staff may also address specialized questions to the Anesthesiologist or Dr. Ristow on your behalf.

Recommended length of stay in San Francisco after surgery

The recommended length of stay for a facelift, for example, is until the first set of sutures are removed (between four and six days.) Later sutures (10 days) if any were used, can be easily removed by a nurse, spouse, etcetera; If indicated or more convenient, Dr. Ristow will use deeply placed biodegradable stitches. Frequently, for out of town patients, all sutures are removed in six days.