Our Marbella People Interview today is with Dr Allan Larsen of the Marbella Clinic. Dr Allan Larsen is the Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon at the prestigious Marbella Clinic in Puerto Banus. Dr Larsen arrived in Spain in January 2006 from Denmark with his wife.

How long have you lived in Spain and what do you do here?

Dr Allan Larsen: My Wife and I arrived in January 2006.

I work at Marbella Clinic in Puerto Banus where I perform advanced Orthopedic surgery related to knee, hand and foot surgery.

Why did you choose the Costa del Sol?

Dr Allan Larsen: Due to the Climate, WHO has nominated Marbella to have the best Climate in the World.

In Denmark we normally have good weather for 2 weeks each summer.

Tell us your greatest business/professional and personal accomplishment?

Dr Allan Larsen: My greatest professional accomplishment was to be appointed “Head of the Cartilage Research Division” at Aalborg University Hospital, where I used to work as Senior Orthopedic Consultant.

While working there I started to do cartilage transplantation, and perform more than 90% of all cartilage treatments in Denmark.

I have developed the technique even further and go to Denmark every 6 week to do research while working on even better techniques for cartilage repair.

My greatest personal accomplishment: my wife.

Tell us the most important piece of advice you have ever received.

Dr Allan Larsen: Always walk that extra mile; strike for excellence.

Why would you recommend the Costa del Sol for business and Lifestyle?

Dr Allan Larsen: Due to the Climate, the nice people I meet everywhere, and especially where I work.

If you could change one thing about Spain, what would it be?

Dr Allan Larsen: To stop bull fighting

Describe yourself in 3 words.

Dr Allan Larsen: Hard working, honest, always striving for perfection

What is your favourite Restaurant?

Dr Allan Larsen: Marco Polo in Puerto Banus, best Italian restaurant in Spain.

What is the last film you saw at the Cinema or DVD?

Dr Allan Larsen: The Last Samurai, with Tom Cruise.

A film about friendship, and working hard due to something you believe in.

What advice would you give to someone moving to Spain?

Dr Allan Larsen: There is an old Danish saying “Skik følge eller land fly” which means that you have to adjust to new surroundings.

Take the best of the Spanish lifestyle and combine it with the Scandinavian way.

Name one other business you would recommend on the Costa del Sol and why?

Dr Allan Larsen: Brecknell Properties www.brecknellproperties.com if you are looking for an honest real estate agent.

They found a very nice home for my wife and me.

More about Dr Larsen’s Career

After receiving his medical degree from the University of Aarhus, Denmark in 1993 he started training to become an Orthopaedic Surgeon, a qualification that he obtained in 2002.

The same year he was awarded a one year fellowship at Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals in England under the supervision of Vladimir Bobic, an Orthopaedic Surgeon known throughout the world for his research in the field of human cartilage.

After Dr. Larsen returned from England he finished his Ph.D. thesis and obtained his qualification in 2004.

At the same time he became Head of The Cartilage Research Unit at Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark and started to perform cartilage transplantations on patients.

Since 2005 he has trained all senior Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons in Denmark in cartilage transplantations/operations and has developed new techniques for cartilage treatment.

His ongoing research is to develop an even better method to treat people with cartilage defects/osteoarthritis using an arthroscopic technique.

Dr. Larsen is an associate Member of the ICRS, International Cartilage Research Society, SAKS, The Danish Society for Arthroscopic Surgery and Sports Traumatology, he is a member of the GMC, General Medical Council in England where he is registered as an Orthopaedic Specialist Surgeon, Senior Consultant.

Dr Allan Larsen is the Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon at the prestigious Marbella Clinic in Puerto Banus.

If you would like more information or would like a consultation, please visit the web site of Marbella Clinic in Puerto Banus, Marbella.

Our Marbella People Interview today is with Dr Pier Albrecht of the Marbella Clinic. Dr Albrecht is the Chief Plastic Surgeon at the prestigious Marbella Clinic in Puerto Banus. Dr Albrecht arrived in Spain in 1995 and enjoys the natural environment that Marbella offers and the better lifestyle that comes with it.

How long have you lived in Spain and what do you do here?

Dr Pier Albrecht: I arrived in Spain in 1995, and since then I dedicated all my time to practice Plastic Aesthetic Surgery, design new techniques and write about this wonderful both artistic and scientific profession.

Why did you choose the Costa del Sol?

Dr Pier Albrecht: I mainly chose Marbella, because in 1995 it was peaceful and quiet, with fantastic natural surroundings, yet with the possibility to work in my field.

Tell us your greatest business/professional and personal accomplishment?

Dr Pier Albrecht: My greatest professional accomplishment was to be appointed “Invited Professor” for Plastic Aesthetic Surgery of the face in the Guadalajara Hospital in Mexico and operate a state President.

My personal one was to participate in the NGO “Infancia sin Fronteras” and to help its President (thanks to a few famous and wealthy patients of mine) to have a child of 10 years old with a cancer taken out of an African country despite political problems to be operated in Spain.

Tell us the most important piece of advice you have ever received.

Dr Pier Albrecht: Never be self satisfied.

Why would you recommend the Costa del Sol for business and Lifestyle?

Dr Pier Albrecht: For the same reasons above mentioned that made me come; it is possible to work in a natural environment, good for children.

The Spanish way of life is definitely unbeatable in Europe and maybe in the world.

But foreigners should try harder to keep it the way they found it when they arrived.

If you could change one thing about Spain, what would it be?

Dr Pier Albrecht: The urge of too many Spanish people to absorb northern Europeans bad habits.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

Dr Pier Albrecht: Hard worker, honest, generous with those who really need help.

What is your favourite Restaurant?

Dr Pier Albrecht: Marco Polo in Puerto Banús, the best Italian food in Europe. (A permanent travelling English patient told me so, and he was right)

What is the last film you saw at the Cinema or DVD?

Dr Pier Albrecht: CRASH, hopefully the type of stressful life described in that movie will never reach Europe. I am not so sure.

What advice would you give to someone moving to Spain?

Dr Pier Albrecht: Change your mind, take the best out of Spain, respect it, and don’t complain too much about the different rhythm here.

Everything is possible for those who work seriously, but they should never forget why they came, a better life.

Name one other business you would recommend on the Costa del Sol and why?

Dr Pier Albrecht: South Coast Properties www.scpmarbella.com if you look for honest real estate agent. They found for me very good deals.

I would like to include the Marco Polo restaurant www.marcopolomarbella.com in Puerto Banús if you look for a high quality food at a reasonable price.

I eat there every day now.

Pier Albrecht M.D. Ph. D., French, born in 1962, in Marbella since 1995, is a Consultant Surgeon, specialising in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, registered at the General Medical Council of Malaga (Ilustre Colegio Oficial de medicos de Malaga) under number 29/07945.

He also is an Expert Witness to the Court. The Spanish Ministry of Education and Sciences has homologated his M.D and specialist degrees in 1997, paying tribute to a 16 year training, during which he has been studying medicine and surgery, and working in Europe in the fields of Plastic-Aesthetic Surgery, Laser and Anti-Aging Pharmaceutical Research.

If you would like more information or would like a consultation, please visit the web site of Marbella Clinic.