Plantar fasciitis treatment in 384 Orthopedic surgery clinics in Europe

State of the art hospital and wonderfully caring staff. Amazing attentiveness from all the doctors, technicians and engineers; the staff are very professional and genuinely kind. They answer any questions and are incredibly comforting and patient. I had an MRI of 2 sections done here, was really well taken care of. Special thanks to head nurse Katarina and the engineer Zvonimir Matic. An extraordinary team. Would definitely recommend.

Amazing Hospital! Incredible service, very attentive staff, extremely accommodating and takes excellent care of patients. The facilities are state of the art and impeccably clean. Definitely worth the money! The level of service is fantastic! Thank you to Katarina, the head nurse at radiology, who was lovely! Pat

Billed the examination directly to me even though it was covered by my insurance. Refused to fix the mistake when pointed out. Definitely avoid

I wanted to thank surgeon Kārlis Vērdiņš. After having two kids I had diastasis recti and he made my tummy look ever better than it looked before the kids. I couldn’t be more satisfied with the result! I’m extremely happy that I have chosen him to do my surgery. All the best, Daniela from Vancouver, Canada

I wanted to sincerely thank surgeon Kārlis Vērdiņš for his breast augmentation, I am very satisfied with the final result and volume. After two children, my breasts had lose shape and volume and im happy that i chose surgeon Kārlis Vērdiņš, because communication was very free, relaxed from half a word understood exactly what I wanted , and his confidence in the final result convinced me even more . Finally, I feel like a full woman thanks to Kārlis Vērdiņš. I I wish you all the best with greetings Liva from Iceland

Can't say was impressed by attitude of Kondratishko service. We not living in Latvia any more and have adopted to western culture and would like to have better service and customer skill service from person who charges such a big money for 5 min consultation. Very dissatisfied. Would not let my other half to have operation done by person like that. Hope clinic's bosses are reading this and some measures will be taken to put her on the right way how to provide her service.

Really nice staff. Will not say when I would like to come back :) But hospital is full of professionals which are ready to help you! Thank you!

Wonderful experience, the best place for labor in Latvia. Cost-wise as well.

Very good service, friendly nurse's and the best plastic surgeon Karlis Verdins. Girls, if you have your big dream about nice, naturally big brest, He is definitely your choice. Had my operation 4 months ago and what can I say, I'm absolutely happy, he made me feel beautiful again, I'm smiling looking at my self. His team is very good and they are working hard. Elina is absolutely amazing. Thanks for having me in your hospital and making me feel like at home for a few days. 🏥😍

Payed online for antigen test. Came for the scheduled time. They wouldn’t able to did it in time, so I had to wait. After this they did NOT ANTIGEN, but PCR test. As a result they told that I should wait even more, to do the Antigen, which I’ve paid in advance, they had to know about this. At least it was cheap

Easy and quick service.

Quick covid test

I have had abdominal liposuction and abdominoplasty performed by Dr. Tomasz Mierzwiński. I am very pleased with the results, but I have to wait a few weeks for the final result, but the surgery itself and post-operative care are at the highest level. The doctor is specific, nice, patient with the patient and, above all, an expert in his profession. the nurses are very caring and always helpful (special thanks to Mrs. Kasia and Mrs. Weronika. Thank you very much for everything and best regards. Agnieszka.J. Cracow.

I highly recommend this hospital, the conditions and, above all, the hospital staff at the highest level. Thank you very much for your care and a well-performed operation.

Thanks to the procedure for a thyroid nodule, I was not doomed to surgery, which would involve taking hormones, and my natural hormone was saved. I heartily recommend. Dr. Belowski - professional approach to the patient.

I had a lipoma on my shoulder, close to the size of a ping pong ball. Dr. Ember did the surgery.Him and his team were great! During the surgery he told me what he was going to do, so I was prepared . They were asking if I was okay the whole time , and the assistant held my hand through the surgery. I am very thankful to Dr. Ember and his Team for taking such a good care of me. I was super nervous and their caring kindness made me feel safe. The Clinic is very nice, it is in a beautiful environment on the Mecsek Hills. The receptionist ladies were super polite , professional and helpful. It is great to have a Clinic like this in my City.

COMPUTER SAYS NO. I have never met such indifference as in this clinic. My wife and I went to this clinic because my wife had palpitations (heart ritme failure) several times in the night and in the morning. She wanted to see a docter for a checkup. We went to the Davinci Clinic in Pecs. At the reception three women were talking. One of them sat behind a computerscreen. Although we said hello in Hungarian, they took no notice of us. After a few minutes the woman behind the screen turnen to us and asked what we wanted. I asked her if she understood English. Yes, she said. We told her the problem, but I had to translate the word "heart" in Hungarian (Szív) for her first. Then she looked at the screen for a while without saying anything or asking anything and said: "You can get an appointment next week". I was stunned and said: "My wife has a problem with her heart!" She didn't respond, looked back at her screen and said, "You can get an appointment next week." We went never to go back there again. Typical example of "Computer says NO"

A lot of assumptions without reading medical files. If they have no knowledge about a certain illness they call it 'non existing'. Not willing to help or advise. Not respectvol at all towards patients. Paying them for this garbage is just a waste of money.

1 star only because the examination took place. The appointment was scheduled for 3.50 p.m.... The lady told me to arrive at 3.30 p.m. and I went in for the examination at 4.20 p.m.... no information about the delay... no help and no information during registration and how to fill out the documents... .

I would like to appreciate the incredibly wonderful warm ladies at the registration desk on October 27, 2023, working at 6:30 p.m. Thank you We need such people in this crazy world.

I wholeheartedly advise against visiting Mrs. Zofia Jamrozik-Kruk. The doctor is so rude that it's not worth talking to. The whole visit had a very pretentious tone, and let's not forget that we come to the doctor for help, not as specialists who should know everything at the door. The irony with which the conversation was conducted and the final lack of diagnosis, and all this for PLN 200

Worse Possible Care Provided: I chose Medicover for my Child Birth Due to below reason. 1. Language Barrier: Medicover People Speaks English so it should be easy. 2. Reviews and Facility : With 1st visit you will be impressed with the facility and I aggree facility was good. What Was good: 1. Initial Checkups to check baby heart Rate. 2. Few Nurses(I can count on fingers) which were really good and served really well (be it Delivery or after care) 3. Alertness of Pediatrec Doc: Thanks to his alertness we caught hold of my baby's sickess at very early stage. What was worst: 1. Except one Nurse : No Nurse speaks English in Baby Care Department and except few no nurse speaks English in mid wife section Inspite of knowing that neither me and nor my wife speaks Hungarian : Out of 3 nights Spend: for 2 Nights there were none of nurse were speaking English and my wife had to make them understood using google translate and that too her already painful condition. 2. Food Quality: Worst possible food is given for vegetarians. One on hand doc was saying to avoid food which could cause gas and on other hand Gaseous foods are being served from Medicover! 3. Here comes my worst nightmare which is still not stopped: My wife's sutures were not done properly and got infection in 2 weeks. for that Medicover re did them again(At Medicover cost) at 3rd week and after that start charging us for control appointment(2 times) and by that time Medicover just wanted to get rid of this case and finally doc said every thing is ok and come back after 3 months but my wife is still in pain so looking at such behavior from medicover we had second opinion and seems there the sutures done for second time also is not done correctly and there is gap and now it might need to lead another round of sutures. So in the end my wife's medical case is ruined by Medicover so I would put second thought for people who wants to go for them and inspite for paying an hefty amount of 800K HUF we are still doing rounds of hospitals just because team in medicover could not do their job properly !

I'm from the UK and had a hysterectomy operation done in Budapest. The operation was carried out in the utmost professional and skilful manner. I couldn't have ask for a better treatment or outcome. The staff were friendly, professional and attentive. I'm very grateful for the first class service I received.

I traveled almost 4 hours to get to the Medicover for my appointment, from Baranya. And waiting 10 minutes for me, because I was in a traffic jam, was clearly too much for this doctor. We even called to warn we would be 10 minutes late and the reception told us then it wasn't a problem.. Wouldn't recommend...

I recently had a consultation at Dr Rose. I was told several times before going in for the examination that the price is 210 EUR. I even confirmed at the reception again before going in. After the consultation I was told it is now 360 EUR as the doctor did an ultrasound. I did not ask for this extra test nor was I told during the consultation that this test will add an extra cost to the agreed 210 EUR. After querying this I was told that I should’ve asked what my consultation includes as it’s my first time at the hospital!! I find this very bizarre as I book for what I need and confirm the cost before and they just take it upon themselves to add extra tests without asking the patient first and then request payment as the test is done now.

The ENT missed everything possible to miss .. probably bc he barely looked into my nose and mouth due to being scared of covid which is utterly reliable but he accepted patients yet I had my covid test so I refused to pay a penny more than 210€ which I assumed will take longer than what I had... missed my sinusitis in 2022, constantly felt ill and since the ' prestigious dr rose said nothing is wrong with my nose or throat ' I went to everywhere else..ended up having GERD from post nasal drip for months ....literally the ghettoest place for hight price..the view is beautiful but that's it...

I had an eye issue (retina) and Rose was the only place in Bp. willing to give me an eye specialist appointment. Excellent eye exam, assured me that I can safely travel back to the US for further treatment..

I had a gastric sleeve procedure at that clinic almost a week ago, and the entire experience has been excellent. From the initial contact before the operation to its conclusion, everything was impeccable. The clinic itself is spotless, and the care provided by the nurses is unparalleled. They are extremely attentive and warm, ensuring I felt well-taken care of at all times. Their professionalism is evident, and it's clear they adhere to European protocols, underscoring the clinic's quality. Every staff member's attention towards me was top-notch. I couldn't be more satisfied. Now, almost a week post-operation, I feel wonderful. I haven't experienced any discomfort beyond what's expected, and everything is progressing smoothly. If I ever need another surgery in the future, I wouldn't think twice about returning to KCM. Thank you Sara for your care and my love to all the nurses who have cared for me, they have all been very sweet to me!

I recently had reconstructive surgery at KCM Clinic, and I can’t express enough how grateful I am for Sara’s incredible care and support. Her proficiency in English, a rarity in a primarily Polish-speaking environment, immediately put me at ease. But it wasn’t just her language skills that stood out; it was her warm smile and genuinely friendly demeanor that truly made a difference. From the moment I arrived, Sara consistently checked in on me to ensure I was comfortable and had everything I needed. Even when her shift ended, she made sure I was left in capable hands, reflecting her commitment to patient care. Remarkably, Sara took the extra step to message me during my entire stay, including post-surgery, to check on my well-being. Her compassion isn’t just reserved for individual cases; I witnessed her interacting with other patients, where she displayed the same level of care, warmth, and humor. It’s evident that her attitude isn’t just professional; it’s profoundly human. I firmly believe that Sara’s hard work, attention to detail, and compassionate care significantly contributed to my successful recovery. I sincerely hope this review not only serves as a testament to Sara’s excellence but also leads to the recognition and promotion she so richly deserves.

Five months ago, we sought healthcare services and were requested to make an upfront payment of 9000 EUR. We complied with the payment. Additionally, an administration fee of 200 EUR was mentioned in case our travel plans changed. Regrettably, circumstances prevented us from traveling to Poland for the medical care. Despite this, the hospital declined our refund request and intends to retain the full 9000 EUR, despite not providing any services. Our attempts to contact them by phone have been unfruitful. Based on this unfortunate experience, I cannot recommend their services. I'm now considering escalating the matter to the Ministry of Health in Poland and prominent news agencies

It's been 2 weeks since my spine surgery at St. Hospital. Wojciech in Poznań. I was operated on by Dr. Piotr Winkler, neurosurgeon. It is really very good, the back pain is gone. I am very grateful to the doctor and the entire hospital staff for the excellent care. I recommend👍

Extremely unprofessional, long waiting time, can't help arrange anything

They are not inclined to help!

The boy was admitted for knee arthroscopy - the center confirmed the date, having the equipment ready. He showed up on the scheduled date and before the surgery he learned that there would be replacement equipment - it turned out to be broken. Completely frivolous approach to the patient, lack of respect for the patients' time and health. The ladies at the reception were unfriendly. I DO NOT RECOMMEND!!!

Ladies at the registration desk on vacation 32 minutes no one answers the phone I'm the first in the queue, when I'm there I call and check when registering there is no one the lady is sitting doing nothing I call and no one answers the phone I wish you good luck, I made an appointment with esculap and that's how customers are effectively discouraged

I was very sorry to be treated at the registration stage. Most of my family uses the services of the clinic. Today, when trying to register, I was informed that I would not be accepted because I am a new patient. I didn't even get an offer to wait for a longer period. So I warn you, if they accept you, and then you want to take your child there, they may refuse you on the grounds that the doctor forbade admitting new patients.

Marika Schröder top professional, friendly and skilled, warm recommendation for skin laser treatments. The other staff are also very friendly and do their job well. I have repeatedly received nothing but excellent treatment at Laser Tilka. Thank you very much😊🙏

The surgeons are professional, friendly and consider everything. The nurses are friendly and professional, natural and cheerful. I warmly recommend❣️Hkaiken well

The doctor did not listen to my wishes at all, so the procedure will not be done at their place. The doctor in question is certainly a good teacher, but meeting a client is so much more than "talking and loving your own voice". My problem has been going on for a few years now, and I still haven't found a person who isn't insecure and "afraid of complications during anesthesia".

Fantastic experience on two seperate occasions. I saw the Dermatologists and had bloods taken. Professional and friendly staff. I highly recommend their service.

Posting on behalf of my unwell partner, Helen. I had an email on 21st September cancelling her appointment in the ‘long covid clinic’ (she doesn’t have long covid…) and assuring a deposit refund in due course. It’s now two weeks later and no sign of the refund, which is not an inconsiderable amount of money. Very concerned about why they can’t seem to access our money (and other peoples by the look of it) to return it to us. We also thought it very bad practice that the cancellation email was a ‘no reply’ address and they don’t appear to have another email address. I have contacted them via their website contact form but of course have received no reply. I will now be contacting Citizens Advice regarding how to progress with this issue. In Conclusion: BEWARE.

This clinic is appalling. The only good thing about this clinic was the doctor who I saw who has now left - speaks volumes! My appointment was cancelled weeks ago and I STILL haven’t received a refund. I never received a copy of the doctor’s letter and neither did my local GP surgery which is partly what I paid for in my initial fee.

Drink water taste is terrible. Food is disaster. Often I got completely different meals than the one I ordered or miss a lot of options like fruit or vegetables. You can’t even have proper hot water for tee. Coffee is too privileged to be discussed here!!! All this would have been solved if i wasn’t locked in the nuclear medicine station, but since I’m not allowed to be visited or to go out, i couldn’t provide myself with proper water or nutrients. I really hope when i come back in 6 months from now, that you improve the situation. If i can give you negative star i would have done.

The care provided to our child before, during, and after birth was exceptional. Both my wife and baby are now in excellent health, thanks to the dedicated team's utmost care. We appreciated the English-speaking doctors and nurses, which made it easy to understand our family's health progress during our 5-day stay. While there was a minor concern about the lack of a doctor's visit for my wife, it's worth noting that doctors were regularly visiting for our baby's health. Overall, we are grateful for the excellent service and care received at Helios Hospital. Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️

So far, so good. Easy parking, lovely location, good restaurant. And the service I have received from the 3 departments I visited was 1st class. Well done.

Never go here, Please. Dr. Julia Brzoska promotes in Doctorlib reception of publicly insured patients, but they do not. They have unqualified personal on the front desk unaware fully of regulations. It wasted my time in such a delicate topic. They are another private clinic sustained by marketing.

Most Traumatizing Medical Experience Ever! While the Meo clinic might impress with its aesthetics and cordial staff, its administrative and financial aspects are deeply flawed: Lack of Transparency: I never received a clear financial breakdown for my treatments, and attempts to seek clarity were met with resistance. Billing Issues: A year post-treatment, I got bills escalated to collection agencies and court by PVS, an outsourced payment firm used by many of the clinic's doctors. The initial bills of approximately 3800 EUR more than doubled. Worse, the bills had incorrect patient details. Missing Medical Records: Despite continuous requests over two years, I've only gotten records from one out of the four doctors I saw. A recent visit revealed a mere two notes from 22 visits and a few prescription copies – no record of MRI/MRT scans, ultrasounds, cancer tests, or blood tests. Poor Communication: The clinic's staff claim that doctors operate autonomously and aren't answerable to them. The doctors, on the other hand, blame PVS, their invoice firm. PVS remains unresponsive, creating a maddening loop of non-accountability. Legal Issues: While withholding necessary medical documentation from me, the clinic keeps adding to my bills via lawyers. They know I need the documents for insurance, but continue to stonewall all communication attempts, even from my insurance provider. In summation, my experience with the Meo clinic has been nothing short of a nightmare. Despite promises of proficient service and clear English communication (given my expat status during the Covid lockdowns), I've received neither medical results nor proper documentation of treatments. Their blatant disregard and lack of support have left me feeling abused and overlooked. I warn potential patients, especially international and EU visitors to Germany, to be cautious before visiting this clinic! Expect zero documentation, no effective communication, and exorbitant bills. This clinic seems indifferent to the profound impacts such negligence might have on your life, expecting you to bear costs out-of-pocket despite insurance coverage. The only "documentation" you might get are bills from PVS that state amounts without any clear patient context. When reaching out to the clinic for help they clearly state that they aren’t responsible for any of “their doctors”… but at the same time advertise their clinic as a fully integrated medical institution that takes care of everything for you as their patent! It’s absolutely scandalous!

**EDIT TO RESPOND TO COMMENT*** While I understand the reply is mainly to manage reputation for people reading this review, I spent 35 minutes trying to 'rectify' the issue in the clinic and was met with eye rolls and sighs from unhelpful management. I understand there are protocols to follow in regards to billing, it is just a shame that this time it seems those protocols weren't adhered to and extra charges were added. I believe my email address and phone number are on file so I am happy to discuss further if you wish to reach out. ------ ORIGINAL POST Quoted €80-150 for a doctors consultation and after a 12 minute consultation was given a bill for €394,88. Was eventually discounted by €80 euros as was able to show I was charged for services I didn’t receive but still was grossly overcharged and my lack of speaking German was taken advantage of (one small example was my 12 minute consultation was charged as “Mind. 20mins” which the obnoxious manager tried to tell me means “under 20 minutes” and wouldn’t change). Even when you do the right thing and ask for a price upfront you still get ripped off. Please think twice before attending this clinic as they are not upfront at all and are very deceitful. The receptionist was good and very apologetic but all other staff dealt with were rude and unhelpful. The final explanation is “I’m sorry but the professor can charge what he wants and won’t change anything”. Be careful if you don’t speak German as you will likely get overcharged too.

Went to the ER one Wednesday afternoon, around 13:30. The receptionist saw I was in pain and explained I had taken the wrong password ( you have to press "Consulta Permanente"). She helped me with that and in less than 5 minutes I was called and directed for treatment. Waited about 40 minutes and was seen by Dr. Ramon Maldonado Acosta. Very kind, attentive and in no rush. At 15:00 I was already home, having been to the pharmacy as well. The hospital charged 73 euros. I think it was well worth it. I was in a lot of pain & discomfort. Staff & doctor were really nice.

Amazing service. After going to Loulé public and then Faro, neither surgeons were able to get the foreign body out of my toe and I was told to leave it despite agony and not being able to walk. I attended Hospital de Loulé in desperation for a competent Doctor to assist and I was privileged to have Dr Ruben as my surgeon. What a genius! 1.5 hours from initial GP appointment, xrays and surgery and the extraction was a success. Amazing, wonderful staff and beautifully clean, calm hospital. Thank you everyone for my incredible experience.

Staff are very polite, but to get through to the Hospital on the telephone is almost impossible. The recording is absolutely a waste of time, if you listen carefully it says ‘your call is important to us and we have recorded your number and we will call you back’ They never call back so you try again and wait for them to answer, which can be over 30 minutes .

Terrible service. They have closed the permanent customer service, admission for appointments from 4pm onwards has to be done at the counter on floor 0 because the counters on the other floors are already closed, which greatly increases the waiting time. Even though I've been coming to this hospital since it opened and I live a 5-minute walk away, I prefer to look for another hospital.

Very unfriendly reception at piso 0. Sending back and forth. Technician late so far 0.5h (still not here) for a scheduled exam... so far great experience with HLuz but first at Amadora. Not anymore

Dr. Joana Rocha Pauletta was extremely rude, condescending and impatient. I waited 30 minutes although I had an appointment, and she seemed to be agitated from the moment I sat down. I made an appointment with her specifically because her profile said she speaks English. So I waited two months to see her. But when I got in the appointment she continued to not only chastise me for not speaking fluent Portuguese but she was very condescending and rude about it. She continued to communicate with me in Portuguese and then would get frustrated when I didn’t understand. Again, her profile lists English as one of her languages , yet she refused to communicate in English. I had several concerns that I needed addressed regarding perimenopause and her response to each concern was that I needed to see a general doctor. Additionally their website has an entire page about communication with international patients which makes her behavior and disposition all the more perplexing. Medical Tourism is when people travel for medical procedures, in which case, tourists are not expected to speak the language of the country they travel to. This was a Horrible horrible experience. If she does not want to deal with native English speakers she needs to remove it from her profile.

I feel robbed. I spoke on Instagram with Dr Paulo Morais (dermatology) about removing a mole in which I sent a photo of it. What did Dr. He told me what it was and that he removed it easily in 15 minutes in a consultation. However, on arrival at the Hospital Clínica da Luz in Amarante, they charged €75 before the consultation. I entered the office Dr Paulo Morais saw the sign again and said he would have to pay €270 to remove it. In other words, I had not mentioned this before, not having gone there prepared, I did not carry out the procedure and I still ran out of €75 in 5 minutes to leave to find out the same and I lost a morning of work. 😔😪 The situation is regrettable, Dr. Paulo Morais deceived me well.

Review of previous review for the reasons I will describe, although I chose to maintain some aspects. Private clinic where many quality professionals work, however the entire management of this hospital seems to be based solely on traditional, and very clear, objectives: profit! An institution of this nature must, in my humble opinion, regulate its procedures by ethics, above all. But that does not always happen. I do not accept scheduling a surgery with a stipulated price, in prior consultation, and being presented with a bill that ends up being more than double that amount. I paid, it's true, because I didn't take anything that could prove what I'm saying here, even though I had a document at home whose code differs from the one presented to me on the invoice. But the worst part was how quickly the mini-surgery took place. I ended up not extracting all the "signs" (or warts, which is what they are) planned for extraction, thus maintaining a greater risk of spread. Furthermore, he planned to carry out the action through cryotherapy, and not through scraping, which involved a lot of blood loss, marks everywhere, the impossibility of leaving and other constraints. This was not told to me in the preliminary consultation. The way in which we are "deceived", because, in my opinion, that is what it is all about, always begins with an initial consultation, which is long and during which sympathy hides the intention of the true final charge, which, in my opinion, does not take place of the doctor's will, but of the objectives to which workers are currently subject. Here I leave my honest opinion, with the intention that anyone who has a few seconds to read it does not fall into the same "trap". Requiring clear documents, budgets, for example, that stipulate final prices, is fundamental and ends up corresponding to a right enjoyed by users. That cannot be neglected! PS: Oh, and the date set for surgery cannot correspond to an appointment, let's face it! We should be careful, because if we refuse to accept paying for a consultation on that day, the final price will probably reflect this disagreement, due to some other excuse...

Incredible......I waited 70 minutes to be seen by Mr. Doctor José Miguel Freitas! I ended up giving up on the appointment as I was still waiting for them to call me! My Time is as precious as yours..... I will not use your services again!!!!!

What a wonderful hospital. We had a pre-operation visit today, and from the reception to having our nurse consult, blood tests and X-Rays done, each and everyone we saw, were so kind, and explained everything in detail as to what was going to happen step by step to make us feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible. I highly recommend this hospital. Thank you 👍

Referred by Luzdoc to Urgencias on Tuesday 31 October. Everyone we encountered was extremely helpful. Special thanks to Dr Issy and Dr Pedro who reassured me with their professional competence. Nursing staff were very caring. Waiting in such medical circumstances is expected and inevitable. All staff spoke English without any hesitation, for which I am grateful as unfortunately my Portuguese is not to that level. I thank everyone for their assistance and treatment.

Very nice people and very professional doctors at this hospital so the 2 stars are for them. I had a cut in my lip and needed stitches. The very friendly Dutch speaking doctor put in 4 stitches. Good job. But than came the bill. The treatment took 15 minutes, sedation and stitching. The bill: 1100 euro. A totally excessive amount of money for the work done. 2 Years ago I was here also for 6 stitches in my face and than I had to pay around 350 euro. There is something seriously wrong in our society if you wanna make that much money over the backs of people that need treatment. HPA, you should be ashamed. To the CEO of this place, try to look in the mirror and say out loud, 4 stitches 1100 euro, and than keep a straight face.