Introduction
Cosmetic surgery is booming for both men and women. But the high cost of medical care in the United States pushes many would-be patients to consider going overseas for their buttlift, liposuction, nose jobs, facelifts, and more. And, why not? Sleek advertisements showing shiny new facilities, well-trained surgeons, and amenities one could only dream of getting here in the U.S., not to mention prices that are far lower. The savings will more than pay for your flight and a few days in a five-star hotel. So, why not?
For some, it works out great! But for every perfect buttlift story we hear, there is another patient with a horror story. As cosmetic medical tourism grows in popularity, we are hearing from more and more emergency room doctors about patients ending up in their ER after overseas cosmetic procedures with life-threatening infections, surgical wounds that won’t heal, and extreme pain. Still, the promise is very alluring for many people. So, how can we better understand cosmetic medical tourism and reduce the risks involved?
What is medical tourism?
Medical tourism is when a person travels outside the country in order to get a medical procedure. The popularity of cosmetic medical tourism has grown over the past couple of years since the cost of certain procedures began to skyrocket.
Why is it so common?
Many people travel outside the country to get medical procedures for various reasons, a few include:
- The actual procedure costs are far lower.
- The procedure they want is not approved in the U.S.
Not all these medical procedures are cosmetic. They could also be dental, vision, and even non-cosmetic medical treatments.
Most people travel outside the country to receive cosmetic procedures, such as a Brazilian buttlift (BBL), liposuction, rhinoplasty, etc. It may sound like the price is right when it’s cheaper than prices in the USA, though it can be costly when complications arise and you’re not receiving appropriate care after the procedure.
Is it safe?
While it can be safe to get medical procedures done outside the country, not all places will perform the same amount of quality control that the United States would. This can result in infectious diseases or antibiotic resistance which means that you might need additional care and could end up paying more. In addition, follow-up care is just as important as the surgery itself, and many clinics that cater to cosmetic medical tourism are not set up to provide that follow-up care. Also, it’s hard to provide follow-up care when you are in a different country.
Hospitals do everything they can to assure cleanliness and proper sanitation, though, as with any procedure, there will always be the slight chance of complications.
Some complications might include:
- Blood clots.
- Pulmonary embolism.
- Fat embolism.
- Infection and treatment-resistant infections.
- Surgical wounds that don’t heal as expected.
- Complications from anesthesia.
- Improper placement or moving of implants.
What’s the cost you’re paying?
Let's assume you decide you want to get a rhinoplasty, but the price in the United States is too high, and cosmetic surgery is not covered under health insurance. You decide that you will take time off work to travel to Colombia, where the price is half of what’s on the market in the U.S., so you book it and get a holiday package.
Might be included:
- All-inclusive hotel.
- Aftercare nurse for a couple of days.
- Rhinoplasty procedure.
Might not be included:
- Your flight.
- Your hotel stay.
- Food.
- Medications.
- Monthly post-op care once you get home.
- Cost of treatment for any complication after returning to the U.S.
- Corrective surgery or hospital stays needed from complications.
Are there safer alternatives?
So you want a change but the price is too high? In the world of cosmetic procedures, there are safer, less painful, and less expensive alternatives to going under the knife. Enjoy the feeling of change at a lower cost, with the comfort of knowing that complication rates are extremely low and you can reach your doctor to resolve any complications that do arise. Dip your foot into the cosmetic world and try some non-surgical procedures. Some examples:
|
Instead of… |
Consider… |
|---|---|
|
Rhinoplasty |
|
|
Liposuction |
|
|
Facelift |
Thread lift or non-invasive laser skin tightening |
Non-invasive cosmetic medical procedures might really be all you need to achieve the results you want. And, even if the procedure doesn’t get you to your ideal look, it can be a huge step in the right direction with much less risk.
Still committed to the procedure?
If you’ve made it this far and are still willing to book a cosmetic medical procedure outside the U.S., here are some tips to follow before you leave:
- Research the doctor performing the procedure as well as the location. Look for reviews about the clinic that are not posted by or sponsored by the clinic itself. It’s always best to know or hear from patients in real-life that actually had procedures from the clinic and the surgeon.
- Once you are comfortable with the clinic and the surgeon, don’t let them make any last-minute switches on you. Sometimes, you will get to the clinic and they will say “Dr. Jose is not free today, so his partner Dr. Hector will be doing your procedure.” Not good.
- If possible, visit the facility and meet the surgeon before you commit to having the surgery. Take an investigative trip, then come back home and think about it for a few days or weeks, before you book an actual surgery.
- Learn everything you can about the actual procedure and ask a lot of questions. If they do something differently than the way we do things here in the USA, ask why, and make sure you understand their answers.
- See a trusted doctor here in the U.S. before you go, and tell them what you are going to get done and where. Make sure you’re healthy with no underlying issues. Examples:
- heart conditions that could lead to anesthesia complications.
- iron deficiency that could lead to bleeding problems.
- immune issues that could leave you a greater risk for infection.
- Clotting issues that could cost you life or limb.
- Book a travel health appointment before you travel to discuss your plans and understand the health needs and risks you might face from the travel alone, including any vaccines you might need, prophylactic medications you should take, infections or risk that you should look out for in the area you will be staying.
- Find a physician or surgeon here in the states that is willing to provide you post-op care appointments after your surgery.
- Do not wait if you see anything that doesn’t look right: a high fever, a wound that won’t heal as expected, pain that is not going away, lumps or bumps that shouldn’t be there, anything that isn’t expected after your surgery. Get care as soon as possible.
Contact us
Are you in the San Francisco Bay Area? Book an appointment with one of our skilled physicians to learn more and develop a treatment plan that is right for your goals, budget, and timeframe. See appointments or call us at 415-409-3456.