Cosmetic Surgery Abroad

Rise in surgery overseas

Up to 30,000 Brits pack their bags and travel abroad for medical treatment each year, around a third of which is for cosmetic procedures. Elyzea Cosmetic Surgery in Belgium, for example, reported a 30 percent increase in British patients in 2005, while Med de Tour, a specialist company that flies patients to India for treatment has seen UK patient figures double.

Surveys suggest that the considerable savings to be had by travelling abroad for treatment offers the greatest allure. The fall in the costs of long-haul air travel has meant that visits to destinations such as Brazil and even the Philippines (where the market for medical tourism was worth around £100m last year according to Health Department figures) are on the rise. However, most UK citizens, while increasingly willing to travel for treatment, still prefer to do so closer to home.

Cosmetic Surgery travel to Spain remains the most popular destination for UK cosmetic tourists attracted by the combination of low treatment costs, sunny climate and the country’s general familiarity to British consumers. Elsewhere, Cosmetic Dentistry in Eastern Europe is becoming an increasingly common destination. In Hungary, a porcelain crown costs £180, compared with £500 with a private dentist in Britain. While in Belgium, UK patients are quoted as paying around £1,500 for liposuction treatment that costs £5,000 at home.

Another attraction for many is that such procedures can be built into a holiday. Cosmetic Surgery trips to South Africa were one of the first proponents of so-called Surgery & Safari packages and, thanks to competitive prices and its pleasant climate, remains a market leader. An all-inclusive facelift package is quoted at £3,900, for example, a saving of around £2,000 on the cost of surgery alone in the UK.

Essential facts to consider

However, anyone considering such a course of action needs to think about more than just the costs. The sheer distances involved means initial consultations will often be carried out by phone and/or email. Clients are unlikely to undergo face-to-face consultations until shortly before the scheduled treatment and may feel pressured to go ahead with a procedure (by virtue of having travelled so far to receive it) they might have reconsidered pursuing at home.

The language barrier can heighten such problems, leading to misunderstandings over anything from recovery times to how the treatment itself is going to be carried out. Would-be patients should ensure a clinic operates with a sufficient number of fluent English speakers before travelling.

Post-operative care is just as important as the issues surrounding treatment itself. Be clear about the allowances made for recovery at a clinic, including the type of aftercare available and for how long. Theoretically, the longer the stay (ideally one to two weeks for surgical procedures), the better the chances for potential problems to be picked up.

Post-operative problems

Back in the UK, Norman Waterhouse, a consultant plastic surgeon and past president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons has noted, “It is an increasingly common occurrence for plastic surgeons in Britain to have to pick up a problem that has occurred abroad”. But while the NHS is on hand in an emergency, it’s not obliged to correct cosmetic mistakes. Problems that result in patients having to return to a country for follow-up treatment will increase costs, potentially nullifying any initial savings made. Insurance providers should be clear about the reason for any visit for treatment abroad – the right level of cover, while more expensive at the time, could prove to be invaluable in the long run.