The trend for heading overseas for cut-price cosmetic procedures remains popular, but there are some questions you need to ask yourself before you plunge into foreign waters.
Hundreds of thousands of people travel abroad for surgical procedures each year in search of a bargain cosmetic procedure. According to the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions in the US, they’ve noted a sustainable annual growth of 35 percent in those travelling abroad for medical care. In Australia, the majority of this traffic is going north to our Asian neighbours to receive treatment.
Patients reportedly decide to go international based on costs, access and timing. The top non-cosmetic procedures sought by medical tourists include heart bypass, heart valve replacement, hip replacement, knee replacement, hysterectomy and other gynaecological procedures. Common cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures include abdominoplasty, eyelid surgery, breast augmentation/reduction, cosmetic skin resurfacing, body contouring, liposuction, facelifts, body implant surgery and rhinoplasty.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade warn against the dangers of travelling to countries such as Thailand for medical tourism, including cosmetic and sex-change operations. They caution Australians to ensure they are not ‘lured to discount or uncertified medical establishments where standards can be lacking, resulting in serious and possibly life-threatening complications. Hospitals and clinics have been known to refuse compensation to patients not satisfied with the results of cosmetic surgery.’
Healthcare professionals are urging those considering going abroad for medical care to educate themselves and take the necessary precautions to avoid unexpected complications. Not only must patients be more vigilant and consider all variables if they decide to go abroad, they must carefully consider their preoperative and postoperative treatment that may be available to them.
Part of the process of undergoing a procedure in Australia is having the ability to liaise with the surgeon and establish a rapport with them over multiple consults. Overseas, patients will typically have minimal opportunity to interact with the doctors prior to surgery, nor to inspect the facility administering the procedure. There is also the risk that urgent hospital care may not be of a suitable standard if complications should occur. This means patients must ask tough questions, and check accreditations and success rates with their health care provider from home.
The key risks include exposure to infectious diseases prevalent in the host country, possible substandard quality of care at certain facilities and travel-related health complications. Should patients choose to consider travelling overseas for a procedure there are several questions they should cover before making a decision.
The practitioners who will be performing the procedure may or may not be licensed specifically for the procedure you are seeking. The facility where your procedure is performed may not be accredited by a reputable organisation, so may not meet certain standards of care intended to keep patients safe. The onus is on the patient to uncover this information, including professional memberships, training and qualifications the physician, surgeon or anaesthesiologist hold. They may also wish to look into mortality rates, infection rates and other performance measurements.
Different cultures have different views on what is acceptable and unacceptable, particularly in regards to levels of pain. Find out specifically whether the anaesthesiologists will take into account your wishes, providing it’s safe to do so, and that the doctor will be available to provide pain evaluations prior and post surgery.
If complications occur, many facilities offer onsite hospitality following the procedure, though may not care for a patient if extended care is needed. Therefore arrangements should be made tentatively should such an event occur. Research the potential complications associated with the procedure and be prepared for an unexpected hospital stay. Examine the contract and disclaimers before signing.
Preoperative and postoperative medications should be gauged early so patients have the opportunity to see whether they are safe and where they are manufactured.
Ask to talk to other patients who have had similar surgeries conducted at that facility and through any service you use. Besides enquiring about the surgery itself, ask about the care received and what experiences they had with medication.
Ideally, patients should get preoperative exams done locally. Never assume any aspect of your care, procedure or medications are covered by your health provider or insurer. For those patients without insurance, it is possible that travel and related expenses negate any savings from having the procedure conducted abroad.
There are plenty of medical tourism services that have made a business of this trade. They can guide you through the process by doing everything – from transferring your medical records to coordinating your travel logistics. However, you are putting your trust in that business’s hands and it’s imperative you research them carefully because they can vary widely in quality of service – don’t be wooed by seductive marketing. Check with the facility you are having the procedure in whether they are rafted to one provider or take patients across many.
Having a medical procedure abroad requires a lot of research and trust in overseas health systems. As a rule, distance is always a danger and it’s better to stay near home. However, surgical complications can happen anywhere, any time, and only through preparation, research and professional consultation can the risks and complications be minimised. Lastly, realistic expectations of what surgery can achieve will help maximise the chances of a good outcome.
