Medical Tourism: Finding the Right Cosmetic Surgeon

In addition to the answers provided by the providers below there is another important consideration. Problems with: Qualifications abroad Facilities abroad Inability to get good follow-up Travelling after surgery requiring general anesthesia can cause significant problems including deep vein thrombosis (blood clots) in the lower extremities which can lead to death. Also, many patients who have seen me after problems with surgery abroad report that they didn't save as much as they... more

As an indication of how well respected United States plastic surgeons are, our plastic surgery practice is inundated with patients from other countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Indonesia, Phillipines, China, and Europe. Demand perfection in your plastic surgery procedures as the quality and expertise of your plastic surgeon determines your success. If you do not feel that you can afford plastic surgery by a board certified plastic surgeon in the United States, I would advise you to... more

Getting plastic surgery abroad is very risky. You are gambling with your nose and your life. This is not to say that you cannot stumble onto a well-trained and experienced surgeon. Most people assume things will go right but don't prepare for things to go wrong. Rhinoplasty has a relatively high secondary revision rate 10-20%. As mentioned by other surgeons, follow-up is impossible, records may be unobtainable when you return to the States, hospitalization or other provisions for medical... more

I have seen several patients who have done what you are proposing and have had bad results and experiences. The cost to try to fix them is much higher than if they had it done right the first time in America. Plus, it is impossible to have quality follow-up with your doctor when you are at a great distance away. Many US surgeons are offering excellent prices during the present economic crisis and you should check on this. If the prices are still too high, save for the time when you can... more

Imagine you could buy a parachute that had all its safety devices stripped out of it and was therefore cheaper than its competetors. No safety chute. Cheap materials. Cheap assembly. No testing. No doubt that parachute would be much cheaper, but you would probably never consider saving money on safety features and jeopardize your safety. Choosing to have surgery where there are no protections can be similar. The United States have the strictest standards for medical safety, for... more

Hello Ted, I agree with Dr. Shafer's advice - I see patients on a weekly basis who have gone abroad for surgery and end up wishing they hadn't. Many patient's who go abroad do very well with their surgeries, but horror stories and complications are also common. Follow up is also very important - I see my Rhinoplasty patients up to a year after their surgery since this is how long it can take for the final results to be seen. Unless you are ok with traveling back overseas, then you do need... more

Please be careful when going oversea or south of the boarder for plastic surgery. There are many great surgeons around the world, but those are usually not the ones who will be cheaper than what you can afford here. A considerable part of my practice is "fixing" plastic surgery mishaps that occurred when people traveled away to find better "deals" on plastic surgery. My best recommendation would be to talk to patients that have already had surgery by the surgeon you are considering. ... more