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Is it Safe to Have Rhinoplasty in India?

asked 1 year ago by Anadez in New York, NY
Latest answer by Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
Question viewed 506 times
Tags: female, costs, medical tourism, safety, worried

Hi! I live in US but in two weeks I'm going to India to get a rhinoplasty done. I'm scared to death! And not about pain but about the result. My nose is not super ugly and I'm afraid it might become worse after the surgery.

Everyone is trying to convince me not to go to India for that. But it's way cheaper and I heard medicine and doctors are pretty advanced there. How do you think is it safe enough to go there? Doctor's resume seems pretty good

18 answers to Is it Safe to Have Rhinoplasty in India?

Why not Canada or Mexico

You are taking to much effort for a procedure that is widely done in the US. If money is the issue, choose a closer country with a good health care and you can travel back and forth if needed!.

Moneer Jaibaji, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty in India

I am sure that there are good doctors in India but if you live in NYC who is going to take care of you if you have problems after surgery? It is a very long way to India. I would think twice about it.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Oversees Rhinoplasty

Dear "Scared -to-Death!", It sounds like you already have it figured out. Your instincts are broadcasting loud and clear. When it comes to cosmetic surgery, price shopping should fall into place well after your health and your safety. Some people have had good experiences with surgery abroad, many have not. Do you really want to take that risk? It won't take too long before the money you've saved will be a memory, but a bad experience or... more

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty can be safe in India but is it worth it?

You can find good surgeons throughout the world. However, you should be seeking a quality surgeon first. Then, you will need to provide the surgeon ample time to plan the surgery and ensure a good postoperative care. The costs for this extra time generally wipes out the savings from international surgery.

Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

It's not worth the risk....

It's your face and it's your life. Can saving a few thousand dollars be worth that? I think anyone who cares about you and everyone giving you professional advice is telling you that you should have your rhinoplasty done close to home. It does not guarantee a perfect result, but it will increase your chances for a safer procedure with qualified surgeons. There' s a saying about being "penny-wise and pound-foolish... more

Charles K. Lee, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Health tourism. Is it safe?

Its cheaper. However the most important decision a patient has to make, the choice of their surgeon, is made more difficult by the distance. Furthermore distance plays a major role if there is a complication, if follow up is needed and if the patient wishes to pursue a complaint/legal regress. The question to be addressed is whether the money saved is worth the loss of these things.

Oakley Smith, MD
Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.droakleysmithrhinoplasty.com

Rhinoplasty in India

As other posters have correctly posted, you may have found an excellent Surgeon in India and your result may (or may not) turn out very nicely. However, your follow up is likely to be inadequate more as a consequence of distance than anything else. Rhinoplasty is definitely a procedure you want to have right the first time, because it is one of the most technically and aesthetically challenging procedures we do. I would advise you against taking unnecessary risks. more

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drprendiville.com

It may be best to keep your Rhinoplasty Surgeon close to home.

I read your concern. In my practice, my nose job patients are followed closely for the first year after surgery. During the first year after Rhinoplasty Surgery, 5 or more visits are the norm. Your nose is the centerpiece of your face, and a primary rhinoplasty is the best time for you and your surgeon to achieve your goals. Your surgeon in India may be wonderful, and you may get a great result. My advice would be to err on the side of caution: research a certified, experienced... more

Eric M. Joseph, MD
West Orange Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.ericmjoseph.com

Real Risks of Medical Tourism

Dear Anadez, The concept of medical tourism is not a new one, but dates back thousands of years to when Greek pilgrims traveled from all over the Mediterranean to the small territory in the Saronic Gulf called Epidauria, the territory of the healing god Asklepios. Epidauria became the original travel destination for medical tourism. Subsequently, spa towns and sanitariums emerged. A large draw to current medical travel is accessibility, convenience, affordability and ease... more

Michelle R. Yagoda, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Having rhinoplasty in India is like drinking the water in Mexico!

You COULD "get away with it" or you could really get sick and wish you had never even thought of it. I cant' see how a trip to India, hotel and food, and the travel risk of blood clots "saves" you anything. Maybe you get free airfare, or have lots of air-flight miles to use. Perhaps you were planning on a trip to exotic India anyway. And yes, there are excellent surgeons there. There are also scoundrels and just-plain-poorly-trained or inexperienced surgeons here!... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Is it Safe to Have Rhinoplasty in India?

It may be as safe as it is anywhere but you will have to do your homework as you would in any country. Sometimes qualifications are not the only thing that you need to have a safe and good result. Best, talk to your friends who have had this done and make sure their standards are as high as they are in this country. Look at the before and after results. Remember it is your nose and your health. You can't compromise when it comes to surgery. Also, who is going to take care of post... more

Mohsen Tavoussi, MD, DO
Huntington Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon

Is it safe to have rhinoplasty abroad?

I am certain that there are excellent plastic surgeons in India and that one could have a good rhinoplasty done there. I think that the bigger issue is your followup care. What happens if you have a complication or need a second operation down the road? I strongly advise against making decisions regarding surgery based on price alone.

Sanjiv Kayastha, MD
Albany Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty in India

India, as well as many other countries, has talented surgeons as well as not so talented surgeons. The main issue is who will you see after the surgery. Rhinoplasty results continue to change over the first year and you will need to be able to see a surgeon after the surgery which may difficult given the cost of airfare to India.

Kristin Egan, MD
Manhattan Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon

Safe to do rhinoplasty in India

You are right. There are excellent doctors in India and everywhere in the world. Let's say it's one month down the road and you are having a problem. Who will you see? Most doctors don't want to handle other doctors problems and if they do be prepared to come up with thousands of dollars in advance. But then again, you could fly back the 20 hours to India to see the doctor who operated on you. If you take everything into account, you probably have... more

Steven Schuster, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.schusterplasticsurgery.com

Procedures Worth it Overseas?

I will just share with you my experience of having an additional part-time practice in London for almost 8 years. In my experience, US plastic and cosmetic surgeons are trained at a level that's light years ahead of Europe, Asia and the rest of the world. I would re-think having a Rhinoplasty anywhere but in the US.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

The best choice of surgeon for a rhinoplasty should be experienced and close by. Money should be a secondary consideration.

I have seen many patients who have traveled abroad for cosmetic surgery for cost savings. Some have had good results, some bad, and some catastrophic. For those with major problems, they have to go again abroad to see their surgeon. I don't see the savings in that. I would never let a member of my family leave the good old USA for an operation. I have nothing against foreign surgeons it's just that it is impractical for the purpose of saving money... more

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

You get what you pay for.

Here are some things to think about: what happens if you have a problem over there with surgery? Let's say you do not like the result = now what. If you have a complication when you come back home, who will take care of you? Let's remember - buy cheap, get cheap. Here we know the qualifications of doctors, they carry malpractice insurance and often either operate in an approved outpatient surgery center or a hospital -- do you know what goes on in other countries? How... more

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty

The problem with doing surgery overseas is if you have a complication-will you be able to get right back on a plane?-Will someone be able to tend to you here? you may think you are saving yourself money- but from the amount you indicated -there are many top-qualified board plastic surgeons whose fee is in that ball park but if you decide to have surgery outside of the USA you have to be figure in additional costs in case there is a problem. Good luck-