Considering surgery in Mexico: do they offer Exparel? Extended TT, BA, BBL, and lipo

Hi... Thank you for the question... With photos it could be more specific and could help you with your question. But here in DR, Depending of your blood values, we do often the combine procedures with a very good results.  

These are questions that can only be answered by your specific surgeon. Keep in mind that postoperative management is very important after having an operation. You may want to consider having the procedure done by local plastic surgeon.

I agree that I would be very cautious about traveling to Mexico for your elective plastic surgery.  It appears you are seeking to do a number of procedures all at one time. I would recommend visiting with several board certified plastic surgeons and finding one that your trust. If budget is an issue, then it is better and safer to do "one thing at a time".  Combination plastic surgery has higher risks as well, most importantly DVT (deep venous thrombosis) with all the things you have listed.   Remember with elective plastic surgery, there is no "emergency" to do things right away, and you can do things as you are able. Better to be safe. Good luck!

I am concerned for patients who choose "medical tourism", travelling far from home to have surgery. Surgical recovery takes time, often up to a year. Surgical complications are most common in the first 3 weeks, but can happen even months after the operation. I personally see my patients for up to 2 years after surgery, to ensure that they are healing well. I believe it is extremely important to think about the postoperative care you will NOT be receiving after you are home, with your surgeon miles away in a different country. These risks become even greater with multiple surgeries combined. You have done enough research to be informed about postoperative pain control and Exparel. I would urge you to also consider your postoperative care and recovery. Stay closer to home.

Before you consider having surgery in a foreign country, there are some things you need to consider:How do you know your doctor is qualified? Qualifications and certifications vary by country.How do you know the surgery center is safe? What will you do if you have a complication? Will you be able to travel to Mexico to see the physician who treated you, or will you end up paying more money to be seen by a physician here in the States?The cheap price makes having surgery in a foreign country very alluring, but the risks just aren't worth it.

Hi, thanks so much for your inquiry, in order to have multiple procedures done in one stage you need to be considered as a healthy individual enough to avoid any kind of complications. Patients from different parts of the world come to my practice in a regular way, Please have an in person consultation so you can discuss thoroughly all your concerns, options and expectations. Good luck in your PS Journey!Respectfully,Dr. Jaime Campos-Leon

Most
plastic surgeons would have several concerns with what you are planning.

Combination procedures may be performed together. Whether you are a reasonable
candidate, however, for the combination of procedures you listed depends on
your anatomy, the extent of the abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) , the complexity of
the breast surgery, the amount of liposuction, volume of fat injection into the
buttocks, your medical history, medical clearance from your primary physician,
realistic expectations of the outcome and an understanding of the pros and cons
of the various procedures.

Most patients prefer undergoing one anesthesia and one recovery period which is
usually more cost effective, but many surgeons would prefer performing these
procedures in 2 separate operations to diminish the potential for
complications. Having stated that, most ethical experienced surgeons would feel
that the combination of procedures that you listed would be excessive to
perform at the same time.

Safety should always be the main concern. It is generally recommended that the
length of elective surgery be less than six hours. The procedures should be
performed in an ambulatory facility that is accredited by one of the nationally
recognized accrediting organizations like the American Association for
Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (AAAASF) or if it is outside of
the Unite States an international organization like the the American
Association for Accreditation for Ambulatory Surgery Facilities International,
(AAAASFI) or in a licensed hospital.

Having surgery at a reduced rate in a foreign country sounds appealing, but
there are many concerns that you should consider. Generally, there is no
preoperative direct discussion with the surgeon who is going to perform the
surgery in order to establish any reasonable doctor/patient relationship. There
are often language barriers that can interfere with your care. Even if your
surgeon speaks English, the ancillary personnel like the nurses and the
anesthesia provider who are involved in your care, may not. The quality of
hospitals outside of the U.S. varies tremendously. Some are accredited and
inspected, others are not. Even if the hospital has reasonable facilities and
the surgeon has training, which may not be up to the quality of training of a
plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the quality
of the nurses and others involved in your care may be very different from that
in the United States. They may have little or no formal medical education,
training or credentialing.

There is usually little follow-up care. In addition, the general sanitary
conditions often increase the risk of infections, including some that are
generally rare in this country.
There are also major potential problems that may occur with traveling
long distances just before and after surgery, like dehydration and fatigue, but
more importantly complications including clots in the legs called deep venous
thrombosis and clots to the lung which may be life threatening.

In most countries, if a problem develops, you will have little legal recourse
and no ability to file a complaint either against the hospital or about the
surgeon. If complications.,develop after you return home, it may be difficult
or impossible to obtain care from your local physicians. If problems do occur,
the cost of subsequent care can be far greater than the reduced cost of the
original surgery. While there are well-trained physicians in many other
countries, I would suggest that you travel for pleasure or business and have
your surgery closer to home.

Robert Singer, MD FACS

La Jolla, California

I would be very cautious traveling to another country to get your procedures done. I would not go to mexico to do what you have planned. 

You would have to contact the Mexican doctor to see what they offer. The one thing they will not have is the oversight and controls found north of the border. You may get a great surgeon with a wonderful facility or the reverse. Whoever you get, make sure you have adequate savings to travel back to Mexico for your care should there be complicaions, which can happen in the best of hands.