Am going to Dominican Republic to have tt, bbl , and breast lift surgery done is it safe to go alone?

Medical tourism has becoming increasingly popular in recent years; patients have been flying out of the U.S. for plastic surgery, lured by lower prices. However, a parallel trend has also appeared: plastic surgeons in the United States are finding themselves treating an increasing number of patients who plastic surgery abroad, correcting complications and errors. A survey by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons found that 80% of the responding doctors had treated American medical tourists for complications including infection, contour abnormalities, and hematoma. Medical tourists are often led to believe that they will receive the same quality of care for a lower price in a foreign clinic. But while it is true that the cost of plastic surgery in some foreign countries is lower, this is often because the quality of care and surgery is compromised. Such patients also seem to neglect the possibility of complications and the need for a follow-up visit. In addition to the risks posed by sub-standard medical care abroad, medical tourists must consider the risks of injections and implants in other countries. The recent crisis with French breast implant maker Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) exemplifies this problem. PIP used industrial- rather than medical-grade silicone on their implants in an effort to reduce costs, a measure which probably increased the danger of rupture. PIP implants have not been used in the United States since 2000. Removal of these implants has been recommended by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. It is often the case that medical tourists end up spending more money because they have to pay to treat complications from their overseas surgery.

This is a very good question. The Mommy Makeover is a combination of procedures to bring a woman’s body back to the way she looked prior to pregnancy. Most commonly some variation of a #TummyTuck and #BreastSurgery are performed. Additional procedures can include liposuction, umbilical hernia repair.  The most common #breastprocedures include #mastopexy or #breastlift, #breastaugmentation, or #breastreduction

In addition to a one-on-one consultations with a board certified Plastic Surgeon, patients always need to be seen by their primary care doctor prior to such procedures.  We screen every patient and their medical records for risks of blood clots (DVT) and then take appropriate measure.

Therefore, it may be in your best interest to not #travel out of the country for such procedures. Unless, you know the doctor or facility where the procedures take place well or have a previous experience with them, there is an increased chance of problems, #complications, or #emergencies which may lack the necessary attention as you would acquire easier within the United States. 

I just treated a patient who went to the Dominican Republic and had a serious complication. She very much regrets her decision. She needed a blood transfusion and has major abdominal scarring after a BBL  She ended up spending more than if she had her surgery here in the U.S. and will need revision surgery (I will be doing it). Your safety is more important than a few thousand dollars. And you are best to have your plastic surgeon available for follow-up care. In the U.S. we have more rigorous safety standards than many other countries. And of course do not go alone!

Thank you for your question. I wouldn't recommend traveling alone for surgery here in the USA, much less abroad. Having someone with you that you trust at time of surgery is paramount for a successful recovery. I wouldn't recommend having all those procedures performed at once either. The TT and the BBL should be done separately in my opinion. Recovery positions are opposite of one another and will compromise your final result if you don't adhere to one of them. Being under general anesthesia for more than 6 hrs also puts you at a higher risk for much serious life threatening complications. A surgeon trying to "rush" through to get everything done at a reasonable time is not in your best interest. Just my honest opinion. Safety should not be compromised at any time. I hope this helps. Best wishes, 

If you are planning on going out of the country, you definitely should take along a caregiver.Also you should plan on staying at least a week in case you have a complication.You should also discuss with your surgeon what plans are in place should you require hospitalization . This may be complicated in a foreign country. Also, what are your plans once you return to the U.S. for follow ups, or should you have complications. Before leaving the country to save money, you should consider all these factors , as it may result in costing you a whole lot more

Thank you for your question. Yes you can. Surgery overseas can be an excellent option for results, experience, and value. That said, you definitely have to choose your surgeon correctly and make sure that he/she has the training and experience to meet your goals with absolute safety. In addition to finding the right surgeon you should look into the hospital and the rest of the medical team. Is the hospital accredited? Do they have modern facilities and supplies? Are the anesthesiologists licensed and accredited? Do they speak English well enough for you to communicate your concerns and needs?  Although I can't answer specifically about Dominican Republic, I can say that cosmetic surgery in Colombia represents an increasingly attractive option for consumers looking for the ultimate combination of quality, price, availability, service, enjoyment, and value. When done with a board certified surgeon, patients can save thousands of dollars on cosmetic procedures while providing all of the safety and quality that they would receive in top U.S. and European centers. Several plastic surgery centers in Colombia also offer a complete medical tourism experience complete with comprehensive care packages, five star hotels in stunning locations, and exquisite personalized experience.  That said, you definitely have to choose your surgeon correctly and make sure that he/she has the training and experience to meet your goals with absolute safety.  A key quality indicator is Board Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Don’t settle for less than a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with specialized expertise in this procedure.

I hear this question frequently by some patients trying to save money with their cosmetic surgery. I definitely do not recommend traveling abroad for your surgery. Many of us here in the US have heard horror stories about people traveling to Mexico, DR, or elsewhere who developed serious/life-threatening infections. You may have a very hard time finding a PS to take care of you if you develop a complication/problem when you return to the US. Best wishes in your plastic surgery pursuit. 

Hello,I would never recommend having surgery out of the country. What if you have a complication once you return home? Who will care for you? I cannot speak to the safety of the Dominican Republic in general but I would not travel alone.

I would NOT recommend traveling the Dominican Republic by yourself for your Mommy Makeover, it is absolutely not safe. You will be in a country you are unfamiliar with and in a hotel room with little to no comforts from home. And you stated that you will be undergoing several procedures, which will require a lot of recovery time. You cannot manage this type of recovery on your own. If you do not have anyone to go with you, you should ask your surgeon to recommend a private duty nurse who can stay with you around the clock in your hotel room to take care of you. Additionally, I recommend against traveling out of the country to have your surgery. It is much safer to have your surgery in the US. 

It would be very unusual, and typically not recommended, to have those three procedures done at one time. In the U.S. most board certified plastic surgeons would recommend that you have tummy tuck and breast lift completed in one procedure, and the BBL performed at a later date.  You do not mention how long you are planning to stay in the Dominican Republic after your surgery.  This would definitely make a difference on whether or not you should travel alone.  With the procedures you are considering, there is a chance of complications, and follow-up with your plastic surgeon is very important.  When you seek out plastic surgery, we typically recommend you seek out a board certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in the procedures you are considering, and one who is close enough to your home to be accessible should complications arise.  Best of luck to you.