US plastic surgery vs Dominican Republic? I’m on the fence of having a TT and Liposuction.

Thanks for the question.A tummy tuck is a very serious operation and can take several months before patient's feel back to normal. Other types of cosmetic surgery have less downtime and smaller incisions, so the recovery period is not too complicated.My opinion is that you should be close to your surgeon when you take on a bigger surgery like a tummy tuck or breast reduction. The recovery period is just as important as the actual surgery. Should complications occur, you will be happy you can call up your doctor at a moments notice and get advice or be seen in person.Don't underestimate the importance of the postoperative period after a tummy tuck. You will need a lot of support and reassurance.Good Luck.

While there are good surgeons in many countries including the Dominican Republic, 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 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, MDFACS
La
Jolla, California