Would you recommend traveling for plastic surgery? I'm 19 and thinking of traveling to the US.

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. Traveling for plastic surgery is ok as long as you and your surgeon have discussed a plan for how to manage immediate post-op issues, follow-up, dealing with potential complications etc. It is always best to be in close proximity to your surgeon in the first 1-2 weeks after surgery to address these issues. I hope this helps.

I recommend an in person consultation with a plastic surgeon to discuss your goals and be measured. After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of women (my patients) with similar measurements with different size and style breast implants and they choose what looks right for them. They also get to see what they would look like when the breasts have fully dropped and fluffed and in clothes. You get to see actual results and the surgeon's experience and not a virtual idea of what can be achieved. Women tell me that this process is very helpful in determining what size and style breast implant is right for them. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Dear justiceparisian,
finding the right Dr. is extremely challenging especially with the number of online platforms and resources available. There a lot of great Dr's available. Make sure he/she is a board-certified plastic surgeon. Definitely check to make sure your choice specializes in the procedure you want and spend the time to read through patient testimonials. There is a number of different sites where you can check for reviews (Realself, yelp, google, etc.).You can always pick up the phone and call around also, find an office you feel comfortable with and set up a few consultations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

It is best to see a surgeon in your area so you can keep all your follow up visits. Plus, should any complication occur, your surgeon can see and check you. It may not be easy to find a surgeon to take care of some other surgeon's problem.

If you choose to travel to the US for breast augmentation you will want to make sure to select a board certified plastic surgeon. You and your surgeon should discuss how long you need to remain near the surgeon after surgery and how follow up visits and any potential complications would be handled. The ASPS website is a good resource to help located a board certified plastic surgeon near you.

While I am not a fan of traveling outside your home area for surgery, breast augmentation cases have rare complications (in my experience) vs abdominoplasty or BBL procedures.
Photos would help me answer questions of what would be required to make you feel more comfortable. Also, wish pics (topless please) aid in our answers.