Is it Safe to Have Rhinoplasty in India?

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 rhinoplasty specialist in your area. You could go to abfprs.org for a list of certified facial plastic surgeons. Check many photos of nose job results before moving forward.

I hope this is helpful for you.

Regards from NJ.

Having a procedure done out-of-country is becoming increasingly common thanks to all of our modern methods of travel. Also, not only does it sound appealing to be able to have surgery and then enjoy your downtime in an exotic location, many patients feel that an out-of-country option is a cost-effective way to go, depending on the location they choose. However, I question whether these are the most appropriate priorities when it comes to deciding on a surgeon.

The truth is that there are a lot of factors to consider when you have surgery abroad. Are you able to speak with your surgeon sufficiently prior to your trip to determine that your goals for surgery align? Do you know that the facility is clean, inviting and up-to-date in medical technology? With certain guidelines in place regarding air travel after surgery, have you booked enough time off of work or school to feel comfortable and safe flying back home after your procedure? Does the country you chose have the same health and safety standards as home, and must its surgeons meet the same rigorous standards that professionals in Canada and the U.S. do? If something goes wrong during the procedure itself, are you insured? You must be sure of all of these factors - and more - before even considering hopping on a plane.



I also worry about the issue of follow-up care. It is common for me to meet with my patients at least three times post-operatively during different intervals of their healing; these visits are important both for the patient and myself, in terms of the former asking questions and the latter being able to assess how things are going and treat any complications as soon as they appear. What will the follow-up care be like if you book surgery abroad? Do you have a plan in place should you suffer any post-op issues (particularly if these occur after you’ve returned home)?



When you start to consider the many factors involved, out-of-country surgery begins to become a more complex matter than most people realize. If this is the route you choose to take, make sure you do your homework first.

It's always best to have your surgery performed by someone in your area, since you can then see them easily if a complication occurs. There's also less stress involved. I usually recommend patients stay at least 2 weeks after their surgery if they do come from out of town, then find a trusted PS in their area when they return to their town.  

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."  Going to a foreign country to have complicated surgery done is definitely "pound-foolish."

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.

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.

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! So do your homework and research surgeons close to home. Stay with friends or relatives, but also stay close to whom you will seek evaluation and advice from as you go through all the phases of healing.

Can't you see that there are plenty of problems that RealSelf patients ask about daily? And this occurs with the best-trained and most advanced medical/surgical environment on the planet. Why double or triple the variability and chance of unanticipated problems overseas where your only assistance is from a telephone? And if you really get a negligent result, is there any legal recourse in India? The threat of lawsuit keeps many a physician in line here in the US--but not in India!

Think long and hard--surgical tourism is Russian Roulette with a scalpel!

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 and the uncertainty makes this approach unreasonable.

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-

Forget about india , there are bad ones at all places 
Make sure that you see credentials of your doctor , see the degree of operating surgeon too