Nip/Tuck in the Tropics
Vacations That Lift Your Spirits … and More!
Exotic locales … four-star accommodations … concierge service … restful spas. These are some of the reasons more than 1.3 million tourists are going abroad for medical care each year. Medical tourism is expected to become a 4-billion dollar industry in the next few years and cosmetic tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments. All-inclusive vacation packages that include cosmetic surgery are gaining in popularity all around the world — South America, India, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Poland and Lithuania, to name a few. Some are marketed under catchy names such as "Surgeon & Safari" or "Tango and A Tuneup", and others even discount multiple procedure packages.
Three Coins in a Fountain of Youth
Price is certainly the leading factor in the growth of cosmetic tourism, with procedures (most are generally not covered under insurance) costing 50 to 75 percent less than in the United States. Even if you include the cost of your flight and a top hotel, you can still save considerable amounts on a facelift, tummy tuck, liposuction, skin treatments, hair transplants or cosmetic dental work. But there are many other advantages being touted, including the benefit of anonymity, allowing recovery away from friends, coworkers and nosy neighbors or relatives.
World-Class Destinations
Because of lower building costs, labor and malpractice insurance in foreign locations, companies can develop state-of-the-art hospitals and advanced medical centers in beautiful settings with the latest equipment. Many of the doctors and staff have practiced in the U.S. or Europe and often all nurses are RNs. These medical centers usually don't have a backlog, thus no long waits for appointments. And they frequently offer private rooms and services such as English-speaking hosts or personal assistants or 24-hour medical concierges, not to mention the opportunity to convalesce in tropical luxury or at a seaside resort.
Serious Business
Of course surgery is a serious decision, so make sure you do the same research you would at home as to the benefits, risks and possible complications. Standards and practices vary from country to country, so you'll want to check out the hospital's and doctor's certifications and ask for references from previous patients. Be sure you understand all the costs, the expected recovery time and when it will be safe to fly home. If you're combining your procedure with sightseeing, remember that you may not be able to drink alcohol, swim, snorkel, hike or participate in strenuous activities following surgery.
If you are considering a cosmetic procedure abroad, here are links to websites of companies offering medical tourism, as well as a list of articles for further reading.
MEDICAL TOURISM PROVIDERS
- Med Journeys
- WorldMed Assist
- MedRetreat
- Recover Discover
- Medical Nomad
- Medical Tourism of Costa Rica
- Quest MedTourism
- Planet Hospital
- Cosmetic Vacations
- Surgeon & Safari
- Cosmetic Surgery Travel
- Vacation, Adventure And Surgery? Elective Surgeries By World-Class Doctors At Third-World Prices
- Cosmetic Surgery Tourism: A Tummy Tuck in Thailand, a Breast Augmentation in Brazil by Charis Atlas Heelan
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons Briefing Papers: Cosmetic Surgery Tourism
- Medical Tourism Statistics
- Cosmetic Surgery Touris
