Plastic surgery is now more affordable due to the trend for medical tourism.
Across the globe, countries are starting to compete for their piece of the lucrative medical tourism market. This growth is also reflected in figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), reporting that 2016 saw a 40% drop in visits to Harley Street from the previous year; a portion of the UK market appears to be moving abroad.
Many countries have recognised the significant contribution of medical tourism to the local economy and seek to invest further. Dubai, for example, aims to become a “preferred global destination for medical tourism”, and has spent tens of billions in improvements.
The Dubai Health Experience launched last year; each member of the network must undergo rigorous checks on quality assurance and clinical government and has involvement from hotel groups and Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) as well as healthcare facilities.
Similarly, Thailand is building a reputation for low cost, high quality, patient-focussed care. Medical tourism may currently make up less than 9% of all visitors to the country, but it is a very lucrative portion and the Thai government is keen to develop the opportunity.
All-inclusive packages
It is important to remember to take travel and accommodation costs to into account; there are now a number of online providers springing up which simplify the process by offering an all-inclusive package encompassing not only the treatment and post-operative care, but also travel, accommodation and even transfers.
Don’t forget to weigh up currency exchange rates
One aspect many forget to take into account when making a substantial payment for a cosmetic procedure is the cost of the currency exchange. This is a detail which could have an impact on the final cost of the procedure and it is important to factor this into your calculations.
Even with the potential cost savings abroad, any cosmetic procedure is a significant investment and a specialist foreign exchange provider can help you to make the most of your money.
The currency exchange rates aren’t the only thing you have to consider. The price for the traveling can be also significant and for Thailand or Dubai it is. That’s why I chose to go to Prague to have my procedure done. My friend recommended me Formé Clinic and after some research I decided that this clinic is going to be the best option for me. And I wasn’t wrong, everything went well, the prices are low and the clinic itself is lovely. If I ever decided to have something more done I wouldn’t hesitate to go to Prague again.