It’s the ultimate vacation hack: A beautiful travel destination plus incredible savings on cosmetic surgery. And, why not? Everyone loves a bargain, but the million-dollar question is, are the savings worth the risk?
Last year approximately 1.4 million left the US to seek medical care, according to Patients Beyond Boarders; cosmetic surgery was the specialty that topped the list. And with savings that can range from 25% to 90% on medical procedures, why not double up and have the facelift you have been thinking about along with a luxury vacation?
The majority of facial plastic surgeons will tell you why: They’re the ones who have to step in when things go wrong. According to the latest annual survey performed by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), not only did almost all (93%) of AAFPRS members report performing revision surgery last year, but one of the primary reasons was to correct previous cosmetic surgeries.
For the medical tourism patient, that’s added expense, risk and time.
The experts at the AAFPRS believe when it comes to your face, it’s always better to do things right the fist time versus having to do them over. If you’re thinking about combining travel and cosmetic surgery abroad, it’s important to do your homework and carefully weigh the pros and cons. Any surgical procedure comes with risks. And when traveling abroad, language barriers, regulations, and clinical standards all factor in to the “what-ifs.”
“There are risks associated with not choosing the right cosmetic surgeon, both in the US and abroad,” says William H. Truswell, MD, facial plastic surgeon and president of the AAFPRS.
“Our AAFPRS members notice that more patients are coming to them with botched procedures done both at home and internationally. Prospective patients may head overseas to save money or get non-FDA-approved injectable fillers and neuromodulators, but this can also be dangerous and high-risk with potentially low reward.”
For those seeking facial plastic surgery overseas, the AAFPRS suggests its international colleagues who have completed facial plastic surgery certification by the International Board for Certification in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (IBCFPRS) and who’ve demonstrated their facial plastic surgery expertise by submitting 2 years’ worth of operative experience and successfully passing the 2-day IBCFPRS examination.
Whether opting for a surgical or nonsurgical facial procedure, the AAFPRS reminds consumers to select a board-certified surgeon who specializes in plastic surgery of the face, head, and neck. Research providers and treatment information via trusted online sources, (including www.aafprs.org, www.iffpss.org, and www.ibcfprs.com), review before/after images, and don’t be afraid to ask tough questions about background and credentials.
[Source: Kelz PR]
