Travelling Abroad for Cosmetic Surgery: The Disadvantages

Getting a cosmetic surgery in the US can be very expensive. It is made even more pricy with the fact that health insurances do not cover such procedures or any injury incurred in the process. Because of financial reasons, some people who want to augment their physical appearance opt to travel abroad instead of having the procedure in the United States to reduce their expenses.

People go to other countries, mainly Asian countries like Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia, because cosmetic procedures costs lesser in these areas not to mention that the exchange rates are very advantageous to Americans. In fact, even with combined expenses on plain tickets, food and accommodation, cosmetic surgery abroad is still less expensive compared to procedures conducted in US. Some travel agencies and clinics abroad that provide cosmetic surgeries even offer packages to make it appear like clients are more on a holiday instead of getting a surgical procedure. Such strategies plus the affordability of the procedure make plastic surgery abroad even more attractive. But how safe can it be? If you are thinking about getting an aesthetic procedure abroad, consider the following points before coming up with a decision:

·         A thorough physical and health examination must be conducted by a surgeon before you go through cosmetic surgery. There is also a need for you to go through an array of tests to determine if you are fit for the procedure or not. Because of your geographic distance, it would be impossible for the surgeon to conduct the tests and going through any surgical procedure without these tests can be very dangerous.

·         Also, because the surgeon is halfway across the globe, there is no way for you to assess or gauge his capacities or the quality of his works because you would only meet him on the day of the operation. You also do not have a way to check for the surgeon’s accreditation and membership.

·         Another disadvantage of having cosmetic surgery overseas is that you cannot consult the surgeon if you have any postoperative issues. Travelling back and forth to the country where the surgeon is located would be quite expensive and impractical.

·         You do not have a way of knowing the clinic or the surgeon’s local reputation. Of course they would package the clinic and their services to make them attractive to people who want plastic surgery abroad but who knows what the surgeon is locally? Think about it to protect your health and money.