by Mathew Forgey

Over the last two decades the cost of cosmetic surgery has fallen dramatically in the U.S. Procedures that were once only affordable by the rich and famous are now within reach of the average American. When you factor in the economies realized by having cosmetic surgery abroad, it is small wonder that the cosmetic surgery business is booming worldwide.

Countries around the world are promoting high quality medical facilities, state-of-the-art equipment, and renowned surgeons and physicians (many of whom were trained in the U.S. and Europe). The industry even has a name: medical tourism. What it means to consumers is that not only can they get high quality plastic surgery at a fraction of the U.S. cost, but they can also have a relaxing vacation. South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Mexico and Costa Rica are just a few of the countries that now have a thriving medical tourism industry.

Consumer’s who once had misgivings about getting any kind of medical treatment abroad, are finding the hospitals, clinics, and operating theaters in nations offering cosmetic surgery are every bit as up-to-date as those in the U.S.

The huge cost savings is usually what draws consumers to consider having a cosmetic surgery performed abroad. However once they begin to look into it, they discover many other bonuses. Next to cost savings, scheduling flexibility rates high. Most cosmetic surgeries can be scheduled within a few days. It is always possible to schedule a procedure around the patient’s time frames. Whereas, in the U.S. elective surgeries often take back seats to more emergent surgeries and the wait to have a procedure done can take months. When it is scheduled in the U.S. it is more likely to be scheduled around the surgeon’s needs and not the patient’s. The big bonus that no one really thinks about when planning cosmetic surgery, is that by having the surgery performed overseas, the consumer gets a low cost procedure and a nice vacation in an exotic location.

While the advantages of cosmetic surgery abroad are many, there are always risks involved in surgery of any kind. Those risks are amplified to some extent when you add the variable of being in a foreign location. One risk to consider is that should something go wrong with the procedure, the consumer has very little legal recourse. Second, because the procedure is not done in the consumer’s native country they may be more vulnerable.

Lastly, there are risks involved with traveling too soon after surgery. The most serious risk is that of pulmonary embolisms and blood clots. These conditions often arise from high altitudes and long periods of sitting and can be life threatening.

Low cost plastic surgery is available in many exotic vacation locations at a price often as low as a tenth of the cost for the same procedure in the U.S. With prudent research, cosmetic surgery consumers can find a good deal and a good vacation scheduled to meet their needs.

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