Medical tourism worries, increase

• Wednesday February 6, 2008 ins: Cosmetic Surgery News Tag(s):

  Technorati Tags: cosmetic surgery risks, medical tourism

  Plastic surgery experts as well as patients in New Zealand are quite worried about the status of medical tourism in cosmetic surgery. Reports say that those who fly overseas for a cosmetic surgery makeover went back with major complications.

  Cosmetic surgeons in New Zealand warn that the growing trend of people going overseas for plastic surgery are returning with more than what they bargained for.

  Companies who offer medical tourism give accommodation and plastic surgery packages at up to half the price of an operation in the country. Their websites usually contain prices and packages that range from $6000 worth of breast augmentation in Malaysia or Sri Lanka with 10 nights hotel accommodation. This operation would normally cost $9000 to $16,000 in New Zealand.

  Reports tell that there were at least six patients last year who returned to the country from an operation abroad with major complications. One has to be given hospital treatment and one has to go through breast implant removal due to infection.

  Plastic surgeons in New Zealand are not implying that they do not trust the expertise of plastic surgeons in Malaysia or in any other country for that matter. However, they admit that it is hard to know the real credentials of a surgeon in this context.

  The New Zealand Foundation for Cosmetic Plastic Surgery also pointed out that most surgical packages during the holidays have no post-operative care. And this could lead to susceptibility to bad scarring, tissue damage, and severe infections.

  New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons president Colin Calcinai said some of the things he saw were quite appalling.

  "Time and again I hear stories where people have turned up, seen the surgeon for the first time on the day of surgery, had the operation, been discharged and back home. Then the problems start," he said.

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Has Anyone Actually Tried Medical Tourism?
Has Anyone Actually Tried Medical Tourism? We've read about it, heard about it, and even talked about it. But how many of us know someone who has gone on a health vacation to India? Anyone ever come back from Thailand with a new hip? Is there any forum where real people can discuss real medical tourism issues - http://www.healthmedicaltourism.org
Has Anyone Actually Tried Medical Tourism? at 7:04am on Mar 4, 2008
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