The dark side of medical tourism

Wednesday October 24, 2007 ins: Cosmetic Surgery News Tag(s):

Technorati Tags: medical tourism, cosmetic surgery

Medical tourism refers to the holiday packages offered by certain companies for patients seeking a cosmetic surgery procedure such as tummy tuck or liposuction and have it done abroad such as in Malaysia, India, or South Africa. The package may include a trip to some tourist attractions of the country, hotel accommodations, and of course, the actual procedure; all in an amazingly low price.

However, if you think that medical tourism is all beauty and having a good time, then you might be in for a great surprise. The New Zealand Foundation for Cosmetic Plastic Surgery (NZFCPS) has already been alarmed at the increasing number of botched cosmetic surgery procedures that were performed abroad.

For instance, one woman spent a fortnight in Auckland's Middlemore Hospital after a tummy tuck procedure that was performed in Malaysia led to a serious infection.

Tristan de Chalain, president of the NZFCPS, said that foundation members are dealing with about one patient every couple of months who needs treatment following complications after surgery abroad.

It looks like the low-cost craze promoted by medical tourism gave financial burdens to New Zealand’s health sector.

De Chalain added that the problem was that people who had surgery overseas did not allow for anything going wrong and any surgery carries a risk of complications. "People who are providing the service don't allow for that. If it blows up back home, someone else will have to take care of it."

It is then imperative for patients to ask plenty of questions about their surgeon’s background before deciding to go through the operation. Stephen Mills, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Auckland, said he knew of one patient who underwent a facelift operation abroad and got an infection. Further inquiries revealed that her doctor was a neurosurgeon and not a plastic surgeon, which explains the incorrect incisions done on the patient’s face.

Patients are strongly advised to be very careful about getting cosmetic surgery procedures abroad, especially if the cost is ridiculously low. Patients need to consider the risks and complications associated with the procedure in question and must carefully examine the background of the surgeon before making a decision.

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