Why NOT to Go Abroad for Cheap Plastic Surgery
Why You Shouldn’t Go Out of the Country for Cheap Plastic Surgery –
In search of plastic surgery that might be less costly than the going rate in the United States some patients travel out of the country. Sometimes called “medical tourism” this is a dangerous practice that can lead to serious illness, deformity or even death – all the result of trying to save a few hundred dollars.
Report on the Dangers of Plastic Surgery Abroad
In April 2018, the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery published a report on 78 patients (the majority of whom were women), who underwent cheap plastic surgery outside of the United States.
Roughly 45% received tummy tucks, a third underwent breast augmentation, with various other plastic surgeries including breast lift and reduction, liposuction, and injections of foreign substances such as silicon. About a quarter of the patients underwent more than one plastic surgery procedure.
After their respective plastic surgeries, almost 10% of the patients required subsequent plastic surgery in the United States to undo the damage done abroad. And, roughly 18 percent of patients suffered from serious infections, with an additional 18 percent suffering from persistent pain. 8 percent of patients were left with scarring, and 15 percent suffered from wounds that would not heal. 5 percent of patients also suffered from internal scar tissue in their breast, and others suffered from serious complications like ruptured implants, hernias, and perforated bowls.
Eight of the plastic surgery patients required procedures performed in the emergency room. Among them, a 59 year old patient experienced kidney failure and developed multiple hernias as the result of cheap liposuction of the abdomen performed in the Dominican Republic.
Where People Go Abroad for Plastic Surgery
According the report, one of the most popular destinations for cheap plastic surgery is the Dominican Republic. Other countries guilty of frequently providing “medical tourists” with cheap, faulty plastic surgery are Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Turkey, China, Syria, Venezuela, Argentina, and El Salvador.
While it is true that the initial cost of plastic surgery is often less than it is in the United States, the risks outweigh the potential discount by a vast margin. Undergoing cheap plastic surgery in developing countries has been proven to result in complications such as infections that resist antibiotics and enormous open sores that can leave patients severely deformed.
Among the reasons for such complications from cheap plastic surgery abroad are under-regulated medical facilities and subpar care delivered by individuals without the proper qualifications for the job, unlike expert and board-certified Troy, MI plastic surgeon Dr. Ali, who values the health and safety of his patients about all else.
CDC Warns Against Plastic Surgery Out of the Country
The many cases of botched plastic surgery performed in the Dominican Republic prompted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. State Department to issue alerts attempting to dissuade Americans from seeking out care in that country.
Nonetheless, the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) have both yet to produce any form of guidelines towards solving the problem of plastic surgery tourism.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, prospective plastic surgery patients should always both carefully vet their plastic surgeon, and the facility in which it is performed. Fortunately for Troy, MI patients, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali and AMAE Plastic Surgery both exceed the qualifications necessary for a safe plastic surgery procedure that is free from unnecessary complications and performed in a sterile, comfortable environment.
Members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons like Dr. Ali must undergo a rigorous training program by the Board of Plastic Surgeons before they are able to receive certification. This is put in place to ensure plastic surgery patients are operated on by well-trained surgeons who implement safe practices.
Leaving the U.S. for plastic surgery means the patient with have no means of vetting their doctor’s qualifications. This does not mean that all non-U.S. based plastic surgeons are unqualified -as there are also countless expert plastic surgeons located all over the world. But it does mean that, for patients traveling to underdeveloped countries for plastic surgery, there is no means whatsoever of checking and qualifying who will be performing their procedure.
Traveling to developing countries to receive cut-rate prices on plastic surgery is a health risk that is simply not worth the alleged benefits. And for anyone still tempted by the tantalizing prices offered by practices in such countries, the risk is not only physical, but also financial. Patients who experience complications from botched plastic surgery may not be covered by their insurance should they recover corrective and/or emergency care while still abroad. Paying out of pocket for such care could result in the patient paying even more than they would have if they simply sought out the care of a board-certified plastic surgeon in the U.S., such as Troy, MI area board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali.
Board Certified Plastic Surgery – Troy, MI
At AMAE Plastic Surgery, we are sympathetic to the financial concerns of our patients and understand that the decision to get plastic surgery comes along with some serious monetary concerns. We also understand that the discount of “medical tourism” may seem too good to pass up, but that’s because they are also too good to be true. For that reason, we are happy to offer payment options to our plastic surgery patients.
After all, one’s personal health and safety is infinitely more important than saving a couple hundred dollars. We strongly encourage anyone in the Troy, MI area considering going out of the country for cheap plastic surgery to instead schedule a consultation with AMAE Plastic Surgery, where the safety of our patients is our top priority.
