Although travelling abroad for plastic surgery has seen a rise in popularity in recent years, it is not always the best option when it comes to patient safety. All cosmetic procedures carry some risks, which means it is best to have your surgery performed by a qualified surgeon that is board certified. If you have been thinking about going outside of the United States for your upcoming cosmetic procedure, there are a few facts to consider about plastic surgery tourism.
The Risks of Plastic Surgery Abroad
The lower price of plastic surgery abroad may be tempting, but oftentimes, patients are not receiving the same level of care that they would be with a board-certified plastic surgeon in the United States. Surgeries pose some risks, which is why you want to find a plastic surgeon that understands the entire process of surgery: consultation, planning, and follow-up care. While travelling, there can be an increased risk of plastic surgery complications.
- Vacation-related activities pose additional risks: The risk of developing a pulmonary embolism increases with surgery as well as long flights.
- Lack of training and experience: The U.S. can’t track the qualifications of physicians who practice outside of the country, which means there are also no U.S. laws that can protect patients. A patient could be receiving treatment from someone that hasn’t had proper training, which could lead to a botched surgery. If there is surgical negligence, you may not have any legal recourse.
- Risk of complications: Post-procedure care requires rest and follow-up appointments to ensure the surgical area is healing properly. With plastic surgery tourism, you do not always get the chance to recover properly, especially if you have a long flight ahead of you.
- Additional costs for surgery: If you received plastic surgery overseas and dislike the results, you may incur additional costs to fix the problem. These added fees may total more than the price of the initial procedure if it was performed in the United States.
Choose a Board Certified Surgeon
Why risk going under the knife with a physician you aren’t familiar with? At Boulder Plastic Surgery, we take the time to get to know you. We communicate with you to understand what type of procedure you are looking for, plus, our surgeons are board certified. To become board certified, the surgeons at Boulder Plastic Surgery had to go through formal training and education to meet the national standards in their specialized fields.
Contact Us for a Consultation
If you want to feel confident about your plastic surgery decision and avoid the risks associated with plastic surgery tourism, contact our office for a consultation. Our board-certified plastic surgeons will walk you through the entire process and will address any questions that you may have. To schedule an appointment, please call us at (303) 578- 4193.
