Heading Overseas for Plastic Surgery

Statistics show plastic surgery is becoming more commonplace these days. For some, combining it with a trip makes absolute sense.

Heading Overseas for Plastic Surgery

One of the fastest growing trends in medical treatment today is plastic surgery. Face lifts, liposuction, nose jobs and breast augmentation are all very popular surgical options for people looking to feel better about the way that they look. While plastic surgery is a generally safe and permanent solution to many individuals' cosmetic concerns, unfortunately, it can be expensive. Health insurance usually does not cover the cost of cosmetic procedures, and so many patients are forced to pay for the entire cost of their surgery. In order to cut down on the price of their procedures, many potential patients are now choosing to have plastic surgery overseas.

When choosing to have plastic surgery overseas, there are many issues to consider. Before even starting to look for a different country in which to have your procedure, make sure that you have a consultation with your own doctor here in the United States. That way, you can be sure that you're in good enough health to be able to have any surgical procedure, regardless of the location of the surgeon. You'll also want to make sure to research the location or country where you want to have your surgery performed. Not all countries have the same standards for their doctors and hospitals, so you'll want to find out just what sort of credentials are needed in your chosen country.

Another item to consider when having plastic surgery overseas is what you would do if any complications arise from your surgery. Often, when a patient chooses to have surgery in a different country, aftercare for their cosmetic procedure is not included. You may end up leaving the hospital or facility where your surgery was performed without being fully recovered, because medical standards vary. Be sure to have a doctor lined up for aftercare in the US before leaving for your plastic surgery abroad.

A final item to consider is whether you will actually be saving a large amount of money by having your procedure abroad. Sometimes, when you factor in the cost of flying to a different country, as well as the cost of staying in that country before and after your surgery, it may be cheaper to stay in the US and have your plastic surgery done at home.

Choosing plastic surgery overseas can be a viable choice for people looking to cut down on the cost of cosmetic procedures, but it's important to do a lot of research on the subject before planning your trip and deciding to have surgery in a different country.

Ricardo de Silva is with PlasticSurgeonPractices.com - a directory of plastic surgeons.