Did you know that as many as 15,000 Australians head overseas each year for “discount” aesthetic enhancement procedures? Medical tour operators make it easy for Australians to jump on an airplane and head to countries like Thailand for nip/tuck holidays.
What’s easy, however, is not always what’s good, just as what’s cheaper is not always better. In today’s article, Form and Face gives you a checklist of questions to ask before considering cosmetic surgery overseas.
Medical Tourism: 10 Questions You Must Ask & Answer
Cosmetic surgery can be life changing. Before you decide to join a medical tourism junket to Thailand, India, or any international destination, Dr Norris urges you to ask yourself several key questions.
- Do I need cosmetic enhancement? At Form and Face, we think it’s wise to consult with a local plastic surgeon who can evaluate your case before you fly overseas. There may be safer, less invasive and less expensive solutions to your cosmetic concerns than surgery.
- Am I succumbing to peer/media pressure? The age of the selfie has made almost everyone hyperconscious about their appearance. Medical tourism companies advertise aggressively, with an “everybody’s doing it” tone.
- Who can I ask? As a patient, you’ll have lots of questions about your procedure and your surgeon, as well as the facility where your surgery will be performed. Unfortunately, if you are in a country where you do not speak the language, getting those questions answered can be a challenge. Make sure you know exactly who will be available to help you communicate with your surgeon, nurses or other medical professionals who will be caring for you.
- What are my doctor’s credentials? One of the problems with booking cosmetic surgery abroad is that it’s difficult to know the processes of certification in each individual country. In Australia, the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) makes it easy to learn about a surgeon’s training and background.
- Do I have enough information about the procedure I want? Medical tourists leave a great deal of their care to chance because most of them are not actually familiar with the details of the procedure they want. For example, some patients don’t realise that they have a say in the shape, as well as the size of an implant for breast augmentation.
- Where will my surgery be performed? Surgical clinics in Thailand and other medical tourism destinations may be affordable, but they may not be well-equipped to handle emergencies. Patients of Form and Face are treated under pristine conditions, with qualified personnel and life-saving equipment readily available.
- Do I understand what vacation activities I can include before or after my surgery? If you’re booking your procedure as part of a mini-holiday, you need to speak with your surgeon to find out what is safe to do before and after surgery. Sunbathing, alcohol consumption, and other seemingly harmless activities can put you at risk for complications.
- Do I understand the risks of flying after surgery? Most patients know that cosmetic surgery includes certain risks. What few realise is that flying can create other risks. For example, taking a flight immediately after surgery can increase your risk of a blood clot.
- What if I experience complications? This is an especially thorny question. If you develop an infection or other problem after you return home, you must be prepared to fly back to the surgeon who originally operated on you. The money you saved by traveling overseas can quickly evaporate in this situation.
Ask a Professional about Cosmetic Surgery in Thailand
Are you thinking about a trip to Thailand or anywhere outside of Australia for cosmetic enhancement? Perhaps a consultation with an experienced, reliable local professional who speaks your language (literally and figuratively) should be the first step. We invite you to contact Form and Face on 02 9387 3800 to schedule an informative meeting.