Is Cosmetic Surgery Abroad for you?

Strictly speaking there are no more restrictions on who can or can’t have surgery abroad than there are for people wanting to go under the knife in the U.K but there are certain things which you need to consider in order to determine whether you are a viable and realistic candidate for surgical-tourism.    

Firstly, you need to ask yourself why it is you think going abroad is a viable solution for your unique situation. Do you require a level of expertise that you don’t feel is offered in your home country? Is money quite tight and so you need to try and save as much money as possible? Are you bored of the grey weather and the rain and simply want to get away for a while? If you answered yes to this last question then you probably need to reconsider; having cosmetic surgery abroad is not a holiday- it’s as stressful and hard a time as if you were having surgery in England. Cosmetic Surgery abroad is not the easy, simple or more relaxing choice but it can be the right solution for some people.

One of the major things which you need to consider isn’t really a medical one at all; it’s more about your own personality and how well you think you will cope in a foreign country. How well can you speak the language of the country you’re going to? Will you feel able to recuperate in a country where you are separated from your friends and family and away from the regular standards of health care which you may be used to?  Are you resilient enough to be able to fly home just days after what could be a major or life changing operation? These are the types of questions which you need to seriously consider before you even consider the medical implications of surgery abroad.

Thorough communication and rest and recuperation are the most important factors for a healthy surgery and speedy recovery; how can you ask all the questions which will put your mind at ease if you only have a basic grasp of the language which your doctor speaks?

Aside from these cultural points to consider, there are the more pressing and pertinent medical questions to consider as well. As is always the case after major surgery, be it a hair transplant, or tummy tuck or any of the plethora of surgeries now offered all over the globe,  recovering could take longer than you first believe.  

Will you be physically up to staying in a hotel without your usual home comforts? How will your body react to jet lag on top of surgery fatigue if you have to fly home for financial reasons fairly soon after your surgery?  If you suffer complications after your surgery, or simply have medical questions which need to be answered, are you going to have access to medical staff in your home country? All these questions, and especially the latter one are very important to consider.

Surgery is always a strain on the body, but this strain is accentuated by being abroad and thus you should really only consider surgery abroad if you are sure you are mentally and physically up to the task; a nice sun-tan isn’t worth risking your health for.

In terms of the detailed legal requirements for going underneath the knife in each country, the best thing you can do is to check up on each country which you are considering. The legal ages for foreign travellers undergoing surgery, and the paperwork  surrounding visa’s and medical insurance is something which you need to have 100% sorted before you embark upon your trip. We all know how stressful it is when we can’t find the passport that’s been sitting in the bottom drawer for 6 months, just hours before we’re due to fly out on holiday; this sort of stress is best avoided when undergoing the blood-pressure-raising process of surgery abroad. Get everything in order, get everything double checked and make sure that all the legal requirements are in place before you go- it’s one less thing to stress about. Whilst we are on the subject of stress, if you are someone who suffers from anxiety or is easily stressed, either by being in a new place or the process of flying or travelling, then surgery abroad is probably not a viable option for you- stay home and stay safe!

Essentially if you’re fit and healthy and, more importantly to most companies, if you are able to pay, then you are probably a viable candidate for surgery abroad and thus the more pertinent question to ask is probably: “ is the surgical company abroad suitable for me?” Will they look after you and guarantee that you are able to see a specialist in your home country after the surgery has been performed? Are they willing to put you up in comfortable accommodation whilst you recover? Do they offer the highest standards in medical care?

We are lucky enough in Britain to have some of the best plastic and cosmetic surgeons in the world working in some of the most highly-regarded aesthetic-surgery companies around. If you are leaving these shores of brilliant treatment to head abroad then you need to be sure you are going to get equivalent care for a lower price. Don’t let financial problems push you into unsafe surgery. That being said, many of the companies operating around the world are hugely successful and very safe and can offer surgeries cheaper than here in Britain.  If you think you are up to the mental strain of having surgery abroad then it does have its benefits; nicer weather and cheaper prices to name but two.  

Talk in depth to any company which you may be considering and find out whether they are suitable for you.  Remember it may be cheaper but that doesn’t make it easier; the most important thing isn’t a tan, it’s your health.