Guide to Cosmetic Surgery Abroad

The decision as to whether or not to undergo cosmetic surgery can be amongst the most stressful any of us ever has to make at any point of our lives.  

Can we afford it? Do we really think we’ll feel better after we’ve gone under the knife? What will the reaction of friends and family be? What if something goes wrong? All these questions are only natural, and they are only added to once you consider going abroad for plastic surgery. The usual anxieties of travel, a new place and new people are combined with the usual anxieties about surgery and the whole picture can get a little bit scary and little bit overwhelming.

Nothing can compensate for doing your own research, it will reassure you, it will arm you with knowledge and it will help you make the best decision possible. If you’ve got some spare time in between rifling through surgery company catalogues armed with post-it notes and a highlighter pen, take a look at the key pointers below. They are just a few of the things you need to consider when thinking about going under the knife under a different flag in a different country.

  • Watch out for Hidden Costs - This is the main pit-fall which so many people fall into when they start to consider surgery abroad.  A price might look cheap at first glance but you need to consider how much it will cost to get a return flight there, how much your hotel accommodation will cost after you are passed out of the jurisdiction of your chosen medical establishment and, more generally, how much money you will need to eat well and keep yourself comfortable whilst you recovery from surgery. For some of the more long-haul destinations, the price you end up paying for plane tickets can be more than you paid out for the actual surgery itself!
  • Cultural Issues - This is something which people often forget about but it is a vital one; if you are going to a foreign country and you intend to stay there for a week maybe more at the mercy of this countries healthcare infrastructure, then you need to be armed with at least some basic facts. Can you speak the native language of the country you are going to? Whilst most companies will have doctors who can speak English, some may not and you need to be able to communicate any pain, any fears or any questions as clearly as possible – if you think this is going to be a problem, and that it could impact upon your physical wellbeing during your trip, or affect how well you are cared for, then perhaps you need to consider your surgical destination. Also, the wider point of how you will cope in a strange land full of strangers after having a major life-changing procedure is worth thinking about. Are you often able to cope on your own away from friends and family? Are you resilient enough to manage or do you need a tight support network around you?
  • It’s Hospitalisation, not a Holiday - This is the mistake which too many people make when they begin to consider going under the knife abroad. They think that it’s all rather glamorous and you can see why; jetting off to some exotic location, coming back with a tan and completely transformed into a younger looking, fitter, more sculpted human being. The reality though, is really not like this. If you are undergoing a serious surgery, breast augmentation or tummy tuck for example, then you will likely feel too ill in the days following your surgery to do anything remotely fun or holiday-esque. There is also the issue of scarring, bruising, bleeding and swelling.  We all have this fantasy of stepping into the surgery room in the morning and then, by early evening, we’ll be running down the beach in our new clothes showing off our fab new body. It simply doesn’t work like that; you probably won’t want your body to be on show for a considerable time after your surgery and thus being somewhere with gorgeous beaches might not be exactly what you need. On the flip side of the coin, it is hard to argue with the holistic qualities of beautiful weather and gorgeous scenery... not that you don’t get that in England of course!
  • Post-operation checkups in the U.K - Apologies for getting all serious, but this is one of the most important points which you need to consider. It is imperative that you choose a company which offers pre and post surgery checkups in the U.K- this is the only way to ensure that you are getting the highest level of care available and also means that you don’t have to jump on a long haul flight every time something goes slightly wrong or when it’s time for some stitches to be removed. Most of the bigger, more reputable, companies will offer this service but, as they will be mainly based abroad (and that’s where most of their resources will be) they may only offer checkups in one or two major cities, such as London or Birmingham or Manchester. If you don’t live near a major city you should consider how far you may have to travel in order to receive a check-up and whether this is viable for you to do. Going with a U.K based firm means that you are more likely to be seen locally and, after debilitating surgery, this can only be a good thing.

These are only some preliminary points to start thinking about. Go and do your own research and then ask as many questions as you can think of to the surgeons who you might be interested in. The most important thing is to not lose sight of why you are going abroad; not for a tan, or a nice holiday, but to completely transform yourself into a more fabulous, more confident you.