The plastic surgery vacation industry is booming! Luxury medical tourism is gaining popularity across the globe, but consumer beware…while opportunities to combine a surgery and luxurious vacation as a lower-cost package outside the United States may seem appealing, there are inherent risks and complications to consider before getting too excited.
Get the facts:
You should know that nearly all cosmetic surgery procedures involve swelling and bruising that tends to increase over the first several days. During this time, you’ll need to keep your head elevated and apply ice packs to reduce swelling. It’s also important to stay out of the sun, so vacation plans should include somewhere that has interesting attractions that you can visit indoors or in the shaded areas. To promote the best healing possible, you should plan to drink plenty of fluids, eat a little something before taking medications, get plenty of rest and protect your investment from physical strain.
Do your homework.
5 Things You Should Know About Plastic Surgery Tourism
Courtesy of http://www.plasticsurgery.org/articles-and-galleries/dangers-of-plastic-surgery-tourism :
1. Cosmetic surgery is real surgery and has some risks.
Every surgery, including cosmetic surgery, has some risks involved. These risks may increase during vacation-related plastic surgery. (At DermOne, we book your vacation plastic surgery in the hotel right next to the office of your surgeon, Dr. Deidra Blanks).
2. Vacation-related activities may compromise your health after having a procedure. Cosmetic surgery trips are marketed as vacations, but rigorous vacation activities should be avoided after surgery in order to ensure proper healing and reduce the risk of complications. (At DermOne, we offer assistance in arranging an array of low-risk activities you can enjoy in Wilmington, NC).
3. Travel + surgery significantly increases the risk of complications.
Did you know that long flights (such as overseas or across the country) and surgery can increase the potential risk of developing pulmonary embolism and blood clots? (Although the risk is minimal, at DermOne we believe it is prudent to remain in close proximity of your surgeon during the immediate post-operative period).
4. You may not be legally protected in the U.S.
There are no U.S. laws that protect patients or mandate the training and qualifications of physicians who perform plastic surgery outside the United States. There may be no legal recourse if surgical negligence occurs. (Dr. Deidra Blanks is double board-certified in facial plastic surgery).
5. Bargain surgery may not be a bargain. Patients can incur additional costs for revision surgeries and complications that may total more than the cost of the initial operation.
Would you risk your face in a foreign country?
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