| In April of 2005, the American Society of Plastic | | | | surgeons for patients to view and verify via chat, |
| Surgeons (ASPS) issued a report that clearly | | | | email or voice call. Also, look for providers that |
| contradicts traveling abroad for surgery. Without | | | | offers clinics that have high standard surgical |
| doing proper research, one would conclude that | | | | equipments and facilities. This way patients can |
| traveling overseas for plastic surgery is a bad | | | | rest assure with the outcome of their surgery. |
| choice. Perhaps the ASPS statements is only | | | | What country offers the surgery I need? |
| giving out info that could possibly weigh the risk | | | | Argentina - For plastic surgery, Argentina is one |
| or cost savings of pursuing medical tourism. Below | | | | of the top choices. Plastic surgery in Argentina |
| is a context from the briefing paper. | | | | recently increased in demands these past few |
| "Cosmetic surgery tourism is a price-driven | | | | years. Tourist numbers have increased year on |
| phenomenon that has experienced increased | | | | year by around 10% since 2003, with Argentina |
| growth over the past decade. Numerous | | | | proving particularly popular with British visitors. The |
| companies offering all-inclusive vacation packages | | | | number of UK tourists is up by more than a |
| that include cosmetic surgery are popping up all | | | | quarter (27%) on last year, with an increasing |
| over the world and can be easily located via the | | | | number of Britons coming for plastic surgery in |
| internet. The offers generally include private | | | | Argentina. The clinics of Buenos Aires's surgeons |
| hospital services and tout "highly trained" and | | | | began filling up with foreigners soon after the |
| "credentialed" medical staff. Since elective | | | | economy imploded and the currency devalued in |
| cosmetic surgery procedures are not covered by | | | | 2002. As a result, plastic surgery in Argentina |
| insurance, price is the major selling point of | | | | costs around a third of UK prices. |
| cosmetic surgery tourism, with entire vacation | | | | Mexico - Among the border line countries, plastic |
| surgical packages costing less than individual | | | | surgery in Mexico is undoubtedly a solid choice for |
| procedures in the United States." | | | | patients who are looking for inexpensive but high |
| The context is clearly true, but ASPS strongly | | | | quality make over. According to the U.S. |
| disfavored cosmetic surgery being a price driven | | | | Department of State, more than 15 million U.S. |
| phenomenon. Members of the society are | | | | citizens head south of the border every year to |
| working to solve the crisis on the cost of their | | | | acquire quality low cost plastic surgery in Mexico. |
| medical procedures. Their goal is to devise lower | | | | Mexican surgeons have their own English web |
| cost and less invasive techniques, however, U.S. | | | | sites where they publish their credentials, years of |
| Cosmetic surgeons are unable to compete on | | | | training and accreditation. Another major |
| price with their counterparts in Central and South | | | | advantage of plastic surgery in Mexico is |
| America and Asia. | | | | proximity. With just a few hours of travel, U.S. |
| ASPS also urges the potential complications, | | | | patients can acquire quality service of Mexican |
| unsatisfactory results and risks to general health | | | | surgeons. |
| that may occur. The society cautions that it may | | | | Costa Rica - With medical communities that have |
| be difficult to assess the training and credentials | | | | been in the medical tourism business since 1970's, |
| of surgeons outside of the United States. Patients | | | | any patient that seek for affordable plastic |
| may take unnecessary risks, when choosing | | | | surgery in Costa Rica gives out positive |
| cosmetic surgery vacations, by unknowingly | | | | testimonies about the country's expertise in |
| selecting unqualified physicians and having | | | | medicine. Prospective patients that are longing to |
| procedures performed in non-accredited surgical | | | | get affordable plastic surgery in Costa Rica are |
| facilities. | | | | convinced by word of mouth from former |
| According to Jeff Schult in his book Beauty from | | | | patients that took their medical procedures in the |
| Afar, "A patient who has done sufficient research | | | | country. Plastic surgery in Costa Rica attracts |
| is very unlikely to end up in such a position, but | | | | patients because of its price, but patients come |
| one must be mentally prepared to not go through | | | | back again for its quality. |
| with surgery if one develops serious doubts even | | | | Brazil - Among the countries that are fast |
| if it means cutting your losses on the expense of | | | | maturing in medical tourism business, Brazil has |
| traveling there." | | | | the most potential. Brazil is not the place for |
| It is advisable for patients to consult with their | | | | unqualified doctors, the country is firm with the |
| personal physician first before going overseas for | | | | repute of its surgeons. The quality of plastic |
| plastic surgery. Extensive research followed by | | | | surgery in Brazil is perfect for the average North |
| personal advices from other patients who have | | | | American or European who wants quality medical |
| experienced medical treatment outside the | | | | procedures at a lower price than to what is |
| country are also things to do. Patients should | | | | offered locally. Plastic surgery in Brazil is one of |
| utilize the internet and look for medical tourism | | | | the most considerable options for state of the art |
| sites that offers their surgeon's profile. Most | | | | aesthetic make over. |
| medical tourism agencies provides a page for their | | | | |