| Certainly, every surgery (no matter where it's | | | | may protract their recovery. So, too, can normal |
| carried out) entails some element of risk. To | | | | vacation activities such as drinking alcohol, tan in |
| minimize the chance of unsatisfactory results, | | | | the sun, or exercise, complicate healing of incisions |
| professional associations urge patients to consider | | | | and scars? |
| surgeons' training and credentials. In addition, | | | | Travel immediately after surgery or dental |
| Britain's The Telegraph newspaper counsels, "It is | | | | interventions can increase patients' risk of |
| not enough that a surgeon, or hospital facility, is | | | | complications. Air transport may interfere with |
| adequate for the operation being contemplated; | | | | patients' normal response to anesthetics or dental |
| they must be proficient enough to cope with | | | | fillings. The ASPS warns that long flights can |
| worst-case complications as well, and to be able | | | | increase the risk of developing pulmonary |
| to offer, for example, swift access to | | | | embolism and blood clots, and suggests waiting |
| state-of-the-art intensive care as and when | | | | five to seven days after bodily procedures and |
| required." | | | | seven to 10 days after aesthetic surgery on the |
| North Americans consider overseas medical | | | | face, before flying. |
| treatment and dental tourism riskier than local | | | | Perhaps the greatest risk involved in medical |
| care. Legal means such as malpractice are | | | | tourism concerns after surgery-care. American |
| problematic in other jurisdictions. In general, | | | | Dental Association consumer adviser Matt Messina |
| insurance packages will not cover complications | | | | told USA Today that patients risk aftercare. "My |
| stemming from patients' overseas care; as the | | | | concerns are not for the quality of dentistry |
| American Society of Plastic Surgeons counsels, | | | | received ... but for the patient when it comes to |
| "Bargain surgery can be costly." | | | | long-term follow-up and possible |
| Industry specialists counsel that the main areas of | | | | complications....'buyer beware' is very much in play |
| risk lie in travel complications and aftercare. Air | | | | here, as you may have fewer options after |
| travel exposes patients to disease vectors that | | | | treatment if you feel it has not gone well. |