Q: I'm thinking about traveling out of the country for cheaper cosmetic surgery. Is that a good idea?
A: There have been plenty of horror stories of men and women seeking international cosmetic and plastic surgery for the falsely perceived benefits of a low-cost surgery and a high-value vacation. The risks of cosmetic international surgery far outweigh the benefits, especially when it comes to complications and the standards of practice that are not upheld outside the United States.
For one, physicians that perform cosmetic surgical procedures outside the U.S. are unlikely to be a member of the American boards, licensed or possess the extensive training needed to perform the procedure safely to the standards of the American Board of Medical Specialties.
Take for example, a common experience of a patient who had undergone a cosmetic surgery outside of the country. The patient was released a week or so after surgery and returned to the states. Any complications, such as infections, blood buildup under the skin and part of the skin opening up that the patient unfortunately succumbs to, will be dealt with by another provider within the U.S., and the visits, the emergency room and potential surgeries will not be covered through the patient's insurance.
This is a common tragic experience that the public should be notified about, and frankly occurs far too often, as seen in our own Chattanooga emergency rooms with local patients coming back from out of country. For the safety of all individuals, people should think twice before pursing cosmetic surgery medical tourism.
— Dr. Ravi Viradia is the plastic surgery chief fellow at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga and a member of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society.
Dr. Ravi Viradia