If you’re thinking about having an important cosmetic procedure, it’s vital to choose the most qualified plastic surgeon who can provide you with the most advanced, safe facilities and personally ensure your recovery goes well from the time your surgery is completed until you’re fully healed.
There are great surgeons worldwide with outstanding skills. Patients that travel abroad can enjoy the benefits of their abilities. Most patients who travel out of the country for surgery remain near their surgeon for one week of their recovery process. The chance of immediate post-surgical complications in this first week is rare.
So, is there a concern about traveling out of the country for a top plastic surgeon? Actually, there can be.
Post-surgical complications and risks
While complications in the first week are rare, the greatest risk of post-surgical complications occurs in a longer timeframe, from one month to one year. Once you return home, your surgeon is not available. Further, the operative notes that describe what was done during surgery are typically not available to surgeons in your home country should something go wrong and the advice of a nearby surgeon is needed.
Additionally, many implants and devices used in other countries are not FDA approved, which can increase risk. There is less regulation in some foreign countries, which can potentially raise the risk of infection and complications.
While you might save money traveling abroad, medical insurance will not cover any complications that occur when you return home, potentially resulting in incurring more out-of-pocket expenses than you would if you stayed at home in the first place.
Tips for success if you do choose to travel out of the country for your procedure
If you do choose to travel abroad, there are some important tips to keep in mind to ensure your procedure is as safe as possible.
- Do your research. Take your time in selecting the most highly qualified plastic surgeons with whom you feel comfortable and trust with your face or body. It’s also important to ensure your surgeon’s practice is welcoming, fully equipped according to the highest standards, and designed to meet your needs.
- Check with local patients about their experiences. Your surgeon should be able to provide you with some patients who are willing to be a contact point about their experiences with him or her as a surgeon and how their procedures went.
- Check online reviews. A smattering of negative reviews is expected for a busy plastic surgeon that performs complex procedures. However, a trend toward negative reviews about the surgeon, their skill set, their bedside manner, attitude, results, or the compassion and skill of their staff should serve as a warning.
- Meet personally with the potential surgeon prior to committing to your surgery. During your meeting, ask about fees and facility accreditation. Ask about the details of the surgery–how long does it take, how many procedures like yours does the surgeon perform each year, how long has the surgeon been in practice, what are the typical results of this surgery (review before and after photos).
Your procedure with Dr. Stephen Weber
Dr. Weber is a world-renowned, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. His practice, Weber Plastic Surgery, is focused on cosmetic facial rejuvenation surgery, achieving stunning results on all parts of the face, from a full facelift to rhinoplasty (nose job) or brow lift, and more.
Dr. Weber specializes in plastic surgery of the face that achieves natural-looking, outstanding results with as minimal downtime as possible. To learn more, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Weber to discuss your goals and determine the best treatment plan for you.