ClaudiaJ

Hi everyone!

I have read some concerns on the quality of having an affordable plastic surgery abroad. So I thought I'd share some info on how to have a safe medical trip.

- It may be cliche but you really have to make sure that your Plastic Surgeon is board certified and a qualified specialist in Plastic, Cosmetic or Reparative Surgery (only Speciality legally recognised to practise Cosmetic Surgery is that of Plastic, Cosmetic and Reparative Surgery).

- Check if the medical clinic or hospital you're going into is accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI) or other similar organizations.

- It may be difficult to know but try to check if your plastic surgeon uses facilities that are accredited by JCI or similar agencies.

- Another cliche - do some research. Try to check the surgeon's records - number of successful operations, repeat operations, etc.

If you don't know where to start searching for a potential surgeon abroad, check out some medical tourism agencies. They can give you names of trusted surgeons in that country. From then on, you'll know what to search next.

Some patients may be afraid of the horror stories about going abroad for plastic surgery. Actually, even in the US, there are "horror stories." This happens if you got a low quality service. I had my successful plastic surgery in Argentina. Despite the horror stories I heard and read, I still decided to go. I went with GoSculptura and they made my medical trip very convenient.

I hope these little info of mine can help anyone. Please post in here if you have anything to add...

AminaE

You posted some great information!

To learn even more, read this informative article from Cafe Magazine about the risks of cheap cosmetic surgery abroad, especially in Latin American countries. While the procedures can be risky, knowing how to find the right surgeon and educating yourself about procedures beforehand will help you in your search for the perfect procedure. "Risky Operations" will help you figure out what you need to make an informed decision. Click this link to read the article: Risky Operation.

Your friend from Cafe,
Amina

ClaudiaJ

You're right. Educating yourself about plastic surgery procedures, especially the one you want to have will help even more. I guess this is not only for those who are traveling abroad for plastic surgery but for everyone regardless of the place. This will help you communicate with your surgeon better and come up with the best result.

ReynoldPitre

Some popular cosmetic surgery abroad locations are not conducive to healing; especially hot and humid climates.

ClaudiaJ

Excellent point. That is why patients should not make impulsive decisions when going abroad for plastic surgery. There can be times that they may be tempted with the affordability. They should really check the qualifications and such, the pros and cons, etc.

This is not to discourage patients who plan to have a plastic surgery in Mexico, Poland, Thailand, etc. But this should serve as a guide for their medical trip.

JuniperJ

I unfortunately did not have the same experience with gosculptura. I had abdominal liposuction in Buenos Aires and am very unhappy with the results because my stomach looks deformed.

robyne00

Careful with accreditations of surgeons. Credentials and regulations can vary from country to country. As an individual who spends a great time outside of the US, this is a critical variable to point out.

la_angel

I'm very sorry to hear about your outcome JuniperJ Although that can happen in the US too I think it's safe to say that it's at least less likely to happen here. As Robyne pointed out what it takes to be a doctor in one place is not the same in another.

Another reason to stay locally is because complications can and do happen. This is especially true with procedures like rhinoplasty where there is such a high dissatisfaction rate.

Margaret

If you do your homework you will find that the best doctors in Mexico are highly skilled professionals with as rigorous if not more rigorous training than in the US. I don't know about other countries but in Mexico board certified surgeons needs a minimum of 12 years education and they are recertified every ten years. To make sure the surgeon you have selected is certified there is an alphabetical listing at the Mexican Council of Plastic Surgery website; or you can do a search by city or area of board certified surgeons on the
Mexican Association of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery (AMCPER) site Both in Spanish but very easy to navigate.

I had plastic surgery in Cuernavaca, Mexico through Renewed in Mexico, which is a very affordable option that includes everything you need and by the way is in central Mexico which is never too hot and rarely humid.

robyne00

I like the recertification process, but 12 years of education is low to average for PS. In some places in Europe 12 years of education to be a plastic surgeon would be deemed unacceptable.

I personally have also seen people go through many years of schooling and skate by anyway. Sometimes length of education, where one is educated, and a plethora of degrees are not indicative of mastery. Many people buy their degrees or donate money, property, and/or buildings to universities, so they do not have to go through a rigorous academic career. Also, regardless of schooling, there are no guarantees with surgery. Many successful surgeries are performed by experienced surgeons with a great deal of skill.

Humidity is present, but acceptable, ranging from 52% to 70% on average, depending on location and time of year. Many other places in the world would be more conducive to post-op healing.