Plastic Surgery Vacation Getaways Part. 1

Traveling for plastic surgery is becoming more acceptable, more feasible and more desirable than ever before. Whereas in the past it seemed a risky, far-fetched notion, more and more patients today are choosing cosmetic vacations over local enhancement treatments. Read on to find out why thousands of U.S. patients are traveling for cosmetic enhancement services; plus, get tips on choosing a plastic surgery vacation spot, finding a good out-of-state doctor, and discovering if a cosmetic vacation is a viable option for you!

What is a Cosmetic Vacation?

Cosmetic vacations, or plastic surgery vacations, refer to trips taken by a patient for the main purpose of undergoing plastic surgery or cosmetic enhancement. Plastic surgery vacations can be had out of state or somewhere abroad depending on a patient's needs and preferences. Patients are advised to plan their trip so it covers the full scope of their surgery, including the post-op recovery period—most medical professionals advise against traveling during the healing phase, as this can increase the odds of developing deep-vein thrombosis or other complications.

Before traveling to undergo cosmetic surgery, patients can become acquainted with their out-of-state plastic surgeon through a consultation conducted via email exchange or over the phone. Some patients incorrectly assume that if they're undergoing destination plastic surgery, there's no way to conduct a consultation prior to making the trip. However, this isn't accurate. In fact, many plastic surgeons today are willing to communicate with out-of-state patients before they travel. This communication serves to finalize details about the chosen procedure, to coordinate travel arrangements and itineraries, to discuss financing, and to create a complete, personalized surgical plan.

Benefits of Cosmetic Vacations

There are many reasons why patients choose to travel for cosmetic surgery. At first consideration, the notion of a plastic surgery vacation sounds risky, expensive or unnecessary. Others wonder how it can qualify as a "vacation" if you're spending most of the trip recovering? These are all valid points to ponder, but if there weren't benefits to plastic surgery travel than there wouldn't be thousands of Americans who go on cosmetic vacations every year! So why do many patients choose this avenue for plastic surgery services? The main benefits of cosmetic vacations include:

The privacy and reassurance that comes with undergoing a physical transformation away from familiar faces and prying eyes

The combining of plastic surgery leave with a vacation trip for individuals with limited time off work

Exclusive plastic surgery packages offered to traveling patients

The opportunity for patients in rural areas to receive state-of-the-art cosmetic procedures, and be treated by expert plastic surgeons otherwise unavailable to them

Taking advantage of reduced local plastic surgery costs

Cosmetic surgery vacations are much more convenient and easy to arrange today than they ever were in the past. Additionally, many plastic surgeons have streamlined a system for helping their out-of-state patients complete the surgery process in a no nonsense, hassle-free way. For one thing, most plastic surgeons' offices will arrange for convenient transportation from the airport to the clinic, and/or from the surgical facility to the patient's post-op lodging accommodations. Many plastic surgeons will also provide discounted rates on actual surgical fees, reduced hotel and lodging costs, bonus gifts like spa treatments and retail discounts, and maybe more! Plastic surgery packages won't be the same in all destinations or with all plastic surgeons, so it's wise to compare these variables and shop around to find the cosmetic vacation deal that's right for you!

Disadvantages of Cosmetic Vacations

When it comes to taking cosmetic vacations abroad, there are considerably more risks and disadvantages to consider as opposed to plastic surgery vacations in the U.S. Below is a list of some potential risks associated with venturing abroad for your cosmetic vacation:

It's harder to verify the credentials of a foreign surgeon, as opposed to a domestic one, prior to traveling

It can be virtually impossible to arrange an adequate consultation appointment with a foreign surgeon prior to surgery

Checking the accreditation, the amenities, and/or the health and safety codes of the selected provider's surgical facility beforehand will be difficult

Lodging accommodations with included follow-up care or recovery assistance may not be an option

If complications arise post surgery, arranging for quick medical attention or revision surgery will be both burdensome and unpredictable

It will be very difficult to ensure a foreign surgeon is abreast of a patient's medical history and conditions before performing surgery, which could be relevant to the treatment’s success

If, god forbid, you do wind up needing some revision work done post cosmetic vacation, you will likely have to pursue this back at home with a surgeon you are familiar with. A foreign surgeon may not be able to squeeze you in last minute, or even be willing to perform more work on you without background knowledge of your medical and surgical history.

Your local surgeon may also want to hold off on revision surgery until they have all the facts. In other words, you want to avoid corrective plastic surgery post cosmetic vacation at all costs; it means more time, more money, more personal risk, and much more of a headache! And what’s the best way to avoid secondary cosmetic surgery? Cover all of your bases and investigate everything about your cosmetic vacation before planning the surgery and the trip. Your physical health is the most important asset you've got, so don't gamble it on a whim or unnecessary uncertainties.

source: plasticsurgeryportal.com; safecosmeticsurgery.net; wikipedia.org