Advantages and Disadvantages of Having Breast Implants Abroad
Medical tourism and plastic surgery vacations are not a novelty anymore. Over the past years more and more people have crossed the borders to benefit from the advantages offered by this opportunity.
What would prompt people to travel abroad for medical procedures? One of the main reasons is having the perfect body for the fraction of the price they would pay back home. And when you combine this with a vacation in an exotic location, the decision is easier to make. One of the most chosen plastic procedures is breast implants or breast augmentation with more than 1,500,000 performed worldwide last year according to ISAPS Global Statistics.
Breast implants abroad
When it comes to breast implants women have many more options than they did 10 years ago. The procedures are less invasive, the scars are barely visible and the implants options are numerous, depending on what the patient needs.
Here are the types of breast implants that you can choose abroad.
Saline breast implants
One of the top choices is saline breast implants, which offer firmness, uniform shape and a natural feel. In case the implant's shell would leak, the saline is absorbed by the body and then naturally expelled.
Silicone breast implants
The silicone gel feels more like natural breasts and they are FDA-approved for women older than 22 years. In case there is an implant leak, the gel will be retained inside the implant shell or into the breast implant pocket.
Gummy bear breast implants
They are called like this because they maintain their shape even if the implant shell is broken. They contain thicker silicone gel, which makes the implants firmer compared to the traditional ones, but less likely to break. A longer incision in the skin is needed to place this type of implants.
Smooth breast implants
As they name suggests, these implants have the smoothest feeling, offering a more natural movement.
Textured breast implants
These implants will develop scar tissue so that they can stick to the implant. This will make them less likely to move inside the breast.
Fat transfer breast augmentation
During the liposuction procedure the surgeon takes fat from the patient's other parts of the body and injects it into the breasts. This procedure is perfect for women who are looking for a small increase in breast size and who want natural results.
Top destinations for breast implants
Mexico - from $3,500
Mexico is not only a choice for patients seeking dental care, weight loss procedures, and infertility treatments. It is also sought after by women who have heard about Mexico’s state-of-the-art plastic surgery hospitals and clinics. A short commute, two-three nights in a nice hotel, licensed surgeons, FDA approved medical devices and prices a lot smaller compared to the US, are the main reasons for which women in Canada and the US choose this country to enhance themselves.
Costa Rica - from $3,500
San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, is renowned for its reputable and modern clinics and hospital, which offer breast implants that Westerners can get at home but with significant savings. Look for board certified plastic surgeons with more than 10 years of experience in this field. Also read some reviews from former patients and you will be in good hands.
Thailand - from $2,800
The facilities in Thailand are world-class, the surgeons are first-rate, and the care that patients receive is flawless. Patients from Middle east and Australia choose Thailand for its quality, technology used, prices and highly trained surgeons.
South Korea - from $4,000
Dubbed as the Plastic Surgery Mecca of the World, South Korea attracts thousands of patients all over the world looking for outstanding plastic surgery procedures. The professionalism and high training of South Korean surgeons have made this country one of the most popular in the world when it comes to plastic surgery.
Turkey - from $2,700
Considered a bridge between East and West, Turkey is Located at the border between Asia and Europe. The country is renowned for offering superlative plastic surgery and hair transplantation, in JCI accredited medical facilities. Most of the Turkish surgeons have been trained in the US and Europe, being up-to-date with the latest techniques and technologies.
Pros and Cons of breast augmentation abroad
Pros
- Combining plastic surgery with a much-needed vacation
It's like killing two birds with one stone. You get the perfect breasts you have dreamed of and you get a chance to enjoy a cocktail on the beach gazing at the sunset. You pick the destination, you pick the hospital and the surgeon. It's all at your free will.
- Price
Because elective plastic surgery is not covered by medical insurance, the cost of the procedure is always an important factor in your decision and the major selling point. You will be amazed to see that you will pay less for your entire stay in that country, than you would have paid only for the surgery back home. You will have included in the price the procedure with all the hospital and medical fees, meals, accommodation, transportation and from the airport, hospital and hotel, a translator (if needed) and sometimes the costs for a companion in case you want to bring someone with you.
- No waiting lists
No waiting lists and a pampering standard of care is also what attracts patients into traveling abroad. You just make the appointment at your convenient date, with no restrictions imposed.
- Options not available at home
Let's say you want Gummy Bear Breast Implants or Fat Transfer Fat Augmentation but these procedures are not available in your home country. For example the gummy bear silicone is not FDA approved for sale in the US, but they are available at surgeons that participate in clinical trials. Traveling to another country will give you the possibility to benefit from procedures that are not available in your country or which lack FDA approval.
Cons
- Risk of complications
Any surgery comes with its potential risk of complications such as infection and swelling, but when you also add traveling into the equation this risk increases. Traveling after you had a cosmetic procedure can lead to developing blood cloths or pulmonary embolism. These complications can be costly back home in case they will get you to the ER.
- Bargain surgery turning into a nightmare
You get what you are paying for, and choosing the cheapest surgeon on the market is definitely not a good idea. You may end up paying a lot on treatment for complications or revision surgeries.
- Qualifications of surgeons and clinics
Not all countries have formal medical accreditation boards that can certify medical facilities or physicians. In the case of privately owned clinics, checking the doctor's credentials might prove to be impossible. Also, patients are not legally protected outside their country in case of medical malpractice.
- Non-US standards
Sometimes the safety standards in a certain country are not as high as in the US or the devices, products or procedures have not been tested or proven effective or safe. Such is the case of breast implants filled with soybean oil that have been used abroad until they have been proven unsafe.
- Healing from surgery is not a vacation
For proper healing after breast implants you need to follow strict guidelines that your surgeon has established. Swimming, sunbathing, hiking, drinking alcohol and extensive touring are far away from these guidelines.
Before you decide for breast implants abroad, think the entire process through. Research the procedure, its risks and benefits, the costs, the necessary recovery time and how long will it take before you will be able to safely travel back home. Check former patients' referrals and ask the surgeon all the questions that you have.
Check out the clinic, the medical staff and the certification requirements. Find a surgeon that is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Do not go for the cheapest package and do not go ahead with the procedure if you feel that something is wrong.
All this process can take a lot of time and frustration, because finding the information you need is not as simple as you would expect. Another option would be to choose the services of a medical tourism company. They have all the information you need about a specific clinic or surgeon, and they can help you throughout the entire process. Traveling abroad for breast implants does not have to be a Russian roulette. You can be safe, happy with the results and have a medical experience that will change your life for the best.
PlacidWay can help you make the best choice, by helping you access top plastic surgery clinics all over the world.
Contact us and we will be more than happy to offer you the information that you need and be by your side during this life-changing medical travel.
