Foreign cosmetic surgery tourism has become a big business in recent years. Patients often plan vacations abroad around cosmetic procedures, receiving a variety of plastic surgery treatments for a fraction of the cost that these procedures would cost here in the United States. But is cosmetic surgery tourism really such a great value?
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) says no. The ASPS, the largest association of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world, cautions that it can be difficult to know whether or not a surgery purchased as part of a package deal will be performed by qualified plastic surgeons using safe equipment. A botched procedure may cause a need for future corrective surgeries which could be more complex and expensive.
Even if a surgery is successful, many of the vacation activities of the package deal are contraindicated for recent surgical patients. Sunbathing and intense activities can hinder the healing of new incisions, and plane rides to other countries within a few days of surgery increase the risk of complications such as blood clots and pulmonary embolisms. The ASPS recommends careful research and consideration before any cosmetic procedure.
Seattle plastic surgeon Dr. Shahram Salemy receives and accommodates many out-of-town plastic surgery patients and agrees that a cheaper price may be attractive at first but may not provide patients with the greatest value in the long run. “If you go overseas for a procedure, you may not be able to research the training and qualifications of the person operating on you or how safe their facilities are. You are more likely to get positive results in the U.S. because you can easily determine if your surgeon is board-certified, and if their facility has been inspected and is accredited, and what’s more, it’s usually easier to meet with the surgeon, multiple times if necessary, to go over all of your questions in detail prior to surgery.”
Dr. Salemy, a graduate of Yale Medical School, is board-certified in plastic surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. He was a top three finalist in the Best of Western Washington’s Best Plastic Surgeon category in 2012 and 2013 as well as the winner of the Patients’ Choice Award in 2008 and 2009. Dr. Salemy takes pride in staying up-to-date with the latest plastic surgery techniques and in making sure each of his patients receives a treatment plan properly suited to their individual needs.
Learn more about scheduling plastic surgery in Seattle with Dr. Salemy or call to schedule a new patient consultation with Dr. Salemy at (206) 467-1101.
