By: Dr. Juan Garcia

As soon as summer comes around, ads crop about “plastic surgery vacations” that encourage Albany women to combine liposuction, breast enlargement, or another cosmetic surgery procedure with a week or two away from home. On the surface, a plastic surgery vacation seems very practical and attractive, and from some surgeons they can be a legitimate way to enhance the surgical experience. However, some patients end up with a poor experience or poor results from these “surgical vacations,” so how do you know whether you would fare better receiving your procedure out-of-state or closer to home?

Three factors to consider when you are making this decision:

Choosing a Surgery Center

Why it’s important: Your selection of the right surgeon and the right surgery center is the most important choice you have to make regarding your cosmetic surgery. A Glens Falls, Schenectady, or greater Albany area plastic surgeon who is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and who practices up-to-date techniques in safe facilities typically has the training to offer better-customized results.

My perspective: A wise choice of surgeon requires care and attention, and in my experience patients find it difficult to evaluate and compare doctors accurately from hundreds of miles away. If you find an out-of-state surgeon you trust, take the time to contact other plastic surgeons in their area to get a complete picture of your options, and ask to speak to a few of their past “travel” patients to find out more about their experience before you sign on for a procedure.

Planning a Pleasing Outcome

Why it’s important: At some surgical practices, you will not even see your plastic surgeon until the day of your surgery, while at other Albany-area liposuction centers the surgeon will provide multiple consultations to refine your surgical plan in detail. At my practice, I tend to spend time with each patient in the first consultation in order to explain her options and recommend an approach that accurately reflects her needs.

My perspective: When I hear about plastic surgery “vacations,” I sometimes worry that these patients are not getting the time and care that they need from a surgeon. Be sure to check with the surgical center in question to find out what steps they take to ensure a more flexible and personally customized surgical plan, despite the extra barriers of distance and limited vacation time.

Recovering Safely

Why it’s important: Part of the attraction of these vacation offers is that they allow the patient to pair their recovery with the attractions of whatever locale they are visiting. However, whether you receive your surgery in Florida or locally, surgery is still surgery, and rest and relaxation are crucial to a healthy recovery and attractive results.

My perspective: For most procedures, I tell my patients not to travel within a week or two of their procedure, especially because I want them to be able to contact me immediately with any questions or concerns about their surgery. Obviously, this is easier to do when you are up the street rather than across the country.

The Bottom Line:

Many patients are enjoying great results from vacation procedures, but if you are thinking of this approach, please plan carefully and keep in mind that your health and results always need to come first.

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