By: Dr. Wendell Perry

Online advertisements for overseas “cosmetic surgery getaways” abound. Breast augmentation candidates in Miami and Fort Lauderdale find the prices enticing, but they need to be very wary of signing on for “deals” without reading the fine print.

• Overseas cosmetic surgeons in places like Thailand and Brazil can keep a low overhead because they rely on inexpensive labor and surgical supplies. Too often, this translates to inferior products and inferior results. Breast enlargement is one area where you don’t want to have to worry about a product recall.
• The United States has implemented medical practice and certification standards for a good reason. The most popular medical tourism destinations often lack the ethical and full-disclosure components of quality certification boards – or simply don’t enforce them.
• On the same note, without understandable certification and disclosure regulations, you may undergo an experimental procedure without your knowledge. Disciplinary records are a similar concern – surgeons who have been prohibited from practicing in the U.S. sometimes go elsewhere.
• In some places, ethnic differences may create technical concerns. African-American, Asian, and Caucasian faces all demonstrate different age patterns and aesthetic characteristics, and while overseas surgeons may tout their “wide range” of patients, experience unrelated to your needs and body type is not a plus.
• Patient communication is also important. For facial surgery or a breast augmentation in Fort Lauderdale, I take the time to discuss options with my patients clearly and specifically. With any doctor, a loss in communication means a loss in satisfaction, and cultural or linguistic challenges can worsen these difficulties.

To cap it all, overseas medical tourism for cosmetic surgery “getaways” can end up being stressful because recovery time limits travel. In the end, it’s safer and often far more cost-effective to plan a breast augmentation vacation that’s closer to home.