Alex is an expat from England living in Prague. He works as a blogger and editor, and studied History at university. Alex is an avid fan of Czech literature and film.
Plastic surgery has been popular for generations, and its popularity shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. However, as its popularity grows, so do accusations against it. One of the most frequent accusations is that plastic surgery is not safe, especially with the growth of medical tourism, where people go to find cheaper clinics outside the Western world. Everyone knows that some risk is involved, but just how risky is plastic surgery in general? Does safety have to come with a large price tag? In this article we explore some of the statistics.
It has been acknowledged by many plastic surgeons that cosmetic surgery is just like any other kind of procedure, and that any patient needs to be prescreened before going under the knife. As you would expect in any other scenario, a patient needs to have a history check and health check before anything happens, to make sure that you are in suitable condition for the designated surgery. This may involve blood tests, scans or other procedures. Thinking of it this way takes some of the fear away by reassuring us that professional practice is needed whether the surgery is medical or cosmetic.
A major myth is that foreign clinics are less safe than Western clinics as they do not have the kind of professional practice mentioned above. This year alone we have seen clinics in the USA and Australia go under investigation for malpractice, two major hubs of cosmetic surgery. Florida has become well known for shady clinics that have injured patients, and Australia has seen a 94% rise in plastic surgery related injuries. Whilst it’s also true that we have horror stories coming from places like the Dominican Republic, it just goes to show that no matter where the clinic is you have to look at the professionals inside that you are dealing with to really know their standard.
With this in mind, there are some things you can do to stay safe in the world of plastic surgery. Firstly, research your clinic. Does it have genuine, good reviews? Make sure you can find independent voices who recommend the clinic, and if possible try to reach out to them. Is the plastic surgeon registered with an association? What is the reputation of that association? These kinds of things can be easily found online, and its worth putting in a few hours of searching before committing.
Medical tourism and plastic surgery holiday deals have fuelled the boom in cosmetic surgery travel, making it all the more important to do your research and ensure your safety. So before your book your flight, get those key questions covered, and you’ll be on your way to a happy result.
Sources:
https://www.sharecare.com/health/cosmetic-surgery/how-safe-is-plastic-surgery
https://www.foxnews.com/health/florida-cracks-down-on-dangerous-plastic-surgery-centers