Is it safe to have SURGERY OVERSEAS?

Every year, an estimated 15,000 Australians travel overseas for surgery and healthcare services, according to an ABC report. ‘Medical tourism’ is an increasingly popular reason for travelling abroad, with the industry growing 25 per cent annually. “Typically, the most common procedures people have overseas are breast augmentation, facelifts and tummy tucks. More recently it’s also dental work, Ivf/fertility treatments, surrogacy, cancer treatments and gender reassignment,” says

GP Dr Michela

Sorensen.

HOW MUCH WILL I SAVE?

The money saved by having major medical procedures in destinations like Thailand, India, South Korea, Turkey, Singapore and Malaysia can be huge, even with the cost of flights and accommodation factored in. According to Patients Beyond Borders, you can see an average saving of anywhere from 20-80 per cent if you travel for a comparable medical procedure, although the figures they use are in

US dollars. Prices from the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council state that a full facelift, for example, in Malaysia costs $3300 (A$4900), compared to the around $16,000 or more you might pay in Australia.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

As well as the cost, some people also get medical procedures done overseas because it can be faster (shorter waiting lists), or because they can protect their privacy by recovering from surgery away from friends and family, and sometimes it’s the chance to do some travelling and sightseeing at the destination too.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

All medical practitioners and facilities in Australia are tightly regulated and need to meet strict standards to maintain their registration. “One major risk of having a medical procedure overseas is the possibility of lower quality skills of the surgeon due to different regulatory standards in different countries. Standards vary considerably in different countries and there is no guarantee the quality of care or aftercare will be the same as it is in Australia,” says Dr Sorenson. It’s also really important to find out if you can get medical travel insurance to cover the treatment. Otherwise, if things go wrong, it can become extremely expensive. Smarttraveller.gov.au has good advice on what to look for in getting a specialised policy for medical tourism.

BEFORE YOU DECIDE

If you are thinking about getting a medical procedure done overseas, it’s important to:

• Discuss it with your GP first. “Having knowledge of your full medical history, your GP is in the best position to advise whether the procedure is safe or not. They will be able to go through some of the risks with you and how these risks might differ if you have the treatment overseas,” says Dr Sorensen.

• Make sure your surgeon is qualified and certified. Choosing one who is a member of ISAPS (the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) means that they have been extensively screened and properly trained.

• Make sure you understand how you will be looked after post-surgery. “If you have post-operative complications, it’s important to ensure there are channels through which to contact your treating practitioner. It is also important to read the fine print of your medical insurance to ensure it covers possible complications,” says Dr Sorensen.

• Do your research on credible websites. There are several websites that offer information regarding medical travel and assist in finding internationally accredited practitioners and medical facilities. For cosmetic surgery overseas Dr Sorensen refers patients to ISAPS (isaps.org), which is the international body that accredits plastic and cosmetic surgeons. “The site provides a list of accredited specialists and facilities as we as a very comprehensive medical travel guide,” she explains.