Medical Tourism Offers Affordable Opportunities for Plastic Surgery

70% Vote for Plastic Surgery in Europe

Patients in Western societies often choose medical tourism as an affordable alternative to health care in their own countries, and a recent poll by Cosmetic Surgery Answers UK has shown that over 70% of readers would prefer to travel to Europe for plastic surgery over any other region. Spain received 44% of the medical tourism vote, Eastern Europe 17% and Belgium received 9%.  Most European countries beat out North African nations like Tunisia and Morocco even though the latter have experienced a recent boom in medical tourism.  Thailand and Malaysia also rated well with UK and French patients when it came to plastic surgery.  Asian medical tourism facilities have long attracted patients from abroad thanks to their superior pricing and range of services.  

Liposuction Feels Safer In Europe

Being cosmetic procedures, plastic surgery and liposuction are often not covered by medical insurance and can be very expensive in western countries. However, while medical tourism is becoming more and more popular, UK patients feel safer if their plastic surgery and liposuction is done in a region such as Europe, rather than in the Middle East. In Europe, patients can be sure the medical procedure is safe and that the surgeon performing the plastic surgery or liposuction is reputable.  

Medical Tourism is Not Limited to Life Saving Surgery

While medical tourism is booming in countries such as Thailand and Malaysia, over 25,000 UK patients went overseas for cosmetic surgery in 2006. UK patients are also drawn to Florida, because of its large number of plastic surgery opportunities.  It is estimated that around 1 million UK tourists take advantage of medical tourism in Florida each year. The USA is also a popular destination for plastic surgery and medical tourism for UK patients because of the attractive exchange rate and language similarities. 

Source: “Britons Prefer Europe for Cosmetic Surgery,” PR Leap, January 17, 2007