|
A CRAZE for "nip and
tuck tourism" among women
is putting their health at
risk, a leading plastic
surgery expert said
today.
Image conscious women from
across the North West are
jetting off to overseas
destinations - including
South Africa, Marbella on
the Costa Del Sol and
historic Prague in the
Czech Republic - to
combine cosmetic surgery
with a luxury
holiday.
Specialist companies say
demand for plastic surgery
packages has soared in the
North West and flights are
now being arranged from
Manchester Airport.
But Michael Barrett, of
the British Association of
Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
today warned that these
women could be "courting
disaster" by travelling
abroad for major
surgery.
Many women are lured by
the attraction of jetting
off for a secret facelift
or boob job which their
friends never know they
have had. But Mr Barrett
warned patients to
check the qualifications
of their
surgeons
before they travel.
He said "Travelling
abroad for surgery is very
dangerous unless the
prospective patient
can
check the qualifications
of the
surgeon
.
"There are so many scare
stories, horrific tales of
what has happened to some
people who have gone
abroad for surgery.
Unless patients
can
check the surgeon's
qualifications
they are courting
disaster."
Several new luxury clinics
aimed at foreign clients
have opened up across the
Costa del Sol and travel
companies are cashing in
by offering package trips
including surgery
operations of your choice.
And "scalpel safari" tours
to South Africa have been
popular because of the
good reputation of the
country's hospitals and
the good exchange rate.
A boob job in South
Africa costs around £1,000
compared with an average
of around £4,000 in the
UK.
Linda Briggs, boss of a
cosmetic surgery advice
web site based in Norwich,
said "The people who go
abroad are the ones who
want to keep it a secret
more than those who have
surgery in the UK.
They tell everyone
they are going on holiday
and that explains why they
look so good when they
come back.
"Going abroad is so
popular now - probably
about half of all the
cosmetic surgery patients
from the UK are now
going abroad for surgery.
The cost is a big
factor. In South
Africa for example you can
get a fantastic level of
treatment for half the
price that it costs here -
including flights and
accommodation".
But Linda, who has
organised surgery for
patients in countries all
over the world including
Croatia, Germany, Holland
and South Africa, warned
women to
thoroughly check out their
surgeons
before they
travel.
"There are good and bad
surgeons in every country.
Patients should
check that their surgeon
has their countries
equivalent qualification
of being a Fellow of the
Royal College of surgeons,
and they should also be
registered with their
countries regulatory body,
such as the
GMC"
"What many patients
don't do is check their
surgeons insurance cover
in case something does go
wrong and they should also
make sure that they have
suitable medical travel
insurance."
| 
