Yet another person has tragically died while having cosmetic surgery overseas. Londoner Joy Williams had gone to Thailand for a �2000 buttock augmentation which went wrong. She died while anaesthetised to have the implants removed as she had develped a severe infection. The doctor who performed the surgery has since been arrested, with questions raised about his qualifications.
This news broke the day after a patient described to me her experience of having a facelift abroad. She had picked that option primarily to save cost. In her case, happily, the surgery went smoothly and she has not had any major complication. But she is not pleased with the result and it is not practical for her to travel again to discuss this with her original surgeon. She may need to spend more money now to have this rectified.
Cosmetic surgery tourism is fraught with potential risks and dangers (such as not knowing much about the surgeon, the quality of care etc.). If there are complications, and unfortunately with surgery this is always a possibility, accessing the original surgical team from abroad can be tricky and the laws and regulations differ in different countries, often leaving the medical tourists with little recourse.
If you are considering saving some money by having surgery abroad, think not just about the chances of things going wrong but actually weigh up the seriousness of the risks involved against the benefits. It will be something like a gamble and the question is whether you should gamble with your health and life.
Mrs CC Kat is a leading Midlands Consultant Plastic Surgeon specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. She is a full member of both British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) and British Association of Aesthetic , Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (BAPRAS) as well as several international aesthetic surgery associations. She worked as a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust but now runs her private practice, CC Kat Aesthetics �� Birmingham Laser, Skin and Cosmetic Surgery Clinic, full time. For more information, visit www.cckat.com or call 08453731818.
