What Price Do You Really Pay For Bargain Plastic Surgery?

I recently heard from Dr. Michael Salzhauer, a Miami board-certified plastic surgeon who wants to warn consumers about the dangers of foreign plastic surgery.

With the recent plastic surgery sudden increase in the United States, prospective patients looking to enhance their appearance are going to great lengths to get the surgery,and many look for bargain prices.

Today, cosmetic surgery is a booming business in places like Mexico, Latin America, and Europe where their low prices are the main draw. Dr. Salzhauer is aware of the dangers of foreign cosmetic surgery versus the safer and regulated surgical environment commonly found in the United States.

He told me how each year, thousands of prospective patients bargain hunt for plastic surgeons in foreign destinations – price being the main attraction. But we all wonder what risks the patients really taking to save a little extra cash when going under the knife?

The Dr. explains, “a bargain at the outset could result in more money spent on revision surgery or fatally worse, death or disfigurement at the hands of an incompetent surgeon or in a compromised surgical setting. Despite the warnings, people continue to sign up for bargain plastic surgery vacations.”

He continues, “patients may take unnecessary risks, when choosing to go outside of the U.S. for cosmetic surgery, by unknowingly selecting unqualified physicians and having procedures performed in non-accredited surgical facilities. It’s unfortunate that there are some surgeons who are in this profession for the business and not for the patient’s well-being. I have seen and re-operated on almost all cases of botched up plastic surgeries,” said Dr. Salzhauer. He went on to say, “From implants that look as if they were crudely fashioned to those that have become infected or dislocated and have to be removed, to botched facelift, eyelid and nasal surgery, and even liposuction with results ranging from poor to non-existent including incisions placed in bizarre places. Patients put their trust in our hands and it’s our responsibility to always provide the best and safest care possible.”

I had a few questions for Dr. Salzhauer:
What separates the standards in the United States from those of the other countries? According to Salzhauer, “in the U.S., there is a plastic surgery standard that is higher than anywhere else in the world. This includes a high level of sterility, the quality of the technological or surgical equipment, and most important of all, a surgeon’s training. Foreign countries often have neither the money nor the resources to have a generalized standard of care. Contrast this with the U.S. where we have no shortage of patient advocates and medical and state boards which ensure doctors are adhering to specific guidelines.”

Does this mean that plastic surgery in foreign countries is uniformly dangerous? “Certainly not,” says Dr. Salzhauer. “In most countries, one can find qualified plastic surgeon and expect successful results. However, these are not usually the places that offer bargains.”

What accounts for the discrepancy in foreign versus domestic cosmetic surgery? “Hospitals in America go to great lengths to make sure the doctors who are granted affiliation or surgical privileges are trained and board certified in the sub-specialty in which they are practicing. In addition, doctors in large American cities must remain incredibly competitive as far as their knowledge and skill. It would therefore be much less likely for a patient in the U.S. to have problematic results. Post operative care is also a crucial element of plastic surgery. This is another major red flag associated with foreign plastic surgeries. Even if a patient has excellent results at the time of their surgery, if certain are not properly identified, they can lead to an unsatisfactory final result.” Dr. Salzhauer stresses, “The most important aspect of surgery is not only the surgery itself, but the frequency and thoroughness of follow up visits and post-operative care.” He adds that “patients need to be advised when they can resume activities such as work and exercise, therefore, it is essential that a patient’s doctor is accessible, which is a challenge for surgeons in other countries.

As Dr. Salzhauer explains “an additional danger patients run into when having surgery performed in a foreign facility is that often, facilities abroad designed for elective surgery are run more like clinics rather than actual hospitals. Usually the surgery is performed in conjunction with another doctor who may or may not be certified in the same specialty. There may not even be qualification boards in that country.” As Dr. Salzhauer points out, “when a patient sees a doctor in private practice, as here in America, that surgeon — plastic or otherwise — obviously has a more principle responsibility for the well being of the patient. In a clinic, there is often no single doctor who is responsible to handle problems that arise.”

What recourse does a patient have as a result of botched surgeries in a foreign country? “Little if any,” reports Dr. Salzhauer. “There may be no venue for legal recourse for a patient encountering a problem as a result of sub-standard care in a foreign country. Geographic distance would render legal action both costly and inconvenient. The patient originally seeking a bargain will wind up spending even more money, not to mention the time and effort involved.”

Great advice!

To learn more information on Dr. Salzhauer or his practice, please visit Bal Harbour Surgery