Cosmetic tourism seems like an attractive option. You get to travel to an exotic destination, have surgery at a fraction of the cost, and recover by the pool with a hollowed-out pineapple in hand.
It's also discreet. You return home looking "rejuvenated" while those around you are none the wiser.
Well, that's the idea.But the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is imploring people to do their homework before getting swept up in the fantasy.
A recent survey by the ASPS revealed that the number of botched cosmetic tourism procedures is on the rise.
In the past year alone, Australian plastic surgeons have experienced a 38 per cent increase in cases where corrections are required for these complications.
"Cosmetic surgery is no holiday," warns ASPS President Associate Professor Rodney Cooter.
"These are serious operations. A facelift might sound dainty, but it's a four- to five-hour procedure.
"Cosmetic surgery packages sold as holidays downplay the importance of the post-operative period. Any kind of major surgery, cosmetic or otherwise, requires a high level of post-operative care.
"That means rest and healing time to reduce the risk of complications. It's not about sunbathing, drinking cocktails, swimming and snorkelling before jetting home."
Associate Professor Cooter says that the surveyed plastic surgeons had encountered a wide range of complications.
"Some of the more common problems include infection, a build-up of fluid, late bleeding, poorly performed breast implants and facelift scarring, which is considered unacceptable here."
While some complications are reversable, 73 per cent of the plastic sugeons conducting revisions have had cases they were unable to completely correct.
"Our plastic surgeons see the damage that can result when post-operative care has not been adequate.
"For example, one of our surgeons recently treated a facelift patient who was left permanently disfigured after a procedure in Bangkok through skin loss following a complication," added Associate Professor Cooter.
Inadequate post-operative care is one factor in the rise of complications, as is travelling too soon after an operation.
"People shouldn't be doing heavy lifting in the early stages of wound repair. There have been cases of wounds pulling apart just from travelling and lifting luggage."
Another issue is underqualified doctors performing procedures. "People are calling themselves cosmetic surgeons who may be GPs. Someone with a general practitioner's degree can do surgery, but to become a specialist surgeon it's up to eight years on top of your medical degree.
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