More Related Content
Featured (20)
Prime Mag Dec 2011
- 1. Sample Facial Aesthetics Sleep Disorders Treating Acne Prime People Industry News Nov/Dec 2011 Volume 1 Issue 6 Nov/Dec 2011 Volume 1 Issue 6 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AESTHETIC AND ANTI-AGEING MEDICINE VOLUME RESTORATION INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AESTHETIC AND ANTI-AGEING MEDICINE coNseNsus recommeNDatIoNs PRP aN objectIVe eValuatIoN HyALURONIC ACID safety aND effIcacy Novel approaches to stress Merger Batch PDF reduction prime-journal.com
- 2. ANALYSIS | medical tourism | rising standards in medical tourism: threat or opportunity? Medical tourism often incites polarised viewsdefensive attitudes among established professionals whose services are being eschewed versus enthusiastic endorsement from users who have found a less expensive way of accessing cosmetic surgery. Will these two ends of the industry ever meet in the middle? Ashley Yeo investigates M edIcAL tourISM aesthetic Plastic surgeons (BaaPs) are travelling away from sceptical about such businesses, local medical which they see as offering a cheap but specialists, usually risky option for patients seeking such to a foreign elective procedures. they highlight destination, to take the dangers of individuals using advantage of surgical procedures not untrained or unspecialised surgeons, readily accessible at homeis growing against the sound advice of in importance. It is not a new concept by professionals. (a recent high-profile Ashley yeo, any means, but it has taken on a growing episode, in February 2011, involved a Principal Analyst, Informa significance in the last 5 years as patients British woman who died after travelling Business Information knowledge of global healthcare systems overseas for buttock enhancement.) email ashley.yeo@ and of services available beyond their in some cases, the established industry informa.com national borders has improved. feels that warnings are necessary, as in this affects cosmetic surgery too. But the case of the controversial PiP (Poly whereas surgeon and/or procedure implant Prosthesis) breast implants (now quality, or even availability, is generally off the market), which were being sold the driver for medical tourismas well under a different name in some of the as cost in certain casesfor aesthetic most popular cosmetic surgery tourism surgery, cost is the main consideration. destinations around europe, and in addition, some patients are lured regularly visited by patients seeking by access to surgery denied them low-cost procedures. by their domestic health service on health grounds. Safety: the key issue in the past, medical tourism has indeed, for prospective patients, the draw suffered negative connotations, and still of lower-priced surgery can be powerful, does in some circles. it has more often hence the inexorable rise in the popularity than not been associated with poor of cosmetic surgery tourism. Furthermore, quality of care, lack of follow-up and the latter is becoming more accepted as potential costs to the national health an option as local practitioners provider in the patients country of origin. increasingly recognise the value and, industry associations such as the crucially, safety, of cosmetic surgery london-based British association of procedures accessed abroad. 12 November/December 2011 | prime-journal.com
- 3. | medical tourism | ANALYSIS dr Geraldine mcKeever, a specialist trained in general surgery, is among this group. after 22 years as an NHs GP, during 16 of which she also specialised in acupuncture, she left in 2004 to set up a business in cosmetic medicine, in Kent, uK. Her clinic, step Back cosmetic medicine, run jointly with dr chris davies, prides itself on high cosmetic surgery standards and aftercare across a wide range of procedures. speaking to PRIME, dr mcKeever said that for certain surgical cosmetic procedures she is unable to undertake (e.g. sun-damaged skin), she recommends local plastic surgeons that she has done business with. However, patients often return to her from a consultation with the local surgeons saying they cannot dr mcKeever plans to visit the facility the trend for afford their prices. used by secret surgery, the emc instytut cheaper surgery is offered in parts potential uK patients to medyczny unit, in Wroclaw, Poland, to of europe, and dr mcKeever has been inspect the standards of surgery in look to surgeons overseas approached by surgeons in Poland theatre and postoperative care. she has may disappoint local and the czech republic, which offered an open mind but told PRIME that she practitioners, but it is a to work with her if she referred patients remains to be convinced about the ability to them. on a visit to inspect the to access high quality surgery at prices function of a free market. formers business, however, she found 56 times lower than that in the uK. the that standards were not as high as had companys growing list of patient the trend for potential uK patients to been claimed. testimonials bears witness to a satisfied look to surgeons overseas may customer base, however. disappoint local practitioners, but it is a Better press the company complies with us function of a free market. 'i wish the uK the other end of the spectrumand part anaesthesiology standards to distinguish market was a bit broader, and was able of the reason why cosmetic surgery healthy and unwell patients, and asks to decrease its hefty prices,' says dr tourism is seemingly getting a better practitioners, such as dr mcKeever, mcKeever. While that remains the case, press of lateare the businesses that to do a preoperative check involving her advice is that prospective patients guarantee standards of care. the respiratory, cardiovascular and kidney looking overseas check that they are 1-year-old secret surgery is an example. function. if, after the patient returns home, dealing with an ethical company. the the business is run by angela chouaib, there are complications, the company BaaPs advice is to spend time choosing who was a plastic surgery patient herself has sought to set up arrangements the surgeon. While this is accepted and decided to set up her own company whereby dr mcKeever and others can practice in the us, the average patient when she saw gaps in the market for offer postoperative care for minor invests little time in this process, says enhanced levels of care for patients. complications on a private basis. BaaPs president Fazel Fateh. prime-journal.com | November/December 2011 13
- 4. ANALYSIS | medical tourism | But cosmetic surgery traffic is Patient care increasingly moving outside the uK. 'Patients need large amounts dr mcKeever says that nowadays of support and mentoring. approximately half of her consultations You need to feel able result in patients eventually going to talk through your abroad for surgery. 'only 45 years ago, i concernsincluding moral would have never seen a patient go concerns,' says ms chouaib. abroad,' she says. this can happen both she endorses the BaaPs exhortations during the consultation and for patients to check that their chosen at the hospital in Wroclaw. surgeon has received advanced training, the unit offers a full but also observes that overseas surgeons range of plastic and can do most procedures that uK-based cosmetic surgeries, surgeons offer. she recommends that including hair transplants, patients remain in the eu, and stresses as well as services such that they should check what is available as obesity surgery. in terms of before and after care. the focus is customer ms chouaibs secret surgery company service and price. 'a lot of has recognised the need for and value of people cannot afford uK such an approach. Her business operates prices. a 3-night hospital a service for females that essentially stay for a tummy tuck in comprises a consultation in Harley street, Poland costs 贈2800 london, and the surgery done in Poland, with secret surgery, with a fully female team including a against 贈8500 at comparable female anaesthetist. uK prices,' says ms chouaib. every patient is different, and catering demand is apparent from the reconstructive plastic surgery is for individuals preferences is vital. they 180 000 hits that her website received accepted under islam, but cosmetic must be offered all options and be able to in the November 2010January 2011 surgery is frowned on, so it is feel relaxed and confident about what is post-launch period. something of a delicate matter. these going on, including asking questions. With a view to tailoring the package to clients can choose secret surgerys Giving over control, or at least joint the customer, secret surgery also tunisian destination. the company is decision-making, is part of the reason addresses niche markets, such as the unique in the uK for offering the service why practices today become 'Pink Pound' market, for gay consumers; to muslims. commercially successful. the 'Yummy mummy' market, for For certain surgeries, overseas travel mothers with children who cannot Educating the market packages can be several thousand depart in term time but who can build, 'What we are doing is educating people, pounds cheaper than equivalent say, a tummy tuck and a breast lift into a giving them all the information and procedures offered in the uK. that has 14-night family holiday in Poland making sure theyve made the right been the experience of ms chouaib, who during the summer months for choice. We give them confidence,' she offers solutions for 贈6000 (against a 贈10 500 says. 'Weve shaken up attitudes. our patients who do not 12 000 equivalent price customers are not being sold to. its the every patient is feel accommodated by in the uK); and the little things that make the differencethis local practitioners. different, and catering for early retirees marketthe is not just a financial transaction.' the established individuals preferences is 5060-year-olds who may such businesses are successfully operators see such vital. they must be offered all have higher levels of exploiting a niche that is growing all the businesses as a disposable income. time. eventually, market forces will competitive threat, which options and be able to feel there may, of course, be inevitably result in some equalisation potentially remove part relaxed and confident about cultural issues as well as of prices, but for the present, cosmetic of their client base. But what is going on, including personal preferences. surgery tourism businesses that offer others see it as an While these are taken high-quality surgery overseas and asking questions. opportunity. For instance, seriously, the extent to aftercare in their home country, secret surgery began in which they are not met to with packages tailored to the patients November 2010 when ms chouaib the clients satisfaction has fuelled the needs, are both innovating and crystallised what was initially a hobby growing trend of niche operators disrupting the market. into a business. Her website-based offering medical tourism cosmetic company seeks to facilitate surgery surgery packages. overseas by making all the arrangements, ms chouaibs business also caters for interacting with surgeons and helping muslim customers, who may have special with the predictable language barriers for cultural or religious reasons for wanting prospective cosmetic surgery patients. to keep their surgery low profile. 14 November/December 2011 | prime-journal.com