It is human nature to approach new people and experiences slowly and with caution. The same applies to medical tourism in general, and the medical tourist in particular. We recently facilitated a young woman’s treatment for a medical vacation tummy tuck and breast lift at a JCI – accredited hospital in San Jose, Costa Rica. San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica and a bustling metropolis by any standards. Costa Ricans refer to themselves as Tico’s and are warm and friendly by nature. The literacy rate is one of the highest in the region with many people fluent in English.This particular patient considered Panama and Colombia as well, but ultimately decided on Costa Rica. Once the geographical region was selected we started our dialog with patient, hospitals and physicians in earnest.
Many patients who would formerly have considered a abdominal liposuction are opting for the “abdominoplasty”, or “tummy tuck”. It accomplishes the same objective with the additional benefit of tightening the underlying abdominal musculature, removing excess skin and fat while suturing the skin tautly. Interior sutures are of the melting variety and exterior closure is accomplished via medical staples.
Our client expressed concern with how the entire process would develop, and we conducted a number of family teleconferences to answer the typical but important questions. The entire process can be visualized as an inverted triangle. The top tier contains basic questions such as “which country”, to the narrowest tip of the triangle containing questions such as “should I wear my jewelry to the hospital when I am admitted”?
As a patient moves closer to the actual procedure, they start to feel comfortable with the process and people ( if the medical tourism company has done its job ). That is often the point in the process where the patient/client often develops “mission creep”. The thought process goes something like this, I’m here, I spent the time and funds to get here, why not get “breast implants”, and” liposuction” while I’m at it! The train of thought is perfectly understandable and practical in one sense. However the surgical suite is not best viewed as “one stop shopping” in our experience. Specific hospital locations and physicians are selected for specific applications (procedures). Could they perform that face lift while you are there? Of course…but the patient may have been better served in selecting a different time, place and physician for that specific procedure.The patient in question ultimately decided not to proceed with the breast implants but instead opted for the breast lift originally planned.
There are plastic surgeons who are virtuosos in certain procedures and some who are merely adequate. The real risk is how much” time under”, as we refer to it: the less time under general anesthesia the wider the margins of safety! Both older and younger patients are universally considered “high risk” candidates regarding anesthesia. The other factor to be taken into serious consideration is post -surgical recovery. If the patient is generally immobilized in the upper and lower body simultaneously and wearing a compression garment recovery may be much more adversely affected.
The body, of course, adjusts as best it can, but the importance of treatments like stool softeners and allergy medications to prevent a sneeze can enter the picture rapidly. The other important, and not to be minimized, consideration is the actual “recovery facility”. A recent client of mine thanked me profusely for our recommendation of a facility in Escazu ( a pleasant community on the outskirts of San Jose ). The facility is in the mountains overlooking the rain forest with 24-hour nursing. The pre-and-post surgical lymphatic drainage massages and all the fresh fruit juice and gourmet meals that a patient feels so inclined to consume were greatly appreciated!
TLC is highly underrated, and recovery at home while taking care of a child and emailing the office can be admired as a parent, but counter-productive for a patient. The patient mentioned had a two week recovery and went from being a TYPE A, to a TYPE Z-Z-Z while having a remarkable recovery!
http://www.platinummedicalvacations.com
Platinum Medical Vacations Inc. is a accredited member of the Medical Tourism Association, we are USA based and specializes in Medical Tourism worldwide. Procedures are elective and range from dental implants and complete makeovers, to joint replacement, and plastic surgery. We guide our clients through the maze of physician vetting, and all associated travel and touring decisions, however the final choices are in your hands.
We offer highly qualified English speaking guides and small group tours with a warm and personal touch.
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