Is it really more risky to get plastic surgery abroad?

The media often describes the dangers of plastic surgery abroad, illustrated with shocking cases from overseas cosmetic surgery clinics. It is positive that these incidents are reported to the public, but does it mean that there is a danger of prospective patients starting to assume that the more expensive clinics in the UK will automatically be safer, more reputable and more competent? If so, then the following report about the real standards in UK clinics ought to be a real eye-opener!

With great regularity, the media goes into overdrive about botched cosmetic surgery in foreign countries. While it is quite right that the shoddy workmanship of poor surgeons at mediocre clinics abroad should be highlighted, it is important to retain a sense of balance, and realise that the same things can, and do, go wrong in British clinics.

The problem is that the media that are reporting the dangers of overseas surgery are all too often dependent on advertising revenue from the domestic cosmetic clinics. God Bless the BBC, then, for publishing a report by the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death, showing just how far from ideal British clinics often are. (The BBC is, as we know, one of the few major corporations in the media that are mostly independent from private business and advertising, which is why they have been able to publish.)

One fundamental weakness was identified, that in many ways is the cause of many of the other failings. Out of all the cosmetic surgeons practicing in Britain, only a third of them are members of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. It is clear that legislation and tougher regulation is needed.
For instance, it is recommended that a cosmetic clinic performs a set minimum number of a specific given operation per year. The reasoning behind this is that without practice, it is less likely that surgeon will be able to keep their skills up, which is really just common sense. An airplane pilot is not able to retain his license to fly without a certain number of flights per year, for the same reasons.

In the instance of plastic surgery, a minimum of twenty operations per year is recommended; however, the reality is that a great proportion of British clinics perform far less than this set level, yet still feeling confident to undertake surgeries that they rarely perform. Just one-tenth of the 361 sites reviewed managed to perform this number of ear pinning surgeries, while only 20% managed to reach this number of breast reductions. One quarter of the sample of clinics performed a sufficient number of facelift operations.

The results show that a large number of cosmetic surgery procedures in this country are being performed by surgeons of insufficient experience. In fact, what is being highlighted is more of a “have a go” mentality, rather than the experience and professionalism you would expect.

This was not where the criticisms ended. Just one third of the clinics, who have not been named, bothered to carry out any kind of psychological evaluation of the patients.


And while it a two-stage consent process is in place, to allow patients to properly consider their surgery options, less than a third of clinics manage to follow this recommendation.

More than half of all the clinics were insufficiently equipped, and one in five had no emergency readmission policy in place. Monitoring of patients before and after surgery was also found to be lacking.

It should not necessarily be inferred from this report that British Cosmetic Surgery Clinics are more or less dangerous than overseas ones. More, the prospective patient should use the results of this information to understand that in any country there may be superb clinics and also ones of a lower standard. The patient must make sure that the clinic they are considering does follow industry regulations and guidelines, and particularly that the surgeon who will be operating on them has sufficient experience. What the report does illustrate is that just because the prices are higher in the UK than those for cosmetic surgery abroad does not necessarily mean that the quality of surgery can be expected to be better.

Will I Benefit From Chin Augmentation Surgery?

Chin Augmentation Surgery is becoming an increasingly popular procedure, for both men and women. Find out more...

What does Chin Augmentation do for the patient?

Chin augmentation, also referred to as mentoplasty, is generally performed so as to create a more defined chin profile and distinct jaw line. This will often dramatically improve a weak chin or sometimes a rounded face and neck. Chin augmentation might also improve the contours of the face and also achieving a harmony to the face by making the chin more in proportion to the rest of the facial elements.

Chin Implant surgery is in many cases performed in conjunction with further procedures, such as face lift surgery or cheek implants. It is especially often used in combination with nose job surgery, as an adequately sized chin will be able to balance out the strength of the nose.

The procedure, which is generally safe to perform upon people as young as 17 or 18, can help to make a moderate improvement in the way you will look from the front; nevertheless as in elective nose surgery, it is primarily intended to enhance the profile.

Chin enhancement using implants often is the surgical procedure of choice for a great number of patients with normally functioning tooth and jaw development. Nevertheless, there is a specialized operation referred to as a sliding genioplasty.

How does the chin augmentation procedure work?

Chin augmentation using implants should be a relatively simple, straightforward medical procedure. The operation is carried out by making a small incision either within the mouth where the lower lip joins the teeth (the preferable site), or from the small crease line below the chin. A small pocket is fashioned precisely over the bone exactly the same scale of the implant so as to stop shifting or implant movement.

A biocompatible implant is then placed on top of the bone structure of the lower jaw, beneath the skin. This implant can be manufactured out of a new manufactured material such as gore-tex, or it could possibly be built from donated bone from the patient. Both synthetic and organic materials have their own particular positive factors and problems. For illustration, the implant put together from donated bone holds a significantly decreased risk of rejection, but a greater possibility of being infected.

When precisely inserted in the pocket, the incision will be closed with sutures which usually can be taken out in about five days, or if the implant was inserted from in the oral cavity, the stitches should be dissolvable ones that will not require removal.

How long will it take to recover from chin augmentation surgery?

Chin augmentation surgery normally requires an overnight hospital stay, but recently there are types of chin augmentation that might not necessitate any recovery time, such as enlargement using facial filler injections.

Generally, you can expect some swelling and bruising, and a degree of pain, which will be controlled using painkillers.

What are the risks?

There are undoubtedly risk factors entailed just like each surgery treatment. Infection can be one of these hazards, and although it can typically be managed with anti-biotics, if an infection will not clear up, the implant will probably need to be taken out and put in at a later date.

A different possible risk can be implant shifting. This will be able to arise should it be the pocket created for the implant is too large, and also in cases where the place where the implant was put is disturbed before the implant has settled into place sufficiently.

To successfully minimise risks, it is very important to get your plastic surgery with the highest quality clinic that your budget can allow for.

How much will it cost me for chin augmentation surgery?

Chin implant price ranges can be expected to fluctuate with each aesthetic surgeon, together with the region where you are living, and with the specific procedure you desire. You ought to be conscious that quotations for chin implant surgery will normally be somewhat general, and inclined to change, until you have received a proper consultation with an aesthetic surgeon. Alternatively, it will be possible for you to take advantage of decreased prices by going to foreign countries for surgery. Learn more about cheaper cosmetic surgery abroad...

This is in fact an alternative which has great appeal to a wide range of patients, and it is worth looking at so long as you are able to research the center where you are contemplating getting your cosmetic treatments.