ArticlePlastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open2019
Complications of Cosmetic Surgery Abroad - Cost Analysis and Patient Perception.
Article in Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
19 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Decision-making about bariatric and cosmetic medical tourism from countries with universal healthcare: a rapid systematic review.Globalization and health · 2026Pooled it
- The Medicolegal Challenges of Facial Plastic Surgery: A Systematic Review.Aesthetic surgery journal · 2025Pooled it
- Medical Tourism in Aesthetic Breast Surgery: A Systematic Review.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2021Pooled it
- Aesthetic surgery complications in private practice settings: Insights to optimize patient access and outcomes.JPRAS open · 2026Article
- Article
- Complications and costs to the UK National Health Service due to outward medical tourism for elective surgery: a rapid review.BMJ open · 2026Review
- Listening to Women's Voices: A Patient and Public Involvement Exercise Exploring Vulval Reconstructive Surgery for UK Women With Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2025Article
- Unanticipated Economic Burden of Cosmetic Surgery Tourism: A Single Academic Center's Experience.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2025Article
- On Medical Tourism Overseas: Ethical Analysis of the Duties of NHS Doctors in Managing the Negative Health Consequences of Accessing Medical Treatments Abroad.Journal of evaluation in clinical practice · 2025Article
- Article
- Ethics in Global Plastic Surgery Missions.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2024Article
- Costs Versus Complications: Public Perspectives on International Cosmetic Surgery Tourism.Plastic surgery (Oakville, Ont.) · 2024Article
- Plastic Surgery Tourism: Complications, Costs, and Unnecessary Spending?Aesthetic surgery journal. Open forum · 2024Article
- Sciatic Nerve Transection Following Prosthetic Buttock Augmentation: First Reported Case and Review of the Literature.Aesthetic surgery journal. Open forum · 2024Article
- Developing an International Framework for Informed Consent in Plastic Surgery: A Focus on Cosmetic Breast Augmentation.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2023Article
- Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection of Abdominal Wall after Lipoabdominoplasty: Complication following Medical Tourism.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2022Article
- The Ever-Present Costs of Cosmetic Surgery Tourism: A 5-Year Observational Study.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2021Observational
- Plastic Surgery Complications: A Review for Emergency Clinicians.The western journal of emergency medicine · 2020Review
- Abdominal Flap Necrosis and Wound Dehiscence following a Medical Tourist Tummy Tuck.Case reports in surgery · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCosmetic surgery tourism is rapidly becoming more prevalent in the United Kingdom. We aim to identify the motivational factors underlying patients' decisions to go abroad for their treatment and gather information about the ensuing complications.
methodsA retrospective review (January 2013-August 2017) was conducted of patients seen at a single major trauma center for complications from cosmetic surgery performed overseas. Cost analysis was performed based on national tariffs. Complications were grouped based on Clavien-Dindo classification and the Clinical Commissioning Group cost. A telephone survey was conducted to evaluate reasons for travel, details of complications, and impression of healthcare at home and abroad.
resultsA total of 20 patients (one male, 19 females) with a mean age 36 years (23-59 years) were included. Lower cost was the most popular reason for travel, followed by lack of expertise and friend's recommendation. Abdominoplasty (n = 9) had the highest number of complications followed by gluteal augmentation (n = 7). All major complications were due to gluteal augmentation (n = 4). The cost was for minor (n = 8, £3,448), intermediate (n = 8, £18,271), and major (n = 4, £42,083.59) complications.
conclusionsWe raise serious concerns about the lack of regulation in cosmetic tourism and the absence of patient follow-up abroad. A particular concern was all gluteal augmentation cases had major complications. An international consensus to regulate surgical practice abroad is crucial to protect patients' interests and promote safe cosmetic surgery.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.