Observational studyAesthetic plastic surgery2021
The Ever-Present Costs of Cosmetic Surgery Tourism: A 5-Year Observational Study.
Observational study in Aesthetic plastic surgery, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
14 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
- Litigation and Complications Arising from Aesthetic Body Surgery: A Systematic Review.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2026Pooled it
- Complications of Aesthetic Surgical Tourism Treated in the USA: A Systematic Review.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2023Pooled it
- Holidays With Perks: A Registry-based Study Investigating Revision Procedures Among Patients With Breast Implants Inserted Overseas.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global 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
- Gaps in public health surveillance of elective surgery: a national analysis of inpatient data, COVID-19 impact, and coding validity in Germany (2006-2023).Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Surgical Emphysema Post Liposuction Overseas: A Case Report.Aesthetic surgery journal. Open forum · 2025Article
- Exploring Health Tourism and Corneal Refractive Surgery: Insights From a Single Referral Center.Beyoglu eye journal · 2025Article
- Aesthetic Surgery Tourism: An Opportunity or a Danger?Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2024Article
- Plastic Surgery Tourism: Complications, Costs, and Unnecessary Spending?Aesthetic surgery journal. Open forum · 2024Article
- Unintended Souvenirs: Case Report of a Retained Foreign Body During Cosmetic Surgery Tourism.Aesthetic surgery journal. Open forum · 2024Article
- Medicolegal Cases in Bariatric Surgery in the United Kingdom.Current obesity reports · 2023Review
- Cosmetic tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic: Dealing with the aftermath.Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCosmetic surgery tourism is an ever-growing industry. Despite its associated risks, an increasing number of patients are presenting to NHS services with resulting complications. This study aims to evaluate the current presentation patterns for complications in cosmetic surgery tourism, and the financial burden to the NHS reported by a single UK level one trauma centre in Birmingham, UK.
methodsFrom 2015 to 2020, all patients presenting to the department of plastic surgery with complications of cosmetic surgery performed outside of the UK were included. Data were collected for patients' characteristics including demographics, performed procedures, complications and treatment. A cost analysis was performed for each patient using published "National Schedule of NHS Costs."
resultsA total of 26 patients presented to our hospital within the study period. All patients were female, with the mean age being 35.1 years (range 22-55years). A total of 32 cosmetic procedures were undertaken, with the majority performed in Turkey (n = 14). Abdominoplasty was the most common procedure, followed by gluteal enhancement surgery. The total financial cost to the NHS from all cosmetic surgery-related complications was £152,946, with an average cost per patient of £5,882.54 (range £362-£26,585).
conclusionPatients seek out medical tourism for multiple reasons including cost savings, shorter waiting times and surgical expertise. The costs displayed should predominantly be viewed as a reflection of the detrimental effect these complications can have on patients' lives. Global governing bodies should focus efforts on educating patients and raising awareness on this ever-prevalent issue. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Indexed as
Identifiers
33625528What OpenQuestion holds
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.