Low Cost Cosmetic Surgery

The effects of sun, age, and the stresses of life can take a toll on our skin. If you do have an obvious mark or discoloration on your face, cosmetic surgery is definitely an option to improve what you don’t like. Since cosmetic surgery procedures usually carry a hefty price tag, especially in developed nations, a sizeable number of people around the globe are seeking low cost cosmetic surgery abroad.

What is Cosmetic Surgery?

Cosmetic surgery is performed for the enhancement of the aesthetic appearance of an individual.

It includes procedures that reshape or enhance the appearance of parts of the body that are not aesthetically pleasing. These procedures are done in order to give a boost to the patient's appearance and self-esteem.

Statistics by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) show that breast augmentation was the most popular plastic surgery procedure in the past decade. It shows a considerable rise in surgical procedures, with liposuction representing 18.8% of all surgical procedures, followed by breast augmentation at 17%, blepharoplasty at 13.5%, rhinoplasty at 9.4% and abdominoplasty at 7.3%.

Growing Demand for Cosmetic Surgery

Demand for cosmetic surgery has grown over the years, and it has actually become more popular not just among the rich but also among middle-income groups. People in every age group are conscious about their looks and are increasingly opting for cosmetic surgeries to improve their looks.

Getting any kind of cosmetic surgery in the first world countries is too expensive, prompting those desperate to have perfect looks to travel overseas to get cosmetic procedures at a lower cost.

Where to Get Low-Cost Cosmetic Surgery

Since cosmetic surgery is an elective procedure it is rarely covered by health insurance. This leads the people who either are uninsured or unable to pay for the surgery in their home land to look for inexpensive cosmetic surgery procedures like breast enlargement and facelift in India, Mexico, Thailand and Costa Rica.

India cosmetic surgery is one of the most sought after options as it offers discounted procedures without compromising on the quality. Foreign patients not only get cosmetic surgery in India at much cheaper cost, but also get it at a standard that is at par with developed countries.

Some Indian hospitals have earned a good reputation for providing excellent healthcare standards.

The super specialty hospitals in major Indian cities are staffed with qualified and highly skilled surgeons, who provide their quality services at cheaper prices.

If you knees are making it difficult to take a step, you may opt to get knee Surgery in India, which is available at a fraction of what it costs in USA or Europe. The cost of other major procedures like spinal surgeries, hip or shoulder replacement, cancer treatments and heart surgery in India is significantly low.

If you are considering transforming any of your body part that makes you feel uncomfortable, having low cost cosmetic surgery in India may just be the wise option for you, as it can save you a substantial amount of money along with the benefit of getting world class healthcare in the newly industrialized Asian country.

Spine Surgery in India

Most people know what it means to have back pain. Pain can range from a sharp, annoying sensation when sitting too long to tenderness so debilitating that a person is not able to walk or sleep. The worst case, of course, is spinal cord injury that can result in paralysis. Those looking for respite from back pain without spending a fortune can opt for spine surgery in India.

Back Surgery in the First World – a Remote Possibility for Many

 As per the U.S. National Library of Medicine: National Institutes of Health, eight out of ten people complain of backache at some point in their lives. Many factors can cause back pain but when it comes to the surgery to fix the problem, people don’t always get the help they need. Many people in the developed countries such as the United States, Canada, and the UK find the cost of surgery so high that they put aside doing nothing until the problem gets to the point where doing something about it will cost even more. Even if national insurance does cover surgery, the wait times can be very long and not everything that is needed to heal the pain is covered.

Back surgery in India is an option. The surgical procedure in India can be up to as much as 90% lower in cost than the costs in the US. The quality of the surgery is excellent, performed by highly qualified surgeons in pristine hospital conditions. All the comforts of a first class hospital in the US or Canada can be found in the leading hospitals of India and that too without no wait times for the surgery. The patient gets the surgery in the time he or she requests it.

Advantages of Undergoing Spine Surgery in India

Spine surgeons in India have expertise in all the newest medicines and state-of-the-art technology. Whatever is happening in a hospital like Johns Hopkins in the US is immediately known and applied in the reputable hospitals in India. India also boasts of an impressive pool of surgeons who have earned their degrees in the prestigious medical schools of the world.Quite a few of them also have experience of practicing in the US and the UK. They are up-to-date with international fellowships and the latest training. Patients are treated with the greatest care and respect by English speaking medical personnel. Some of the well-known hospitals of the country also have in-house multilingual help-desk for facilitating communication with the offshore patients who are not conversant in English. 

India has a strong and vibrant medical tourism industry, which is especially dedicated to reaching the standards a foreign visitor may expect. For this reason, a number of offshore patients are undergoing cosmetic and weight loss surgery in India.

To smoothen your back surgery trip to the country, your travel and hotel arrangements can be made by a reputable medical tourism agency. Good medical tourism agencies are in touch with the best of India’s surgeons and hospitals and can help you connect with them if finding them yourself seems daunting. Fees are negotiable and a payment plan can be made to meet your needs.

Spine surgery in India means having your back tenderly cared for, under the best healing environment and in the most economically satisfying way.

Surrogacy in New Delhi, India

They say that a smile of your child can take all your worries away. However, joys of parenthood can elude the not-so-lucky ones. Never lose hope! The inroads made by science come to the rescue of those who want to embark on the journey to parenthood. Surrogacy is one such option which ensures that the child has genetic link with the parents. Related costs can be exorbitant though. Nonetheless, surrogacy in New Delhi and other parts of India is quite affordable. 

Why Opt for Surrogacy in New Delhi?

Going for surrogacy in New Delhi will not cost you a fortune. Besides, India has unambiguous surrogacy laws. Along with straight couples, gay couples and gay singles or singles of any sexual preference can opt for surrogacy in India.

In India, surrogate mothers are listed with fertility clinics only after careful pre-screening for physical and mental problems. The surrogate knows from the beginning that the child is not hers to keep, but belongs to the commissioning parents. The commissioning parents are immediately recognized as the legal parents of the child and when the child is born. Further, state-of-the-art clinics are equipped with the latest technology.

This Stanford University write-up on commercial surrogacy in India explains that womb for rent in India is not a new phenomenon and that a number of couples from the UK and the US are also drawn to the country by its “English speaking environment”.

Why is the Cost of ART and Other Treatments in India Low?

As mentioned earlier, cost of surrogacy in New Delhi and in other parts of India is quite low compared to the prices in the US, the UK, and Canada. Other otherwise expensive treatments too such as hip replacements and spine surgery in New Delhi cost a fraction of what one will have to shell out for the procedures in the first world countries. A big factor responsible for affordable treatments is the low cost of living in the country.

Affordability is restricted not only to ART or orthopedic surgeries. This is true even if you want to save costs on dental work, or just to have a smile you can be proud of when looking in the mirror. Dental implants in India will be installed affordably, quickly and with expertise comparable to that in the US. Even with travel and hotel costs added, the price can often be lower than the cost of the procedure alone in your home country.

If surrogacy in New Delhi sounds like a good idea the first thing to do is engage with a good medical tourism agency that will provide you with all the details of such a trip and answer all your questions. The agency can make all the preparations so that all you need to do is concentrate on your new baby.

Where to Get Low-Cost Cosmetic Surgery?

There are several countries in the world that offer reasonably priced cosmetic surgeries to patients who want to enhance their looks. The competitive prices lure thousands of people to countries such as India, Thailand, Singapore, Mexico, and Costa Rica. But the low cost of the surgery is not the only factor responsible for the boom in medical tourism industry. Prompt medical treatment, good post operative care, and quality health care all play a major role in boosting medical tourism in the developing nations. For these reasons, cosmetic surgery in Mexico, India, and other medical tourism destinations is quite popular.

Low-Cost Cosmetic Surgery

An increasing number of people are going under the surgeon’s knife to enhance their looks. These figures released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons throw light on the growing popularity of plastic surgery. However, cosmetic surgery is generally expensive in developed countries. Since cosmetic surgery is an elective procedure, it is generally not covered by insurance companies. Patients therefore end up paying a high out-of-pocket amount if they wish to undergo cosmetic surgery in the US, UK or Canada. The cost of cosmetic surgery varies considerably and depends largely on several factors such as the cost of the actual procedure, the cost of medications, medical tests, and hospital stay. The country where the surgery is performed also influences the cost of the procedure.

However, as mentioned above, there are low cost cosmetic surgery options too. For this, patients will have to travel to the prime medical tourism destinations. The low cost of living in these countries and cut throat competition between hospitals bring down the prices of medical treatments in these countries.

Where to Get Affordable Cosmetic Surgery Abroad?

 One of the most popular medical tourist destinations for cosmetic surgery is Thailand. Since the healthcare system in this country is completely modernized, medical tourists from developed nations come away completely satisfied after undergoing treatment.

Like Thailand, Mexico has also long been known for the healthcare it offers. Many North Americans opt for a liposuction in Mexico instead of undergoing the same procedure in their home countries because the cost of the surgery is low and the healthcare is at par with that offered in the US. Obese North Americans also opt for bariatric surgery in Mexico due to low cost treatments and geographical proximity.

Medical Tourism across the World

A few other destinations that are ideal for affordable cosmetic surgeries include India and Costa Rica. Costa Rica is famous for its medical spas and recovery centers located in the lap of nature. Those who want to alter their appearance or shed a few years off their face and want to convalesce in a picturesque setting need only travel to Costa Rica.

India is another highly popular destination amongst medical tourists. The country is renowned for its excellent and affordable healthcare services and low cost of living. Many patients travel to India to look for alternative treatment options that have fewer to almost nil side effects. These include Ayurveda, acupressure, meditation, and Yoga.

The Need for Cosmetic Surgery Abroad

Those who find it difficult to pay exorbitant medical bills can travel abroad for healthcare. Since most medical tourism destinations have revamped the facilities and services they offer, patients don’t hesitate to travel overseas to undergo surgery. The affordability of international travel is another factor responsible for the boom in the medical tourism industry in more than 40 countries of the world.

Even though the benefits of traveling abroad for healthcare are many, patients must take into consideration the disadvantages as well. Regardless of the country chosen, patients must look for board certified hospitals and surgeons. The success of most of the plastic surgeries lies in the hands of the surgeon. Patients should therefore do a little research before they embark for low cost cosmetic surgery.

Combating Cancer

Many forms of cancer can be treated with proper medication and supportive care. People suffering from invasive forms of cancer generally need prompt surgical attention. Immediate medical care may come at an additional price in some countries. And if the cost of the treatment is not borne by the insurance provider, it could run into thousands of dollars. Those who aren’t entirely protected by their medical insurance policies and those who are unemployed or uninsured, may have to look for alternatives in other places. And Mexico cancer centers can be the answer to such people suffering from the virulent disease.

Mexico, being within proximity to the US, meets the medical needs of thousands of overseas patients every year. Not only is it popular for its low cost of healthcare, but it is also well-known for its vast coastlines and luxurious hotels. Numerous hospitals and health clinics have sprouted in different parts of Mexico, thus making the country a medical tourism hotspot.

Undergoing Cancer Treatment in Mexico

Reputable cancer clinics in Mexico are manned by trained staff, most of who speak in English, thereby eliminating communication problems. And for those patients who speak languages other than English, interpreters can be called upon by the staff at the hospital. Mexico also boasts of a pool of US-returned oncologists. Patients get treated immediately and don’t end up spending huge sums of money.

Those who don’t want to rely on conventional therapies to treat the illness can ask for alternative treatment options in Mexico. While alternative treatments may prove effective on some patients, there are no research studies that validate the success of these treatment options. Patients should therefore exert caution when choosing these treatments over the conventional ones.

Traveling Overseas for Healthcare

With the onset of the current global financial crisis, people are looking for ways to be frugal. A lot of people don’t mind compromising on small things, in order to save thousands of dollars. This has propelled the growth of the medical tourism sector in places like Mexico, India, Thailand, and Costa Rica.

Many US citizens undergo plastic surgery in Mexico or Thailand, because of the sheer affordability of healthcare in these destinations. Besides, patients are given the best medical treatment at JCI and ISO accredited hospitals in Mexico. Even though they have to take a flight overseas, patients return home satisfied once they meet their medical needs.

Apart from cancer treatment and cosmetic surgery, bariatric surgery is in high demand in Mexico. Gastric sleeve surgery, gastric banding and lap band surgery in Mexico come without a high price tag. Patients who are morbidly obese can therefore opt for such procedures in Mexico, in order to get their health back on track. According to Deloitte, 750,000 Americans traveled overseas in search of medical care in 2007 alone. This number is expected to rise in the coming years as more and more patients set their eyes on attractive healthcare options in developing nations.

Medical Tourism in Turkey

For any kind of ailment, one of the lowest cost places to travel for world class medical treatments is Turkey. Turkey’s Ministry of Health states that some 500,000 offshore patients were treated in Turkish hospitals in 2010, a 70 percent increase since 2007.

The primary reason for rise of medical tourism in Turkey is the lower cost of procedures compared to that in the industrialized countries of North America and Europe. In the United States, bone marrow transplant costs for example can rise to hundreds of thousands of dollars. But bone marrow transplant in Turkey, costs only a fraction of the price of the procedure in the developed countries of the world. 

In Canada and European countries, insurance is available but only for specific treatments. Wait times are so long sometimes that the disease can progress to dangerous levels when it could have been stopped earlier. However, be it weight loss surgery or breast cancer treatment in Turkey, one will not face any wait times before getting oneself treated.

The Turkish government is very conscious of the quality of care offered in the hospitals.  Turkey is touted to join the European Union (EU) in 2013 and so endeavors to have its medical staff and hospitals at par with EU standards. So, the equipment used in the good hospitals across the country is state-of-the-art and the services dispensed simply world class. 

Advantages of Receiving Healthcare in Turkey

 Turkish doctors and hospitals have an excellent reputation. Johns Hopkins and Weill Cornell Medical College at Cornell University are affiliated with the finest hospitals in Turkey. These well-respected American medical institutions have exchange programs where both American and Turkish doctors are trained in and practice in each other’s countries.

Along with fine medical treatment in an Istanbul cancer hospital, just being in Turkey can do a lot for health. A medical tourist visit can include sightseeing exotic palaces of the Sultans, lush Middle Eastern gardens, bustling bazaars, long beaches on the Sea of Marmara and the best of a very sophisticated, cosmopolitan city. Family and friends of the cancer patient can remove worry from their minds for a short time while they explore the cobbled streets of Istanbul. If the patient feels up to it, he or she can also choose the distractions of Istanbul to bid goodbye to worries. All of this can still cost less than the price of treatment alone at home.

Planning a Medical Visit to Turkey – Some Tips

 The Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey has a very resourceful website and information portal that explains so much more on what Turkey has to offer in healthcare.  The site’s advice on how to find a good medical tourism agency to help plan and facilitate travel for medical tourists to Turkey is excellent. Medical tourism in Turkey could be the perfect solution for health, wallet, and a little joy as well!

Asian Countries a Draw for Medical Tourists

Medical tourism is increasing year by year with Asian countries being a favorite draw for people searching for low cost but high tech medical procedures. Countries like Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, and India have been reaping the benefits of this trend now for several decades. Even Japan is considering coming on board and getting a share of the medical tourist market. Don’t be surprised if you come across people who are getting their low cost cosmetic procedures and hip surgery in India and dental implants in Thailand.

Knowledge @ Wharton, the online publication of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania published an article on India and its thriving medical tourism industry in June, 2011. India is among the five top countries for medical tourism.

"I strongly believe that many developments across the world will put India in a fantastic position," a leading cardiac surgeon, is quoted as saying in the article. "We produce the largest number of doctors, nurses, and medical technicians in the world. Also, we have been traditionally linked with western health care because of the British influence on our medical education and the ability to speak English. This is extremely important for developing [global] health care. Our greatest asset is our ability to produce the largest number of technically-skilled individuals. We also have the largest number of US FDA (U.S. Food and Drugs Administration)-approved drug manufacturing units outside the U.S."

India as a Medical Tourism Destination

Many Americans, Canadians and Australians go for low cost, but quality orthopedic surgeries in India. With 50 percent of American bankruptcies due to health care costs, the 90 percent lower cost of fees in India is no doubt an important consideration. If hip surgery is more than you need, the much lighter hip resurfacing in India can also be done. In either case the surgeries will be done in a pristine hospital setting, in a modern operating theater with full support of labs and blood banks, by world class surgeons.

But India is not for just orthopedic problems. India has the finest facilities for treating virtually all medical conditions from those as serious as cancer and to those as light as wanting a prettier smile. Installing dental implants in India for a very low cost has also been attracting the medical tourists.

Bright Future for Medical Tourism

A 2008 Deloitte Center for Health Solutions report on Medical Tourism: Consumers in Search of Value says that the value for money health tourism industry is expected to grow 30 percent every year up to 2015. As per a revision in the report, the economic downturn in the US is driving more people out of the country for medical treatments; US outbound medical tourism is forecasted to rise by 35 percent annually during the period 2010-2012.

Asian countries are a draw for foreign medical tourists who need good quality healthcare for affordable fees, and it’s not hard to see why.

Plight of the Medically Uninsured

According to Data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey compiled by

 National Center for Health Statistics, over 48.2 million people in the United States were uninsured.  Inability to pay medical bills is the most common reason for filing personal bankruptcy in the United States. Because health care costs are high, many people do not see a doctor as soon as a problem presents itself but wait until they can no longer ignore it. 

This can be tragic for serious illnesses such as heart diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease was the leading cause of death, killing 616,067 Americans in 2010. 

For Americans who cannot afford to wait until health care reforms come through and who want timely treatment without having to declare bankruptcy to get it, there is a solution.  They can take advantage of the extremely affordable rates offered in India.  Medical treatments including cancer treatments and heart surgery in India can cost 70 to 90 percent less than it does in the US.

Medical Tourism Industry in India 

The Indian economy is growing by leaps and bounds. One of the results has been the establishment of a medical industry that can compete with the technological expertise and knowledge of the US, but at much lower costs. This means the same grade of service, highly trained doctors, state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, a very attentive hospital staff and thorough aftercare for a fraction of what it would cost in the US. Many hospitals in India are JCI accredited, which is the same accreditation agency for American and many European hospitals.

The medical tourist industry in India is very sensitive to the needs of uninsured Americans and in many cases a payment plan can be tailored to an individual person’s ability to pay. A house would certainly not need to be mortgaged nor does anyone have to wait until the disease has progressed so far that the costs are out of this world. If an American patient needs help in finding a good doctor, a place to stay, and navigating through the “complex” Indian system, medical tourist agencies have been established to help with that complicated process.

The agency will negotiate a fair fee, make all the repayment arrangements and if necessary arrange for a loan.  It will make all travel and hotel arrangements.  In many cases, the cost of travel and hotel stay in India, as well as medical treatment will still come to less than the cost of just medical treatment alone in the US.

India’s excellent medical tourist industry treats all the serious medical problems like heart surgery, spinal injury and stem cell treatments.  Less serious problems like simple dental work and cosmetic surgery in India are available at low cost too.  Cosmetic surgery tends not to be included in most insurance coverage but with the low cost of Indian surgery, it is now available to people who perhaps thought they could never be able to afford it.

India not only offers the best in medical treatment at a fraction of America’s costs, but it is one of the world’s top tourist vacation destinations as well. Uninsured Americans will not only get excellent quality medical care, they will get the travel of a lifetime.  Most of the cities that is equipped with the best hospitals also have exotic ancient temples, magnificent ancient palaces and other unique architecture, colorful open-air markets and festivals, lush tropical gardens, excellent restaurants and entertainment.

Whether America’s citizens are plagued with the most serious medical conditions or simple ones, India has made sure that the plight of being medically uninsured is no longer an obstacle to the best that the medical industry has to offer.

Bariatric Surgery that Fits Your Pocket

The cost of most healthcare procedures is at an all time high. People residing in first world countries are therefore finding it extremely difficult to foot their medical bills. Those who are uninsured or unemployed are left with no choice but to look for affordable healthcare in other parts of the world. Bariatric surgeries such as gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and lap band in Mexico have become popular as these are available at reasonable prices in the Latin American country.

The availability of affordable yet quality weight loss surgeries in Mexico comes as great news for Americans and Canadians who can’t afford to self finance the surgeries. The cost of bariatric surgery is borne by the insurance provider only if the patient has a BMI more than 40. Those who need bariatric surgery but don’t fall in this bracket have to bear the entire cost of surgery on their own. Such patients travel to Mexico to undergo weight loss surgery.

An Overview of Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgeries aim to reduce the size of the patient’s stomach so that less food is consumed by the patient. Bariatric surgeries not only help patients lose weight but they also have a significant bearing on obesity related ailments like diabetes and hypertension. While some bariatric procedures are reversible others are not. Lap banding and greater curvature plication surgery are weight loss surgeries that can be reversed.

Obesity is on the rise in the US and other developed nations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one third of the adult US population is suffering from obesity. This has led to an increase in demand for bariatric procedures in the US and its neighbor Mexico. Lap banding, gastric sleeve, and gastric bypass cost in Mexico is much lower than the price charged in the US, UK or Canada. However, the low cost of healthcare doesn’t in anyway affect the quality of medical care offered. People can avail of treatment at the reputable hospitals in Mexico, most of which are equipped with the latest medical tools and devices. They can also ask for a medical loan if the need arises.

Medical Tourism in Mexico

While bariatric procedures are in demand in Mexico, the need for cosmetic surgery is also on the rise. People who want to enhance their looks and those who want to restore function to damaged parts of the body find it convenient to get treated in Mexico.

Mexico plastic surgeons are capable of performing all sorts of cosmetic procedures and are known for their high success rate. Since patients return home feeling and looking good, they’re more likely to return to Mexico if they want to undergo any additional surgeries in the future.

The other advantage of undergoing treatment in Mexico is the fact that patients can relax and vacation in Mexico after recovering. With the presence of numerous beach front hotels and specialty restaurants, this is one destination that really deserves the praise it gets.