There are numerous destinations to choose from, such as Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, and Venezuela. It’s your choice of which holiday destination would suit you best.


Breast implant procedure

Breast enlargement surgery involves putting silicone implants behind the breasts. The operation is usually done as a day case, but sometimes an overnight stay is needed. It requires a general anaesthetic and takes one or two hours to perform.

Side effects include possible nausea from the anaesthetic, and after the surgery your breasts may feel sore, swollen, but painkillers reduce the experience of any discomfort. You may sometimes feel a burning sensation in your nipples. The initial recovery takes 2-3 and you should not do any heaving lifting, vacuuming, or ironing during this time. You will also need to wear a support bra for 4-6 weeks after surgery. Breast implants generally last around ten years.


Cost savings

One of the main attractions for having breast implants abroad is the amount of money you save. The cost of getting breast implants in the UK can be expensive – so going abroad is a solution that many women consider. For instance, getting breast implants in the UK costs £3,500-£5,000 which compares to:


Brazil £2,345

Croatia £2,250

Egypt £2,000

Germany £3,000

India £1,300

Spain £2,900

Turkey £1,720


Of course, the further you go, the more you will spend on travel fares, so carefully work out the most affordable option, including what time of year you plan to travel. Ticket prices can be more expensive at certain times of the year and cheaper at others.


Comparing surgeons and clinics

Gather as much information as you can about the surgeon, hospital, and cosmetic surgery company you have in mind. Contact the company for brochures, costs, details on the surgeon, and ideally other patient’s feedback. Check that the surgeon is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon – in the Euro zone this is well regulated and training is similar across the board.

Overseas cosmetic surgeons don’t usually belong to the British Association of Plastic Surgeons, but there will often be a similar body in their own country that regulates qualifications. Ensure that they are a member. Examples include the European Association of Plastic Surgeons, and the Spanish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery.

Find out if initial and aftercare consultations can be done in the UK. Some surgeons may visit the UK regularly for this reason, or they may send a nurse or adviser to see their patients. This will be much more convenient for you, and won’t dictate the amount of time you must spend abroad in consultations.

Finally, check what the price includes. There may be hidden extras which is why the price looked so low in the first place. Also find out what happens if complications arise – what are the extra costs involved? Will you be staying at the hospital after surgery or will you be discharged and taken to a hotel?


Aftercare

The ideal length of stay, about a week, will ensure there are no complications and that you can return home safely without any problems. The surgeon will explain what to expect after surgery, and an aftercare consultation should be performed to ensure the healing process is successful.

Travelling abroad for breast implants does raise some concerns about aftercare. If there are any complications (such as infection) after you return home, you will have to travel back to the country you had surgery in.

You may therefore decide to choose a destination in Europe that is only a couple of hours away on a plane. Having to return to Thailand or Australia for fix-up surgery would not only be frustrating, but extremely costly, and time consuming.


The worst case scenario is that the surgery is badly performed and you are unhappy with your new breast implants. In this case you must seek out your surgeon to come to a solution. Policies are very different between surgeons (whether in the UK or abroad) so check this out beforehand.


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Profile of the author
Jackie Griffiths writes journal and newsletter articles for companies and non-governmental organisations across the UK including: 'Private healthcare UK'.. As founder and senior writer at Freelance Copy, she writes top level content for websites and print across a broad range of sectors including health, medical, biological, governmental, and pharmaceutical.